User generated content moderation specialist eModeration has just released a few handy hints for firms looking to make the most of their UGC initiatives. It might be the latest buzz word to migrate across the pond, but as with everything, if organisations blindly stumble into projects without a clear plan or reason for doing so, they could get burnt when it all goes t**s up. Which it has a very real chance of doing, because people can be quite unpredictable.

According to Tamara Littleton, the CEO of eModeration, one of the key things to remember is to make your guidelines open and friendly; less legalese and more common sense, non-intimidating language please. Openness also extends to the punishment, or moderation, you need to mete out to erring users. Ensure that all users see when you're giving someone a rollicking and they will be less likely to do something naughty themselves – it's about showing them where they stand and where you do. And that most of the time users don't know when they're breaking the rules.

Finally there was advice about the moderation tools you may want to use. Test their usability as you would site testing, because the experience should be as good for the site owner as the user – content has got to be easy to moderate, unless you want any old rubbish posted on yer site. And outsourcing this operation isn't the be all…some info is best kept in-house where resident experts can moderate with more authority of the subject matter.