1. From social to professional networking Image by Occhiovivo By Megan Tyrell

2. In the past five years, social networking sites have become the number one way to communicate with others around the world. Image by Ohad*

3. Around 57% of people prefer to communicate online over of face to face interaction. Image by LorianneDiSabato

4. But social networking sites are not only being used socially, it is clearly the new way to professionallynetwork. Image by Shoothead

5. Oneinfiveemployers use social networking sites in the hiring process. Image by Provitguide

6. Facebook and Linkedin are a couple social networking sites of many that are being used by popular businesses to achieve improved interaction with customers. Image by and+

7. Facebook was originally created for social interaction among colleagues but today it is also being used as a business and marketing tool. Image by Samtironika

8. There are over 500 million Facebook users today. The amount of traffic Facebook receives in a day has made it easier to search for possible candidates as well as advertise business opportunities. Image by Bartek

9. Linkedin, on the other hand, only has around 100 million members Image by Tychay

10. …but it is aprofessionalnetworking site that can achieve business goals effectively in a business environment. Image by Notashamed

11. There are many advantages to social networking sites for both businesses and candidates. Image by Soartsythurts

12. Social networking sites support the maintenance of existing social ties and the formation of new connections. Image by Nic Snell

13. They provide the power of rapport and meeting up with the right people at the right time. Image by Shoothead

14. They make searching for possible candidates quick and easy, with just a press of a button. Image by Shutterstock

15. Also, social networking sites can be used at anytime and anywhere with the increased technology such as a Smartphone, a laptop and/or a tablet. Image by Johan Larsson

16. Their goal is to build interpersonal relationships, which can open doors to job opportunities at target employers. Image by Tuxthepenguin84

17. But how do successful candidates stand out from the millions of people in the online world? Image by Philipp Klinger

18. The most important way to stand out is to brand yourself. Image by Shoothead

19. Branding is an idea, an image, a promise. It is about what makes you different from everyone else, and what others can expect to gain from you. Image by Sunnydelishgirl Image by Lisa Anne

20. If you do not create a strong and true brand for yourself in the virtual world, people willcreate it for you and you might not like the results Image by Lisa Anne

21. All in all, the purpose of business networking is to make it easier for the employer to attract good workers, and more importantly get the top talent it needs from the job market. Image by Shoothead

22. Therefore, social networking sites are the key to success in business. Image by SJ Photography

23. Credits All images are licensed under the Creative Commons Non-Commercial NoDerivs License Image by Stephanie Wallace