A lot of people tell me that they really find it hard to know how to be a helpful entity in the online space. There is so much contradictory advice, and then each situation seems to be a little bit different- different enough that you’re not really 100% sure what the right move is.
It is with these folks in mind that I thought I would compile 50 rules that I live by. Now, I’m making the perhaps overly optimistic assumption that I am considered a good social media citizen, but beyond that hurdle, I think you might find at least a few of these ideas helpful. So here we go!
- Write as if your grandmother could see everything you’re saying.
- Read what you’ve written before you hit “send” or “publish.”
- Act as if people will be able to find what you’ve said anywhere. Because they can.
- Ask if you’d say what you’re tweeting face-to-face.
- Offer others the benefit of the doubt.
- Do not build yourself up by pushing others down.
- Accentuate the positive.
- Remember that pointing a finger means three are pointing back at you.
- Always try to be helpful.
- Do not be afraid to show emotion, but don’t bleed all over the Internet.
- Do not assume anyone is less knowledgeable than you.
- Don’t judge a person by their avatar photo.
- Make “the ask” sparingly and with purpose.
- Say thank you more than please.
- Try to connect with one new person every day.
- Make sure your blog readers/commenters know you appreciate their time.
- Do not take your valued connections for granted.
- Read before sharing.
- Read carefully before arguing or bashing.
- Walk your talk.
- Only say what you are willing to stand by.
- Do not assume anyone will read your words in your intended context.
- Remember that shining the light on someone else is twice as powerful as shining the light on yourself.
- Be proud but not a braggart.
- Accept criticism if it is offered thoughtfully and kindly.
- Offer criticism with kindness and care.
- Stand up for someone if you see they’re being treated unjustly.
- Do not set people up for failure with trick questions or false dichotomies.
- Do not follow others blindly.
- Do not ask that others follow you blindly.
- Do not be afraid to change your mind.
- Always look for something to learn.
- Do not ignore a person just because they do not have a big online footprint.
- Don’t worry too much about your Klout score. Clout carries you further.
- Write from the heart, edit with your head.
- Be willing to forgive other people just as you want to be forgiven.
- Before jumping into a fray, make sure you are 100% familiar with all sides.
- Remember that people can’t hear your tonality. A joke may not seem funny to others.
- Go above and beyond in supporting others now and then.
- Do not look for black or white. More often than not there’s a grey area.
- Be open to new perspectives.
- Embrace the opportunity to meet people with differing views and opinions.
- Acknowledge that you don’t have to know everything.
- Accept defeats and victories with equal amounts of grace.
- Remember that social media is a piece of the pie, not the whole pie.
- Focus on quality, not quantity.
- Don’t forget that most Twitter “followers” are spambots or empty accounts.
- Do not tag others on Facebook unless you wish to be tagged.
- If there’s a question about whether you should share something publicly, don’t share it publicly.
- Be kind out of your own desire, not out of a desire to get popular.
These rules work pretty well for me. What rules would you add to the list? Let’s see if we can make it to 100!