As a fellow blogger I have become rather versed in the ways of social media. The Internet community has become so vast and grown so strong, that a set of rules seems to have been established to promote this “cohesive social living.” The times clearly are a’ changing when the traditions of hand written thank you letters and curtsying are being replaced with tweet backs and hoops & yoyo e-cards. Here are just a few basic ground rules for being well received on some of today’s most popular social media outlets:
If you blog it they will come: If you’re blogging about someones site or product be sure to link back to them. Not only does it make your blog heavier, but it will increase traffic to both sites. If you read a blog that you like, be sure to pass it along. Linking a blog to StumbleUpon, Google Reader, or Friendfeed are good places to start. Also, if you read a great post and want to comment try to say something more than “nice job!” Bloggers always appreciate it when comments provide constructive feedback.
Do not use Facebook to “over promote”: There is nothing more annoying than having a Facebook inbox that is constantly flooded with invites to the same type of party, at the same club, by the same promoter day in and day out. If you start up a Facebook group for promotional purposes, do not bombard your members with constant messaging. Try to keep most of that stuff on the group wall or message board. And be sure to use good judgement when tagging your friends in pictures, incriminating or otherwise unpleasant photos should be kept private.
Follows is as follows does: The Internet community has gone afire with twitter, the social site built for microblogging and keeping in instant contact with your friends and followers. While you do not have to follow everyone that follows you, if one of your followers is in a similar industry it is typically common courtesy to follow them back. And while its fine to use twitter as a marketing tool, its nice to promote others from time to time just to change things up a bit.
