What It Is
Community and forum management involves moderating discussions, engaging members, and creating a thriving online environment—often around a product, service, or professional topic. Many organizations launch private Slack groups, Discord servers, or Circle communities but lack the bandwidth or expertise to keep them active and valuable for participants. That’s where a community manager comes in, ensuring discussions stay on track, disputes are handled diplomatically, and engagement remains high.
How the Monetization Works
You typically charge for community management via:
- Monthly retainers (ranging from $500 to $2,000+ depending on community size)
- Hourly rates for part-time moderation (e.g., $30–$70/hr)
- Project-based fees for initial setup, content seeding, and onboarding new members
Additional income can come from offering strategic guidance—like setting up community guidelines, planning events, or helping with monetization features (paid tiers, brand partnerships). Because engaged communities often drive customer loyalty or peer-to-peer networking, organizations recognize the high ROI and pay accordingly for professional management.
Example
A mid-sized SaaS company might launch a private Circle community for their customers to share best practices. They hire a freelance community manager to welcome new members, spark discussions, handle customer feedback, and schedule monthly AMA sessions with company leaders. The manager earns a monthly retainer, in line with the community’s growth and ongoing engagement results.
Practical Steps to Get Started
- Define Your Niche: Focus on communities aligned with your professional background—like marketing, tech, or design—so you can add value beyond moderation.
- Build a Portfolio: If you’ve previously managed a Facebook group, Slack channel, or LinkedIn community, showcase data on growth and engagement metrics.
- Learn Platform Tools: Get familiar with systems like Circle, Slack, Discord, or specialized community SaaS. Understand features, analytics, and automation.
- Offer a Strategy Package: Go beyond day-to-day moderation by helping clients set up a content calendar, community guidelines, and onboarding flow.
- Maintain Metrics: Track engagement rates, member retention, and user satisfaction. Use these KPIs to justify your fees and show your impact.
Key Takeaways
Community/forum management is an excellent way for modern professionals to leverage their organizational and communication skills. By ensuring conversations stay productive and members feel heard, you become an indispensable resource—potentially earning stable monthly retainers while working remotely and flexibly.
Further Reading & Resources
- CMX Hub – Community managers’ hub with articles, events, and a job board
- Vanilla Forums Blog – Insightful community management tips and best practices
- Commsor – Platform offering community analytics and strategy resources
