You can argue what is important to have success in social media. One aspect most can agree on is having lots of GOOD friends. I say good, because just like in real life, not all friends are equal.

No matter what social network you prefer, to be successful you'll need a good network. With that being said, how do you go about getting these friends?

What do you have in common?

Each social network is somehow divided into categories. A great place to start is with the categories you are interested in. For example, if you're on Twitter, begin following people who tweet about things you are interested in. It is much easier to forge friendship when you have something in common.

What is the secret to friendship?

Social media is a lot like having friends in real life. Think about it. You have something in common. The friendships you have are work and rarely one sided. You have to be there for your friends when you they need you, and by doing so, they are there for you when you need them. Friendship takes time and work. Friendship involves listening and helping.

You know the old saying, "You have to give to get." It holds true in social media as well. This means showing interest in stories your friends share by re-sharing or commenting.