1) Always be professional.  You can let your personality shine through - but keep your professional “hat” on at all times. Do not write rude, off-color comments. Ever.

2) Choose / Use a Username that is easy and makes sense.  Your own personal name may be perfect (or name of your event/ business)  Do not make it hard for people to find you.

3) Link Up your social networking platforms and automate when available. Use TweetDeck to link   Facebook and Twitter together - that way your “tweets” become your status updates.  Use Blog Posting networks to have your blogs go to all of your sources (Ping, Typepad) Check out TBuzz to share the websites you love in one click! Use auto systems (twitterator, tweetlater, Facebook events) to help you with events/items you can pre-post for  later delivery.

4) Decide on at least two mediums, learn them, and begin social networking  VERY WELL on those two.  (Using one only does not link you to the WWW in other ways that will astound you)

5) Stay active - you’ll be amazed at how many new connections you will make. Set aside time each day in your calendar to “social network.’

6) Use your social networking platforms for research.  Amazing statistics and information can be gleaned on topics you don’t even know you want to know about.

7) Stay focused.  It is so easy to jump from one “AH-HA!” to another. Know why you are social networking at that moment and stay on task.  Do give yourself some time each day to  “play” - that is when you will really open your world up to new ideas.

8) Consider a blog.  If you write articles for a newsletter, or have written reports for work, chances are they can be the start of a great blog. One of the best Bloggers in the industry is Seth Godin - he writes 4-5 paragraphs.  (he also writes best selling books!) Simple, succinct and amazingly fun to read.  Note: Seth does NOT twitter - his posts are twittered for him from people like me who like what they see and pass it on.