Preparing Your Mafia - Mafia Wars Strategy

If you've done a good job recruiting members into your mafia,
you should have at least six very experienced players who are
very far along in the game. You want to make these super
players your 'top mafia' members. If you go to the My Mafia
section in the game, you should see places to promote six
members of your mafia into top positions that give you
bonuses.
This section will vary greatly depending on who's in your
mafia. If you're lucky you will be able to fill all six positions
with high-ranking members that will give you good bonuses.
If you didn't do so well in recruiting (impossible if you follow the
steps I've outlined) then there won't be many bonuses you can
get, but focus on the bonuses that will at least give you a little
more cash.
It's a good idea to send gifts to your mafia, especially to your
top players. It's good criminal etiquette. You'll need to pull a
bunch of jobs before you have anything to give them, however,
remember to send a gift to these members when you get
something interesting in your collection.