about what the difference is between “community manager&# and “social media manager?&# know I am – and I am both a community manager and a social media manager! But there seems to be a lot of cofusion both on the part of employers and job candidates, and a lot of jobs that actually entail managing a company’s social media marketing efforts are being billed as community management positions. Likewise, a lot of job seekers who want to “do&# social media for a company are thinking that they want to go into community management. MORE >>

Brands and consumers are now in dynamic conversation. The polarity of the conversation has shifted too as social tools have allowed consumers to become producers, publishers, distributors and curators of content that impacts brand narratives. But as the marketplace becomes more fragmented into a growing number of micro-platforms and communities, brands must become not just active listener s but skilled conversationalists. But first they must commit to relearning the art of conversation specific to the social web. Image: larrydressler.com. Of that there is no doubt. MORE >>

Time for a prediction: layered communications - a mixing of text, speech and video - will become a key issue for online communities in 2010 and beyond. . Two things this week got me thinking about the place for layered communications in online communities and social networks.  . podcast from SXSW: Strong Gaming Communities, text or speech. Either way, it highlights an interesting topic - how might people choose to communicate on social networks and online communities as the options for layered communications increase. Social Media is all about conversations. MORE >>

Here are 15 thriving online communities you might want to explore. My favourite community. The community for teachers. great example of clear, effective, Ning design creating a decent online community for today’s Baristas. Designers unite, this is the coolest community for one of the coolest audiences. true example of building a business for a community and not a community for a business. Game-mechanics overload and a very active online community for today’s top gamers. Does a good job of mixing content and community. Mumsnet. MORE >>

  For the last few years, I've been able to take part in two important projects: The collaborative storytelling of Age of Conversation and the cooperative Blog Action Day.  Both projects combine efforts of community conversation in hopes to affect great change.  In particular, The Age of Conversation 3: It's Time to Get Busy , is putting its proceeds to charity:water this edition. Here's three things you can do: Buy a copy (or 27) of Age of Conversation 3 to support charity:water. Blog Action Day - and the Age of Conversation (servantofchaos.com). MORE >>