Linked In is a powerful, professional networking community of over 80 million professionals from more than 200 countries. International in scope (only 50 % of the members are from the US), this free site is designed to help professionals of all types meet and keep in touch with other professionals. It is like a huge, 24/7 networking event, right at your fingertips!

As stated in their promotional materials, Linked In's mission is to "... connect the world's professionals to make them more productive and successful." Join the community and let them help you establish your expertise, build your professional network, enhance your online presence, find a job or job candidates and identify viable leads.

Unlike Facebook, this is a professional community; you will not find Mafia Wars or Farmville type games here - ever. It is THE place to search for industry intelligence, professional opportunities and to learn more about someone before a purchase, hire or meeting. Make sure that your potential clients, partners and employers are able to find you!

The interface is quite simple and intuitive, see box below for five simple steps to get you started. To learn more about how to make the most of your time on this valuable site, be sure to join us on one of our upcoming webinars where we will discuss how to 'Harness the Power of Linked In'.