HOW TO BE A GOOD NET CONTROLLER

• at the commencement of the net, advise people the name of the net, what it is all about.
• at the start of the net, lay down the ground rules, e.g. "please remember this is a DX Net, please keep your over short.  Please give your callsign, name and a signal report."
• if you use net control stations, nominate the net control stations at the start of the net.  Emphasise that those stations are to do the relay work.  This will limit the amount of doubling.
• keep calm
• be friendly.  Grumpy net controls do not attract checkins
• maintain control of the net
• speak with confidence and some authority
• use plain language.  Do not use jargon or slang.  Remember that English will not be the first language of some of the checkins to the net 
• speak clearly and concisely
• follow the same procedure.  This provides predicability to the other stations taking part in the net.
• keep a record of the callsign and name of those who have checked into the net
• keep important information at hand, e.g. solar figures, the net's website address, etc.
• start the net on time
• welcome all the checkins by name
• if the checkin is new to the net, advise them details of the net.
• ensure that the net frequency is clear before transmitting.  If the nominated frequency of the net is busy, do not take over the frequency.  Remember, nets do not own frequencies.  Take the net up or down to a clear frequency
• stop regularly to ask for further checkins.  Keeping people waiting only frustrates them and it is likely they won't stick around to check in.
• as the net progresses, continually advise what DX is currently checked into the net
• ensure you have a glass of water handy
• take a bathroom stop prior to the net
• make yourself familiar with prefixes so that you know where  in the world the DX station is checking in from