• by Beverly Weinstein , March 2, 2009

Everyone is all a twitter (pun intended) these days with social networking sites. We've got profiles and friend lists, groups, photos and tweets! But how does all this translate into superior networking opportunities or better yet job opportunities? Great question.

It seems to be an accepted fact today that these social tools aid in expanding and growing your network or your brand and can lead to endless opportunities. But in 2006, two years after Mark Zuckerberg unleashed Facebook onto the Web, job candidates were warned of the consequences of allowing potential employers access to your profile. While this warning was meant mainly for recent college grads who often displayed photos showcasing their undergraduate escapades, a resounding "beware" rang out across the internet and many users feared mixing the personal with the professional. But those days are indeed over. Privacy options and more caution in content have quelled these concerns over the past three years and now, literally everybody's doing it. But don't be ashamed if you're amongst the late bloomers, and there are many, who are still struggling to use these sites to their highest potential.

Firstly, sites like LinkedIn, which are geared towards the professional crowd should indeed be treated as a virtual resume. Recruiters and hiring managers frequent these spots to find candidates as well as to check on applicants' backgrounds. Aside from developing a shining profile filled with recommendations from colleagues and former employers, the key to establishing a presence on LinkedIn is to connect, connect, connect. The more connections you have, the more networks you cross into it and the more likely you are to be found in a recruiter's search and likewise the more likely you are to find someone you're looking to network with. The search function on this site allows people to view the profiles of those they are connected to and those that are connected to their contacts. Think of it like six degrees of Kevin Bacon. And like Facebook, you can always keep your contacts private to protect them from anyone looking to swipe up your hard earned Rolodex.

The rule of connecting like crazy still stands on Facebook and the like, but instead of waiting for someone to find you or sifting through thousands of profiles, you may want to opt to make yourself known with a swift and easy "status post." Typing in a quick request - Anyone know of an opportunity in digital ad sales in Chicago? - is likely to be seen in the Newsfeed of all your connections. You can reach literally everyone you know and who knows who might have a tip for you.

This technique is the main function of Twitter. There's no detailed profile involved. Simple one-line "tweets" will reach all your "followers" and like all the other sites, the more people you follow, the more will follow you. These sites are hot and everyone wants to network, it's relatively easy to acquire a solid group of contacts and start tweeting away.

Another useful tool found on all of these networks, with the exception of Twitter, is groups. Joining groups for people in specific industries or with specific career goals will narrow your aim in sending out messages or finding connections. I am a member of the "Women in Digital Media" group on Facebook where women from across the country who share this field can post job opportunities, seek job opportunities and start conversations relating to the digital world. In addition, the group's creators have expanded outside of virtual reality and organize events in New York City where we digital ladies can meet up and do some real life networking. Joining this group connected me to over 300 people who I already know work in the digital space.

Already have an internet presence with a website or blog? Well these networking sites can still be useful. Placing links on your site to your social networking profiles can increase your readership or the knowledge of your brand. Setting up a page for your company or brand and getting users to join will make others aware. Remember that Newsfeed? Well if I join a company's Facebook page, everyone on my Newsfeed will know and maybe they'll check it out and join up too. The same goes for the other networks. Catching on? You know that phrase, as simple as the click of a button? Well, it really is.