Social Media Optimization Rules

Earlier I have mentioned about the 5 rules of Conducting Social Media Optimization now we can move over the other 5 rules

1. Is a User Resource, even if it doesn’t help you - Add value to users, including outbound links to areas that could help them with their goals and purposes. Deployed corrected, even if you link to competitiors you stand to gain as the communities’ first source of information finding. How will this help SMO? Folks will link to your social site and tag is as helpful or the ‘ultimate’ guide in that space. As this adds up, it will become more and more relevant in search engine results.
2. Reward helpful and valuable users - Often helpful or popular users will be influencers and champions within your social site, devise ways to elevate them buy promoting their works on the homepage, or develop a rating system. Sometimes a quick email or note in private telling them you appreciate them can go a long way. Some folks have done that to me, and for communities I run, I do that as well. Only do if sincere. Perhaps this is not truly SMO, but it will help to keep the most valuable members of a community closer to your site.
3. Participate - Get in there and get involved in the discussions going on among the blogs and sites of others, and do it organically. Earn your rep on Digg.com, don’t try and force it.
4. Know how to target your audience - Understand your appeal and those people you wish to attract.
5. Create Content - A little bit of rules 1 & 4 here, but the underlying message is know the form of content working for you.