The 64 Top Social Media Principles

I had been using a short list of social media principles with my clients.  When I started writing my book I wanted to codify them.  So research was in order.  Imagine my surprise when I found page after page after page of social media principles.

The initial research turned up sixty four of the little buggers.  I’ll post my own personal list of social media principles that should make all these a little more concise and coherent.

It is interesting that there are lists of social media principles specifically for marketers, public relations, corporations, musicians, and more.  Apparently, the framework of social media is so flexible that we can come up with dozens of basic ways to interact with it.

These are presented in no order of importance, they’re just how they rolled out of my research tools.

Social media principles | Hill & Knowlton

Social Media principles for a communications consultant - guidelines for behavior to let both clients and the public know the boundaries of how they will use social media

• We will not engage with social or consumer-generated media on behalf of a client without their knowledge, or if it contravenes a client's own policies.    
• We will always disclose who we are and who we are working for (both our agency and our client).    
• We will never pretend to be someone or something we are not.    
• We will take time to understand the rules, beliefs and desires that exist within the online communities we use to communicate.    
• We will respect any privacy and contact preferences of each individual.
• We will refuse to undertake work that requires us to compromise these principles.

4 Principles Of Persuasive Social Media Marketing | Insight Buzz

Principles based on the work of Dr. Robert Cialdini on influence.

Social Proof

Authority

Reciprocation

Liking

Corporate Social Media Principles | Blog World Expo Blog

These principles look very usurious when first read.  I’d suggest interpreting them in a value-neutral way.

Architect a proper presence

Gain credibility based on your targets world view

co-create dialogue where your company reaps the benefit of exchange

Four Principles to Follow in Social Media: Build the Love - ClickZ

Building the love by following simple principles of genuine communication

Listen to your market

Open Your Organization

Value all forms of communication

Expand beyond on-line

Znetlady: Modern Media: Social Media Relations: Five Best Principles

This is actually only her first of five, she hasn’t gotten around to the rest, but this is a good read – especially the part defining what principles actually are.

The principle she details here is: Go For Insight

Social Media - first principles for musicians

Solobasssteve  outlines social media principles for musicians.

Time cost outweigh monetary cost

Don't broadcast

"Get it" before you get into it

You're selling your brand, not your product

Principles for public sector social media | NPSC Blog

Social media principles specifically aimed at application in the public sector

Sovereignty

Access

Transparency

Trust

Fairness

Openness

Ethics

Participation

Integrity

Social Object - SlideShare

Alex de Varvalho’s slide deck on social media principles

Keep it social stupid

define the objects of sociality

objects invite play

to play, to stroke

multiply the actions

mind the bacn

set the "dun" bar higher

reputation display

building social capital

Social Media Principles - SlideShare

Chris Heuer’s slidedeck on social media principles

Be Human

Be Aware

Be Honest

Be Respectful

Be a Participant

Be Open

Be Courageous

PR Squared: Top 5 Principles of the Social Media News Release

Bringing the concept of the press release into the 21st century.

Democratize Access

Embrace Context

Build Community

Be Findable

Ensure Accuracy

Now Is Gone » The Seven Principles of Community Building

Let’s go nation building!

Do not try to control the message

Honesty, Ethics and Transparency are Musts

Participation within the community is marketing

Communication to audiences is outmoded

Build value for the community

Inspire your community with real, exciting information, not propaganda

Manage media forms to build community

• RSS
• Frequency of message
• etc

Principles of Engaging People Online

How to win Facebook friends and influence Twitter People.

Understand who you want to engage

Explore what's in it for me

Create a space people feel comfortable in

Be open and honest

Reward Participation

UPDATE:  I have written my own 10 Principles of Social Media which I believe boil these 64 into universally applicable guides.

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Comments

[Marilyn Terrell]

This is a treasure chest of useful info. I especially like what ZnetLady says. Thank you for compiling these principles.