Editor’s note: This is part two of a three part series on Reddit for PR and social media professionals. Read the first part here.

We hear this term often as it relates to using social media tools: Be a native.

But what does it mean?

In one sense, it means talking the talk, walking the walk. It means immersing yourself in the community, adding valuable content, and sharing the spotlight.

For social media managers on Reddit, the biggest barrier to success is familiarity. We aren’t comfortable with the language and conduct among users. Think back to the first time you were introduced to Twitter. It was a little intimidating. RTs, hashtags, and TweetDeck—everything seemed quite complicated at the time.

So here’s a quick guide to becoming a Reddit native. First, the language—and for Reddit, it’s all about the acronyms—followed by conduct, or “Reddiqutte.”

Commonly used acronyms:

• TIL – Today I learned
• YSK – You Should Know
• AMA – Ask Me Anything
• AMAA – Ask Me Almost Anything
• NSFW – Not Safe For Work (could be racy or violent)
• NSFL – Not Safe for Life (potentially violent or gory)
• DIY – Do It Yourself (one of my favorite Subreddits)
• TL:DR - Too Long, Didn’t Read.
• OP - Original Poster
• IMO - In My Opinion

Similar to any other website or organization, there are rules and standards of conduct that steer interactions on Reddit. Here are the basics:

Do:

• Keep your submission titles factual and opinion-free. Opinions should stay in the comments.
• Post to the most appropriate community possible. Find the right Subreddit. Period.
• Vote. The up and down arrows are your tools to make Reddit what you want it to be.
• Use proper grammar and spelling. Intelligent discourse requires a standard system of communication.

Don’t:

• Write titles in ALL CAPS. It’s just annoying, and it’s similar to begging for up-votes.
• Complain about a story being old. Reddit is about interesting stuff, not new stuff only.
• Insult others. Insults do not contribute to a rational discussion.
• Troll. Possibly more annoying than all of the previous “dont’s” combined.

[RELATED: 10 intriguing facts about the wildly popular Reddit]

Ellie Humphrey is the founder of MadGirlPR (@MadGirlPR), which provides insights about the PR, social, and marketing industries. Ellie is also the public relations and social media coordinator at PerBlue (@PerBlue), a mobile and social gaming company in Madison, Wis.

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