With so much conversation and chatter happening on the Web right now, it’s tough to know how to get your business to stand out from the masses. Here are some tips that can help you learn more about how to gain fans, followers and friends and increase your business’ online presence.

1. Be authentic. Be honest and compelling, and professional. This is a core ingredient of social media success.

2. Make time! Yes, we are all busy and we have very full lives. Small business owners are no different. But as many highly effective people will say, you always have time for what you put first in your life. So make time and make it a priority.

3. Consistency is key. If you don’t participate on a regular basis, you won’t see results in the social media world. You don’t have to tweet 500 times a day, or even be on your computer 24/7, but a 24 hour response time is a good benchmark to have when answering to comments, questions or feedback.

4. Tell a story. People love glimpsing into the lives of others. We’re fascinated by it. Don’t share anything you feel uncomfortable with, but let people know the authentic you.

5. Plan, plan, plan. Think about what you want your social media goals to be six months, a year, even two years down the road. Formulate a plan of action and stick to it. You’ll be thankful you did.

6. Learn from criticism. Nobody likes criticism, even when it’s well intentioned, but many times this kind of feedback can help your organization or small business make changes for the better. Don’t ignore it completely — listen to problems and then make a decision on what to do.

7. Always listen. Be aware of what people are saying about your brand or business. An easy way to do this? Sign up for Google Alerts, so you can monitor what’s being said about you online on a regular basis.

8. Develop a social media policy. Formulate a policy for your team so they know what’s appropriate to talk about online, and what isn’t. Keep a document handy so that all your employees can be briefed on what’s expected.

9. Go mobile. With iPad sales skyrocketing, the demand for apps on the go shouldn’t be ignored. If you can, develop your own application now or put it in the works for the future.

10. Have fun! Social media is an exciting and fast-paced environment. Creative and original ideas often have the best chance of standing out, so there’s no reason not to have fun with it!