26 Tips For Good Social Media Participation

1. In person etiquette rules apply. Just because you can’t see the other person, doesn’t mean you can ditch what your mother taught you.

2. Research, read, listen, and then engage.

3. Social media is collaborative, be a team player.

4. Imagine you are having the conversation over a nice glass of Romanee-Conti (and you don’t have to pay!)

5. Be personal.

6. Write about what is special to you. Share a personal story and bridge it back to your company in an appropriate way.

7. Be honest and transparent.

8. Posting anonymous comments on a blog is a big fat no no!

9. Be short and to the point quickly – 220 words or less is PLENTY. Any more is TMI!

10. Organize your thoughts before replying.

11. Cross link when appropriate.

12. Reference other links when you are posting information you found there.

13. Comment on blogs and forums, often…thoughtfully.

14. Comment on the comments you’ve received. Think of it as a conversation. If someone responded to you at a cocktail party, you wouldn’t stare blankly and remain mute. (although some comments, we have to agree, do warrant that response)

15. Don’t force yourself to participate in a community you don’t like.

16. Share your secrets…but not all of them.

17. Be yourself – If you are humorous, weave some in; if you have an acerbic wit, knock yourself out; serious? rock on.

18. Work on defining your own voice.

19. Collaboration is key, you’re not the only prodigy in the pod, be a peer.

20. Break your text up into small paragraphs, assume readers have A.D.D.

21. Use proper grammar, punctuation and spell check; but at the same time, you don’t need to be the next Bret Easton Ellis.

22. Don’t be fearful of making mistakes, we all mess up. Just write something already!

23. Be helpful and let people benefit from your experience and knowledge.

24. When someone asks a question, answer it first. You can build the trust and respect of your peers by posting on-topic replies.

25. You are the expert, be the resource that you know you are, but easy on the overt self-promotion.

26. Contact someone directly if you think there is business to be done, not publicly.