How big is your online network?

Following the spectacular success of MySpace.com, many Web 2.0 entrepreneurs have launched or plan to launch new business-networking sites. If you have been a skeptic to the growing social-networking trend, now may be the time to hop on the bandwagon. Here are three of today’s popular business-networking sites that we have found useful:

LinkedIn - Founded in 2002, today’s probably most well-known business networking site has grown to more than 9 million members. By continually building out your direct contact list, you can have access to thousands, if not millions, of other members through just a few degrees of separation. According to a Business 2.0 article from this past December, “LinkedIn has become the go-to place for the tech elite” and has become a candidate searching tool-of-choice for executives at companies such as Microsoft.

Jobster – Founded in 2004, Jobster is looking to quickly increase its networking capabilities. Just last week, the company announced a new and improved Web 2.0 site that will allow users to connect with people, information, and opportunities to help them further their careers. On the new Jobster.com, job seekers can post digital profiles and resumes, set up personalized tags, network with other job seekers for advice and create personal URL addresses for themselves within Jobster. The new site also allows employers to an unlimited amount of free job postings and immediately presents potential matching candidates. 

Xing – According to Xing, founded in 2003, “no two people are more than six degrees apart.” Out of all business networking sites out there today, Xing definitely has the largest international presence. With its corporate headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, the sites boasts tens of millions of users from around the globe.

Posted by Michele B.