1. What you type and say will establish, for better or for worse, what people think of you. Remember that when online, text does not have emotion unless you give it emotion. They can't hear the inflection of your voice, they can't hear if you're teasing. Be sure to be careful of what you type, and remember that emoticons can be a great way to add emotion when you aren't sure how to put it in words.

2. Some groups require rather active participation, and some don't. Be sure to pick a group that fits your way of life. If you are often busy offline or in other places, a group that requires you to do five things a day may not be the place for you! And if you want to be active all the time, a laid back group might just not fit you quite right, either.

3. Respect is key. No matter what kind of group it is, having respect for those within the group and making sure you remember their feelings is likely going to be a key to making sure you are successful in that group. Treat others as you'd like to be treated, and you can rarely go wrong.