21 Essential Community Management Resources

Today is Community Manager Appreciation Day, and we have plenty of resources for those who are managing their own communities.

With a bevy of social spaces to choose from, creating a potent and tight-knit community around a product or brand can seem daunting, even for those experienced in the social space. Every brand has to have its own tailored and unique message, and cater to its specific demographic of fans. With all of these options, it's hard to keep a focused lens on what's best for a brand, but Mashable is here to help.

Make sure you read up on the most recent resources we've published on how to effectively handle and grow your own community — our appreciation gift to you. Below is our in-depth roundup, and be sure to stay focused on Mashable for future community management advice.

Is there a community management tip or tool you can't live without? Let us know in the comments.

• 4 Community Management Predictions for 2012
  Community managers will see new SMO, content and niche social networking trends emerge this year.
• Prioritizing Discussion: Why Community is as Critical as Content
  News sites should think less about their comments and more about the discussion they're facilitating.
• 5 Ways Businesses Can Use Social Media as a Tool For Progress
  Here are the biggest missteps when it comes to using social media as a tool for progress, plus some advice on how to overcome them.
• SMO vs. Engagement: Why They're Different and How You Can Rock Both
  There are two key methods for supercharging your social strategy: social media optimization and engagement. Here's how you can combine both tactics to maximize content distribution for your brand.
• Content vs. Community: How Online Publishers Can Nurture Both
  The past decade hasn't fostered thoughtful interaction between publisher content and its consumers. Discover the tools to encourage community engagement within site content.
• Four Short-form Blogging Networks Perfect for Customer Engagement
  Which sites help brands keep up in the real-time content race? Which sites really drive engagement? Here are four emerging leaders.
• 5 Fitness Brands Kicking Butt on Social Media
  Trying to get fit in the new year? Check out these five fitness brands — they're all over social media, and their inspiring content on social channels will make you want to break a sweat.
• 9 Digital Marketing Lessons From Top Social Brands
  We asked big social brands – MTV, Xbox, AT&T, NBA and AmEx – about the lessons they've learned in their digital marketing efforts.
• 5 Ways to Turn Social Customers Into Brand Ambassadors
  Smart businesses will leverage their social channels to spread a positive brand reputation. Here are five ways to turn customers into brand ambassadors through customer service.
• 10 Tips for Better B2B Community Management
  The companies that use your products are made up of people, after all. Here are 10 ways to get them talking with each other in ways that can inform your business.
• How to Build an Effective Google+ Brand Strategy
  Here are six steps to help jumpstart your brand presence on Google+.
• The Pros & Cons of Google+ for Small Business
  Now that brand pages are out, is Google+ a worthwhile landscape for small business? We weigh out the issues here.
• 5 Ways Brands Can Use Pinterest to Boost Consumer Engagement
  Here are five ways companies can jump on the Pinterest bandwagon to reach a quickly growing and engaged audience.
• How To: Build Your Brand on Tumblr
  As Tumblr's reach continues to grow, more brands are adding the blogging platform to their online marketing mixes. Here's a guide to help you start tumbling.
• 6 Ways Brands Can Earn More Exposure on Tumblr
  Tumblr is an Internet force of nature that cannot be ignored. If you're embarking on a Tumblr content strategy, these six tips can put you over the top.
• Circle Up: How Brands Are Using Google+
  Since the dawning of brand pages, more companies are hopping on Google+. Check out some strategies adopted by the most popular companies.
• How to Increase Facebook Engagement Using Custom Page Tabs
  Brands that invest in the right types of tabs on their Facebook Pages are more likely to increase Likes and achieve real engagement growth. Try these steps.
• How to Get the Most Out of Google Analytics
  Google Analytics is a powerful, free tool for measuring your website's traffic and engagement. Here's an overview of the core features and the metrics you should be paying close attention to.
• How to Access the Best New Features in Google Analytics
  You may want to take advantage of all the new goodies in Google Analytics, but finding them in the dashboards can be confusing. Here's a breakdown of the new navigation.
• Hootsuite Analytics Just Got a Whole Lot Better
  HootSuite launched Social Analytics, its custom solution for measuring your social platforms and site performance in one place.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, romakoshel