Successful social networking depends on quality, not quantity.
"It's about the relationships, not about the number of people you have on your space," said Toronto-based consultant Randall Craig, author of Social Media for Business.
LinkedIn is a tremendous tool for professional development and career advancement, he said, but participants should give careful thought to who they want to connect with – and which of those connections can be approached for recommendations.
"It's too easy to sit back and push that button that says, 'Ask for a recommendation,'" Mr. Craig said. "You need to pick up the phone and actually speak to that person.
"All of a sudden, you strengthen the relationship and you can sense whether there may be concerns about them actually giving you a recommendation. It's better to find out beforehand rather than after."
Virginia Galt