Joy Nwaiwu, a Community Manager for 3mtt Rivers State and a technical writer at the Borderless 3.0 Web3 event in Port Harcourt, discussed the need for community management to become more than just overseeing a group of people; it’s about fostering genuine relationships around shared goals and interests.
According to Joy, the role of a community manager is akin to that of a middleman, bridging the gap between the product and the community, not only knowledgeable about the product but also deeply invested in understanding and supporting the people behind it. She stressed the value of community for businesses, noting that a well-managed community leads to loyalty and advocacy, where members champion the brand.
“Communities can also serve as valuable sources of feedback and innovation, as businesses can engage members in voting on new ideas, thus co-creating the product with them. Additionally, a strong community enhances credibility, acting as a trust signal to potential users, investors, and partners. As the community and product grow together, scaling becomes more seamless.
Joy Nwaiwu outlined several best practices for maintaining an effective community for businesses. Maintaining open, consistent to 0 is essential; members should never be left in the dark. Conflict management is equally important, as passionate communities often come with disagreements that require calm and thoughtful mediation.
Networking, both within and beyond the community, is crucial, as is staying up-to-date with rapidly evolving technology. Finally, community managers should be willing to experiment and stay adaptable, fostering a mindset of co-creation with the community.
