Is your business looking for someone to manage its social media communities? If so, The Social Lights® can help, as the Minneapolis-based company is currently training 16 Community Managers during an intensive six-week social media course.
The Social Lights agency specializes in Social Media Strategy and Community Management, and acknowledges the development and growing importance of social media in the business world. Cofounders Emily Pritchard and Martha McCarthy started the company in January 2011 after they saw a need for a niche digital marketing agency that emphasizes the importance of social media for business.
With more companies than ever relying on social media to both promote their brands and interact with customers, The Social Lights began offering services outside of the traditional agency model, focusing on education. In order to fill the talent gap for social media positions, the agency began instructing current and aspiring Community Managers on what it takes to succeed and stand out in a highly competitive business world.
A recent Business Insider article titled, 90% Of Customers Will Recommend Brands After Social Media Interactions noted, “when trying to create deeper emotional connections with consumers, social media is an essential channel for brands. This isn’t surprising since social media is the only channel where it’s possible for brands and consumers to have meaningful two-way conversations, making the strength of connections that much stronger.”
In order to do so effectively, and reap the benefits of increased brand sentiment, consumer engagement and brand loyalty, companies need an individual or team to act as the eyes, ears, and voice of the brand on all social and digital channels. This is where the Community Manager comes in.
The role of the Social Media Community Manager (aka Social Media Specialist, Community Engagement Specialist, Social Media Marketer) is evolving so quickly, it’s hard to know what skills to look for in a Community Manager.
Arik Hanson (recent guest speaker at The Social Lights Community Manager Training Program) touched on the essential skills and added a few new ones to the list in a blog post titled, Does the famed social media community management unicorn really exist?
Not only do Community Managers need to possess these skills, but they also need to stay on top of the ever-evolving nature of the role – including mastering new technology tools and social media platforms. For these reasons, The Social Lights have developed a “Community of Community Managers,” for those that work in the industry (often solo on one brand) to band together and share knowledge, experiences, best practices and more.
Martha McCarthy, Co-Founder & CEO of The Social Lights said, “We’d like to help your company find that individual that truly cares about taking your business to the next level, and has the skills and experience to utilize all applicable social and digital outlets, in the proper way, to achieve your business goals.”
The Community Manager Training Program concludes on August 1, producing a talented group of individuals who went from enthusiasts to specialists in the burgeoning field of social media marketing.
If you’re looking to hire Social Media talent, visit: http://www.thesocial-lights.com/hireus/.
Learn more about our training programs, and meet our Community Managers:

For all other questions and comments, email us: hello {at} thesocial-lights.com!