Listen.
Don't spam.
Be helpful.
Give something of value.
That's it. No Big Idea here, is there?
Are we really so far gone in our social interactions that we need dozens of Social Media Emily Post gurus to tell us something as simple as how to begin basic relationships?
What's even more disconcerting is that there are still plenty of businesses and self-proclaimed thought leaders who ignore this most basic advice. They can be found with no @ symbols in their Twitter timelines, or Facebook wall posts that shout out to no one in particular. I'm assuming they've never taken to the lessons of childhood, or never had the benefit of a good teacher of common courtesy and decency. Why else would they not yet know that it's in poor taste to speak without pausing to listen? Or that repeatedly shouting your name in public is almost never a good idea?
From what I can see, there's really not a lot of mystery to building a successful social media foundation. It seems to be as simple as keeping to some of the most basic rules taught to a child. Let's say you want to walk into a new social media playground with lots of people having a great time and you want to get in on the fun. Here are Six Amazing and Foolproof Rules my mom offered me, and I won't charge a dime for writing them down here. They're just too idiot-proof.
1. Say hello.
2. Listen.
3. Figure out what game they're playing.
4. Ask questions if you're not sure.
5. Wait your turn.
6. Share your toys.
That's it, all Six Rules you need to build a good start. Once these lessons are done, then go read books by the gurus. You'll find that you're a lot smarter about figuring out who the good ones are.
Tell me, did I forget anything? Because it's my turn to listen.
Photo credit: macsimc on Deviantart