EIGHT Great Reasons Not to Friend, Link or Follow Someone on Social Media

By Gary Schirr and Kiki Schirr (aka @professorgary and @KikiSchirr)

Top selection:I follow back! #Teamfollowback IFB. Do I smell DESPERATION? What you are saying is: I don't care who you are or whether you sell teeth whiteners, male enhancement products, or social media followers - I will follow you back. I don't care about my community or stream, I just want followers, baby! If you want to join a weird disconnected community seek out profiles that say "IFB.."

Protip: Don't do it even without announcing itI I once used an auto-back service since I found I was already following back over 75% of the time. I was careful NOT to say anywhere that I follow back but I was somehow quickly included in lists of people who do. Quality followers dropped under 50%. Remember: you are building a community or personal learning network!

The other 7 clear signals of people you should avoid

• Any mention in their profile or tweets/posts of Multi-level marketing, MLM, network marketing or the "law of attraction."

Pro Tip: If for some reason a person IS eager to know the joy of MLM, they would probably be better off contacting Amway or Herbalife directly instead of dealing with these people..

• 10,000 Facebook friends or 89,000 Twitter followers for only $15.

Pro Tip: Purchased friends do not help your Klout, Kred or PeerIndex scores. Leave purchased followers to politicians, corporate execs, and wannabe pop tarts.

• They describe themselves as a Guru (e.g. "Social Media Guru") or Ninja. Go ahead LOL! for a few minutes... but do you really want to get to engage someone who calls themselves a ninja, sensei, or guru of content, social media, or marketing?

Pro Tip: Other words to avoid: maven, rockstar, evangelist (unless you are, in fact, Guy Kawasaki)

• Too many consonants and too much cleavage: If your photo is sultry and your name unpronounceable, I get the hint--you're selling followers. You might not lead with it, like the ClickFarmers, but you're not fooling anyone (except the occasional politician).

Pro Tip: If you are naturally sultry, ask a friend if your profile pic looks like it could make the cover of Fortune.

• Egg/Kitten/Stock Photo: If I can post my pic, so can you! No one gets follows with a picture of their sneakers.

Pro Tip: If your profile pic is Photoshop-perfect, you can assure people it is you by saying "AVI is me". And... shirtless works for Putin and Fabio, otherwise nyet...

• Liberal warrior, conservative defender, feminist, unashamed player, atheist, devout... All fine in moderation I suppose, but the fact that you are compelled to tell me your politics, lifestyle or religious beliefs in your profile means that I will likely read few of your posts and you will get friend requests from REALLY "out there" people.

Pro Tip: Have a little mystique. Save deeper conversations for DMs.

• Candy Crushheads, Farmvillains, and Angry Birdbrains. --enough said.

Pro Tip: Maybe you should explore 4chan

What did we miss? Please add to our list!!!