Here are a few to keep in mind:

Be professional. On Twitter, don't be the egg; post a professional photo of yourself on your profile. This holds true on all social-media sites. A business colleague should recognize you from your online picture. Include information about yourself. Your social-media profiles are the equivalent of your business card, so be sure you keep it updated as your professional information changes. Always keep your basic contact information updated and link to your other professional profiles.
Introduce yourself. Want people to get a sense for who you are? Post interesting, value-added content on your social media accounts to showcase your professional expertise. This is especially true with LinkedIn; when you update your status with useful information, you're building trust among your network—opening doors for introductions to new connections.
Be authentic. Just like in real life, no one wants to connect with "that guy." You know the one: The guy in the sleazy suit who spends his time schmoozing. One of the biggest mistakes people make when connecting on LinkedIn or Facebook is not personalizing the message in the invitation. Swap out the default message with something like "George, I really enjoy your blog at xblog.com. The leadership content you share is so valuable. I'd like to add you to my professional network and get to know more about your business." This will let the recipient know how you found them and why you want to connect. In turn, they will know that you aren't connection for the sake of just adding to their numbers.
Listen. Building connections through social media isn't just about pushing out content on this network or that. If you're not taking time to listen and engage with influential people (the ones you are hoping to connect with), you're missing an opportunity. Choose a handful of key people you want to build a business relationship with, read what they are posting, and where there is an opportunity for you to add value—jump in!

Whether you are connecting with people in the online world, or at a dinner party, knowing how to present yourself in a positive way is the same. Think before you speak translates to "think before you tweet."

Special Reports /

What you should know about social media etiquette

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