How do you feel about startups hiring Community Managers to surf forums all day long to atract people to their website / product? Do you feel they could build their community in a better way? I know that's two questions rather than one!

I am all for the use of Community Managers but I say that with an asterisk. I see this as a more senior role executed by people who will do more then surf the web all day chatting people up. Community Management is an art form that some people do extremely well but not all. When you’re out among your community you will see many opportunities for partnerships or opportunities and you need to be able to recognize these as they will forward your business and build your community but not everyone actually sees these opportunities and that is why CM’s sometimes get de-valued in peoples minds. A lot of times communities form on their own and it is the job of the CM to make them bigger and greater.

Founders who are talking

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Hi Tony, I'm concerned about missing the current funding boat, and am considering accelerating prototype development by outsourcing. I am technical and business oriented, b...

Answered by Tony Conrad – Founder of about.me, partner at True Ventures.

i like your approach. i wouldn't let the funding environment dictate your approach - i know that's easy to say now but the most important thing is get your product in align... (more)

Shahar, First, thank you in advance for awnsering my question. We are currently developing a web 2.0 tool that monitizes UGC for small to medium size business's. In data c...

Answered by Shahar Nechmad – Founder, NuConomy

There are many things to look at, but I always liked to look at engagement metrics such as: number of comments, number of raters and rating, number of inbound links and the... (more)

?Hey Daniel, I am starting a concierge company specializing in a specific industry where my target market are young entrepreneurs like yourself, high level executive, socia...

Answered by Daniel Burka – Co-founder of Pownce and Milk.

Be awesome. Get some influential people to use your service and say you're awesome. But, really, just be awesome and it'll work from there. I know that's a bit glib, but se... (more)

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Answered by Michael Garrity – Founder, CommunityLend

Hmmm .... that's a good one. I think generally speaking - any idea which will be compelling to enough people that they would be willing to pay for it, at scale, will be po... (more)

I started a consulting business in a country where I knew nobody when I moved in, and that is severely hit by the economic crisis. It proves to be a big challenge to find c...

Answered by Noah Godfrey – Founder, GigPark

Think of your consulting business like any other product where you need to move your customer from Awareness to Action/Loyalty along the marketing funnel (note: google "mar... (more)

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