How To Hire an Online Community Manager

Online community managers are crucial in building and nurturing engaged audiences across various platforms.

Suppose you’re looking for a freelance community manager. In that case, this guide will help you understand the importance of this role, how to write an effective job post, and what to consider when hiring an online community manager.

What is an online community manager?

An online community manager creates, grows, and maintains a brand’s online presence through social media and other digital platforms. They foster engagement, moderate discussions, and act as a bridge between the brand and its audience for a positive and cohesive community experience.

These specialists handle content management, social media posts, and community engagement.

Importance of online community management

Effective online community management is essential for building brand loyalty, improving customer satisfaction, and driving business growth. A skilled community manager can:

• Increase brand awareness and engagement.
• Provide valuable customer insights.
• Enhance customer support and retention.
• Foster a sense of belonging among community members.
• Drive traffic and conversions through strategic content marketing and initiatives.
• Implement and optimise marketing strategy.

How to hire an online community manager

Follow these steps to hire a qualified professional who aligns with your brand’s vision and goals.

1. Define your community management goals and needs. Start by outlining what you want to achieve with your online community.
2. Develop a clear job description. Create a job description that accurately reflects the role and attracts suitable candidates. Include key responsibilities, required skills, and any specific platform expertise needed.
3. Post the job. Share your job posting on platforms where skilled community managers will likely look for opportunities. Rayness Analytica is an excellent choice for finding freelance and full-time professionals.
4. Review applications and portfolios. Evaluate each application, paying close attention to candidates’ past experiences, successes, and how they’ve handled challenges in previous roles.
5. Conduct interviews. Schedule interviews with promising candidates to gauge their communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and how well they align with your company culture.
6. Assign a test project. Give top candidates a small, paid project to assess their skills in action. This could involve creating a content calendar, responding to mock community queries, or developing a community growth strategy.
7. Make an offer. Once confident in your choice, extend a competitive offer to secure your ideal community manager.
8. Start the onboarding process. Prepare an onboarding plan to help your new community manager integrate into your team and hit the ground running with your community initiatives.

How to write an online community manager job post

We explain how to develop a job post that attracts qualified candidates.

Job post title

Choose a clear and specific title that reflects the role. Examples include:

• Online community manager for tech startup
• Social media specialist with a B2B focus
• LinkedIn community growth strategist
• Freelance social media manager for an e-commerce brand

Project description

Outline the key elements of the role, including:

• Overview of your brand and target audience
• Platforms to be managed (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok)
• Goals for community growth and engagement
• Are any specific initiatives or campaigns
• Whether the position is full-time, part-time, or project-based

Example: “We’re seeking an online community manager to grow and engage our LinkedIn community of tech professionals. The ideal candidate will develop a content strategy, foster meaningful discussions, and drive member acquisition. This role involves managing multiple social media accounts and collaborating with our marketing manager.”

Responsibilities

List the primary duties associated with the role, such as:

• Developing and implementing social media strategies
• Creating and curating engaging content
• Moderating discussions and managing user-generated content
• Analyzing community metrics and reporting on performance
• Collaborating with marketing and customer support teams
• Organizing virtual events and initiatives
• Outreach to potential community members and influencers
• Project management of community-related campaigns

Qualifications

Outline the essential skills and experience required:

• Proven experience in community management or social media marketing
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Familiarity with social media platforms and analytics tools
• Experience with content creation and copywriting
• Knowledge of SEO and digital marketing principles
• Relevant certifications (e.g., Hootsuite Social Media Marketing)
• Proficiency in social networking and community-building techniques

Essential information before hiring an online community manager

Understanding the role’s nuances can help you make an informed hiring decision.

The role of an online community manager

An online community manager wears many hats, including:

• Content creator and curator
• Brand ambassador and voice
• Customer support liaison
• Data analyst and strategist
• Relationship builder and networker

They must balance creativity with analytical thinking, empathy with problem-solving, and proactivity with adaptability. The required skill set includes expertise in project management, content marketing, and community engagement.

Hiring demand for online community managers in 2025

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the broader category of public relations specialists, which includes community managers, is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

This growth should lead to about 25,800 new jobs annually over the next decade.

Common projects

Online community managers typically handle a variety of projects, including creating and executing social media content calendars and campaigns, developing community growth initiatives, organizing engagement-focused contests and challenges, hosting virtual events and Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions, managing influencer partnerships and collaborations, and handling crisis management and reputation monitoring.

• Social media content calendars and campaigns. Planning and executing a consistent stream of content across various platforms to maintain audience engagement and brand presence
• Community growth initiatives. Strategies and tactics aimed at expanding the community’s membership, often through targeted outreach, referral programs, or promotional activities
• Engagement-focused contests and challenges. Interactive activities designed to boost participation and create a sense of excitement within the community, often involving user-generated content or community-specific rewards
• Virtual events and Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions. Online gatherings that bring community members together for learning, networking, or entertainment, fostering a stronger sense of connection and shared experience
• Influencer partnerships and collaborations. Working with industry thought leaders or popular community members to amplify the brand’s message and reach new audiences through authentic, relatable content.
• Crisis management and reputation monitoring. Proactively address and mitigate potential issues within the community and manage the brand’s online reputation through careful monitoring and timely responses.
• Optimization of community guidelines and processes. Regularly reviewing and updating community rules, moderation practices, and engagement strategies to ensure a positive, productive environment that aligns with the brand’s evolving goals.

Who’s hiring online community managers?

While online community managers are in demand across various sectors, some industries with exceptionally high needs include:

• Technology and software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies
• E-commerce and retail brands
• Media and entertainment
• Education and e-learning platforms
• Nonprofit organisations
• Gaming and esports

Online community manager hiring cost

The cost of hiring an online community manager can vary based on experience, location, and project scope. On average, hourly rates for marketing managers on Rayness Analytica range from $24 to $60.

 

Online Community Manager FAQ

We answer some frequently asked questions about hiring online community managers.

How can I measure the success of my online community manager?

Key performance indicators (KPIs) may include community growth rate, engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares), response times, sentiment analysis, and conversion rates from community initiatives.

What tools do online community managers typically use?

Standard tools include social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer), analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Sprout Social), and community management software (e.g., Discourse, Vanilla Forums).

What’s the difference between a community manager and a social media manager?

While there’s overlap, community managers focus more on building relationships and fostering engagement within a specific group. In contrast, social media managers typically handle broader content strategy and platform management across multiple channels. A freelance social media manager might combine aspects of both roles.

Get started with online community management

Ready to elevate your brand’s online presence? Hire a skilled online community manager on Rayness Analytica today.

Post a job describing your specific needs and receive proposals from talented professionals who can help grow and engage your digital community.