SMO = online community management (OCM)

What started as a shortlist of 5 tips for Social Media Optimization (SMO) by Rohit Bhargava, has made quite a splash in the world of social media. In a few months it has grown into an even more relevant longlist through comments on Bhargava's original article, a series of contributions to the discussion on other blogs, and even a first fully dedicated SMO blog.

With only some superfluous editing, the shortest version of this longlist is:

1. Increase your linkability.
2. Make tagging and bookmarking easy.
3. Reward inbound links.
4. Help your content travel.
5. Encourage mashups.
6. Be a user resource; add value to users.
7. Reward helpful and valuable users.
8. Participate - join the conversation.
9. Know how to target your audience.
10. Create content.
11. Be real.
12. Don’t forget your roots, be humble.
13. Don’t be afraid to try new things, stay fresh.
14. Develop an SMO strategy.
15. Choose your SMO tactics wisely.
16. Make SMO part of your process and best practices.
17. Don't be afraid to let go of a message or idea and let others own it.

It strikes me that all these SMO rules are also highly relevant for online community management. I propose a few specific rules for that specialism, plus a new acronym - OCM [-:

1. Build your community around a long lasting, fascinating common interest.
2. Pamper superconnectors and mavens.
3. Be generous, and - if you're in it for the money - only ask back a little.
4. Define data security as your core competence.
5. Define virality as your core business.
6. Invent a compelling member-get-member mechanism.
7. Optimize features that facilitate members to organize themselves in sub-communities.
8. Blend your community with things happening in the real world.
9. Offer customer/member service delight.
10. Let management and staff handle their own conversations with members.

Any ideas for additional OCM rules?