The Roles of Social Media...

Social media is expanding rapidly, and the opportunity for employment has grown. With so many individuals looking for careers in social media, and roles still being defined as we speak, which role is right for them? Here is my definition of the current social media opportunities available in the marketplace:

Community Manager: 

A community manager typically manages a blog/community, a twitter account with a corporate presence, and other various outside social channels. They can be the listening ear for the organization, responding to their clients/prospects feedback. This is typically done through social media channels like Twitter, Ning, or Facebook. Also, the may direct conversations to others within the corporation, and be responsible to conduct online webinars, providing and getting feedback from their community.

Social Media Manager: 

A Social Media Manager would be a combination of multiple roles. They oversee a social media strategy through its entire lifecycle. Creation, Implementation and Execution would be at the heart of this role. They form marketing campaigns, and also may be in charge of purchasing strategic advertisements with social media channels like Facebook, Digg, etc. They build an online brand presence for an organization through blogging, Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks such as Digg and Ning. 

Social media managers will use metrics to follow performance and demonstrate conversion through their campaigns.

Social Media Metrics Analyst: 

This individual would be responsible for creating and measuring ROI in a social media strategy, by selecting appropriate metric and analytic tools such as Google Analytics. They demonstrate online/offline performance through these tools, and provide reports. Recommendations often may be made based of the data collected about a specific campaign.

Social Media Assistant: 

This role is still somewhat undefined. In a corporation where a large social media strategy is implemented, this individual would be assigned to a specific task within the social strategy. For example, they may be one of several individuals filtering tweets to a community manager, PR manager, or assigned department. Also, they could be an assistant to the community manager, acting as the moderator/mediator for webinars and other events.

Social Media Strategist: 

This individual would define a strategy across the web which entails corporate blogging, community applications, Youtube, mentoring and training. They are the go to person for other marketing teams and regions, providing guidance to managers needing to deploy a social media program or project within their organization.

Public Relations: 

Often, this role is incorporated in the Community Manager role. In organizations that choose to have a separate PR position, PR usually blog and use twitter to help coordinate PR campaigns and events, and work to gain exposure through fostering external relationships with social media influencers and other blogger's. They coordinate and align online and offline products launches, assuring that they get maximum exposure from the event.

What do you think? Would there be any roles you would like to add, or redefine?