I want to share a 10-step game plan for social-network involvement that I think will work for you. You don’t have to think of these steps as commandments; rather, they are practical guidelines that will make you a better member of the social-networking communities in which you participate.

1. Pull, Don’t Push

One of the first lessons you will learn very quickly when engaging in social media is that old-school marketing tactics don’t work. Don’t come out of the gate pushing your products or services. New tools require new rules.

For example, don’t respond to new Twitter followers with a “Thanks for following. Visit my website for a free… [insert promotional message].”

Such a response is a dead giveaway that you are new to social media and do not yet understand that it’s a “pull” medium, not a “push” medium. If I want to review your credentials, I’ll read your bio. (You did complete your bio, right?)

. Win the Right to Be HeardSocial-media engagement is a conversation, and participation in the community is required. In fact, you might say that participation is the fifth P of marketing. (The four Ps are product, price, place, and promotion.)

Your value as a participant is judged by the value you provide to the community as a whole. Be a “glory hog,” and you’ll garner little attention. Share freely, and you will become a respected member.

3. Content Is Still King, but Conversation Is Queen (and Conversion Is the Prince)

Nothing beats well-written, informative, entertaining content in all its forms: blog posts, tweets, videos, podcasts, images, webinars, or whitepapers. Place yourself in a position of being a knowledgeable expert (assuming you are, of course). Community is the context.

Moreover, keep content and commerce separate. Never the twain shall meet is a good rule of thumb. Editorial and advertorial content should be distant kin, if related at all.

4. Authenticity and Transparency Are Social-Networking Cornerstones

The words “authenticity” and “transparency” may seem trite, but I believe they remain the cornerstones of this new media-marketing paradigm. Be real. Be open. Be honest. Admit mistakes when you make them.

5. You Don’t Have to Be on Every Social Network

It’s impossible to maintain an active presence on every social network, and you don’t have to. You do have to be where your customers are, however. They expect you to be there.

6. Give, and You Shall Receive

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Tags: Ten Commandments for Effective Online Social Networking

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 at 2:48 pm and is filed under Internet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.