How can they help you expand your world.
   
On-line networking sites have been touted as the next great thing in building your network. Never before has so much information been so readily accessible, so long as you know how to navigate the various sites. Social and professional networking sites, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, have risen to the top as leaders in on-line networking.  While they can be very convenient and useful tools, there are some things you should understand in order to use them most appropriately.  
 
Social Networking Sites
 
Social networking sites received their jumpstart from the younger crowd. They were designed for teens and college-aged kids to meet and communicate with their friends. MySpace, one of the most popular sites, has become a place where people can assume alternate identities and personalities. Rarely is it used in a professional context. Facebook then arrived. The general premise of Facebook was to create an environment where people could communicate with friends, remote family members, etc. Unlike MySpace, which allows users to set up as many profiles as they like (as long as they use different email accounts), Facebook was originally designed to be more selective – requiring a college email address to establish an account. Facebook has expanded beyond this original vision, though. It is now popular with a wide range of age groups and is used for a variety of purposes. Because of its nature – you have to be invited as a “friend” to have access to someone’s page if it is set up as “private” – people tend to share more about themselves, including their professional lives. As such, companies and various professional organizations are designing Facebook pages and groups, so they’re becoming a great source of networking, though the site’s primary focus still seems to be more social than
professional.
 
Professional Networking Sites
 
Professional networking sites, such as LinkedIn, are designed for the business world. They provide a great way for people to link up with business associates, colleagues, classmates, etc. to build their professional network. Additionally, there are a variety of interest groups and associations that have cropped up, providing a way for users to link to other similarly-situated individuals. Like Facebook, users must approve link requests, so you can build your network as you choose. LinkedIn users have access to all of their links’ links, so the ability to network with others is like playing “six degrees of separation”. Additionally, LinkedIn regularly sends email updates to its members regarding their links’ activities, such as their new contacts and affiliations, group and association activities, employment updates, and relevant articles or discussions.  Additionally, like the social networking sites, LinkedIn has created topical message boards as a way for you to directly contact anyone in your network or your links’ networks.
 


Networking Sites, Continued