Managing a social community can be a key customer service, marketing and sales activity for small businesses. Here are seven tips for new community managers that will take you from beginner to pro!

1. Be absolutely authentic in your communication. There is nothing worse than social updates that sound like a press release. Your social audience wants to connect with someone real. For a great example of a humanized brand, check out @DKNY’s Twitter stream (The NY Times launched a nice article with the person behind the account).

2. Build long-lasting relationships through follow-up. If one of your followers asks you a question – respond immediately but also set a task in your social CRM to follow up again later to check in and get an update. This is a key step in showing your company really cares and isn’t just following the basic rules of engagement.