What are the Best Professional Networking Sites?

These days, the world is all about networking – social networking and professional networking sites are all the rage. People have come to learn the value of connection in this increasingly interactive world, and a good network will get you places. If you’re interested in boosting your stock in the professional world, you might want to consider joining a professional networking site. Such sites keep you connected with your current business associates, and they help you find new ones as well. And who doesn’t want to increase his business contacts?

Of course, professional networking is most effective when you keep yourself in good company. You’ll want to make your presence felt among the major players in your industry more than among the less successful ones. That’s why choosing the right professional networking sites is key to building a strong professional network online. Here are a few of the top professional networking sites you can join:

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is one of the world’s biggest professional networking websites to date. It boasts over 30 million members in about 150 industries. You’re bound to find quite the number of associates with those numbers.

Membership to LinkedIn is free; however, if you want enhanced networking features, you’ll have to upgrade your membership to a paid one. Don’t let the paid membership scare you, though – it’s more than worth it. Once you’re a member, you can create your own profile page, in which you can upload your professional information. You work experience, educational information, and other relevant data will be made available for other members to see. From there, it’s all about making connections. Any existing business contacts can introduce or refer you to others, and your business network will grow from there.

Plaxo

Plaxo doesn’t have quite the membership base as LinkedIn, but its members still count at a very strong 15 million. However, like LinkedIn, Plaxo offers free membership with the option to pay for enhanced features.

What sets Plaxo apart is its focus on being more than just an address book. The networking website integrates aspects of professional networking with social networking. Not only do you present yourself as a potential business connection, but you also present yourself as someone sociable. Aside from blogging, Plaxo allows you to share more personal aspects of yourself with the business world. For example, you can show off your passion for photography by letting your Flicker updates appear on your Plaxo account. With this and other similar features, you can network with a more personal touch.

Ecademy

Last. but certainly not the least, is Ecademy. While its membership numbers aren’t disclosed, it’s a very well-known professional networking site. There are three membership levels, with one free level and two paid premium ones. While it isn’t quite as user-friendly as the two professional networking sites mentioned above, Ecademy’s prowess lies in its strong focus on creating business connections. You can connect with other professionals via traditional networking, networking events, and even online meetings. What’s more, members can give testimonials for their business associates, helping you find the right connections.