Social media “rock stars,” like conventional rock stars, owe much of their success to their fans. That’s because regardless of talent or hard work, it’s their decision to friend or follow you – and repost or interact with your content – that can propel you to superstar status.

Obviously, when someone raves about your products on their blog or recommends your services on your (or their) Facebook wall, you feel extremely appreciative. The efforts made on their behalf can increase your visibility, which could end up earning you countless new clients.

Just as you would write a thank you letter to someone from whom you received a birthday present, proper social media etiquette says you must acknowledge and express your gratitude for the contribution they’ve made (however big or small) to your social media success. But unlike in the “real world,” in the cyber realm, there is more than one way of doing this.

One thing to keep in mind is that with social media, often the best way to show you care, is to share. This applies across the board – from “liking” a follower’s pin on Pinterest to sharing one of their vlog posts on your YouTube channel.

*When it comes to giving Twitter thanks, you have to be careful. Since insightful, original content is what people seek in the Twitterverse, if you are constantly sending spammy-looking “Thanks to @so-and-so & so-and-so & so-and-so” tweets, you might turn a lot of people off. Instead, show appreciation by retweeting one or several of your supporters’ posts. That way you’ll be exposing them to all your followers and returning the favor in the same form in which it came. If possible, enhance the retweet by adding in your two cents (why you liked it, how it helped you, etc.).

*Similarly, with Facebook, instead of a “thanks for posting!” message, think of ways to help draw attention to their page. For example, you might want to repost some of their content that is of relevance to your business, comment on something they posted, or mention their name in a status update along with a link to one of their pertinent articles or videos.

*If the supporter gave great advice or information via one of their social media accounts, saying “thank you” by giving them a +K in Klout is one of the best things you can do. This shows others that that person is influential on a given topic and increases their credibility amongst others in the field.