Do you need an Etiquette Class on Social Media?

No elbows on the table, don’t chew with your mouth open, and use your inside voice are things I was told from mom when I was growing up.

So how come my mom didn’t pass on the etiquette rules of our social world? Because there really aren’t any, we’re still trying to figure out how to be proper as we go.

So I’ve put together my Top 10 list of No No’s (in no particular order) to pass down to my future generations:

1. 1. Friending without introducing yourself—A golden rule on my accounts, aside from Twitter, is I’m not going to add you unless I know you or you take the time introduce yourself

1. 1. Consistently talking about yourself and all the cool things you and/or your company has to offer—I don’t know who it’s by, but I tell all of my clients this: Social media is meant to be 85%PBS and 15% QVC (at the most)

1. 1. Randomly DM’ing to just ask for favors, repeatedly—We all have “friends” like this, you don’t really remember how you met them but they always need something.

1. 1. Following with the intentions of unfollowing as soon as they following back—I don’t need to go into detail, you know who I’m talking about

1. 1. Abusing hashtags— Maybe it’s because my mind doesn’t work this way, but this is annoying. It’s a shame that Lebron left Cleveland and now everyone in the Midwest hates him, but stop using that as a hashtag to promote your new software.

1. 1. Asking for comments and/or endorsements when you don’t know the person—it just makes things awkward. Enough said.

1. 1. Shouting the same story over and over again—I wasn’t going to comment the first time, I probably won’t the second, third, or forth either

1. 1. Cross-posting the same message on all of you sites—It’s one thing if it’s a rock star article, but I don’t need to read about your dog running away on Facebook, Twitter, FriendFeed, Digg, LinkedIn, and the list goes on.

1. 1. Arguing about everything!— I am very opinionated and I respect people who stand up for what they believe, but pick your battles and do it nicely!

1. 1. Those who don’t help others—Going back to my mom, “Treat others how you want to be treated”, also goes along with give before you can receive.  It’s not all about you; help out others first.

It’s always good to keep in mind that social media communities are about real relationships and real conversations. The em>me, myself, and I philosophy does not work in the realm. It’s about contributing to the community and ultimately the common good.

Also, think Twitter doesn’t have established rules, think again. Check them out here

Please feel free to add your advice, disagree, and/or share your outlook.