I recently experienced a phenomenon I call a "networking feedback loop". You've undoubtedly been in a presentation in which the presenter pointed a microphone the wrong way (usually towards the P.A. system), and an overwhelming screech was emitted. This is what's known as "feedback" - a situation in which the input is amplified, and the amplified output is fed back into the input, eventually overloading the system. The same thing can occur with networking.

Classmates started out in 1995 with the simple premise of helping people reconnect with old school friends. Its phenomenal growth to over 35 million members is a testament to the power of the internet to connect people on a large scale and of their desire to do so.

One of the key benefits of online networking is that even people who don't know you can find you based on your profile and connect with you if you meet their current needs or interests. In order to have that be effective, you want to build a profile that's written in the way people will be looking for you, not necessarily in the way you want to promote yourself. It's essential to understand that in the online world, traditional "personal branding" rules don't necessarily apply.

Ecademy's self-proclaimed cause is "to build the world's largest Trusted Business Network by connecting people to each other - enabling knowledge, contacts and opportunities to be shared for World Wide Wealth."

One of the key differences between traditional networking and online networking is the ability to have a robust personal profile that is publicly accessible. That profile is a 24/7/365 invitation for other people to connect to you, and you want to do everything you can to make yourself "attractive" online. So before you sign up for any online networking site that has user profiles, be prepared with your profile and photo.

Since its launch in October 2001 as an extension of founder Adrian Scott's Web of Finance mixers, it has grown to several thousand members all over the world.