LinkedIN ... practical function???

[fred]

Many of these "Web 2.0" fads escape me, but I'm constantly bombarded with requests and invitations for me to "join" this or that site.

Can ANYONE tell me the real, practical use for Linkedin ???
www.linkedin.com

For instance -- WHY would I want to join someone's Linkedin "network" if I don't even have a clue of who they are???

Please share a clue

[Tips]

So nobody answered this one? Probably should delete it.

[blueberry62]

I find linkedin.com to be ridiculous. If you try to contact people that you do not know, you will end up barred from contacting anyone else. What is the point of networking if you cannot contact people?

Originally Posted by fred

Many of these "Web 2.0" fads escape me, but I'm constantly bombarded with requests and invitations for me to "join" this or that site.

Can ANYONE tell me the real, practical use for Linkedin ???
www.linkedin.com

For instance -- WHY would I want to join someone's Linkedin "network" if I don't even have a clue of who they are???

Please share a clue

[John]

I've just received an invitation from a co-worker (not a graphic designer whom I have very little contact from) to the LinkedIn network. I looked it up on Wikipedia and the description seemed to be more of the same as FaceBook and the other want-to-be network sites. Since this thread been inactive for three months I was wondering if there might be members with more recent exposure to LinkedIn to offer insight about it's value. Perhaps being visible on several of the better known networking sites is the SOP of doing business now-a-days.

[swirleigh]

It's a professional social networking site. I link-in with co-workers, clients, employers and job recruiters. I get contacted by people looking to hire me for SEO projects, consulting or ask if I could recommend anyone for a position. It's an online description of my work history, those I worked with and their recommendations. I love it, one of my favorite most useful sites of 2008. I put a link to it in my email signature. It's a way to connect with all your business connections.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/searchengineoptimizerseo

[John]

Just yesterday morning I finally registered onto LinkedIn and was able to see how many people from the company I work for were already signed in. I'm laying back with it for the time being but at this point I figured it couldn't hurt to be there. Depending on what happens to my fulltime, parttime and freelance work this my be handy.

[tscreative]

I've been on LinkIn for a while now and I do like it but its usefulness is really a matter of how much you want to put into it. If you like spending all day reading posts for possible relevancy to your work/life situation and collecting connections both related and obscure (which appears to be an end unto itself), you will be overjoyed.

I saw someone post that they had over 10,000 connections! What the hell does one do with that many connections!

Me. I view it to kill time and to vent once in a while. It really is just an extention of Facebook and Twitter which to me are little more than self-indulgent, narcisistic vehicles for promoting allusions/delusions of importance.

[rikonsmith]

Linkedln is a business network. it is one of best business networking site. its a huge database and good for all business owner. i like to participate in Linkedln.