Features

• State social media privacy laws a mixed bag for businesses

  New social media privacy laws that have been enacted in several states around the country, or are in the works, present something of a mixed bag for businesses.

• Analytics boost social marketing efforts

  Big-name companies including General Electric and Best Western are maturing their social marketing programs and integrating social metrics with back-end systems.

• Opinion: How do you manage your social networks?

  I recently decided, somewhat randomly, to experiment a bit more with social networking. I was on LinkedIn and at some point the service asked me if it could access my Gmail contact list.

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  The day of the password is done

  When the popular Web site Gawker was hacked into recently, more than a million user IDs and passwords were released. If you were one of the people compromised that's annoying -- very annoying. Not that it's a big deal that someone could log into a gossip site under your name. But many of those people used those same IDs and passwords on other sites that are a wee bit more important, such as LinkedIn. Now, that's a problem.

• 5 LinkedIn Groups to Boost Your Social Media Savvy

  How familiar are you with LinkedIn Groups? This section of the social networking site (found on the top navigation bar) is dedicated to communities of professionals based on common interests, experiences, affiliation and goals. Groups can be a great source of industry information and discussions, as well as an effective way to connect with likeminded professionals.

• LinkedIn Quick Tip: How to Reorder Profile Sections

  Instead of adhering to LinkedIn's templated format, you can now arrange the pieces of your profile - like your summary, experience and recommendations - however you see fit.

• LinkedIn Quick Tip: Should You Upgrade to a Paid Account?

  Social networking service LinkedIn is free, but if you choose to upgrade to a paid account, you have access to additional features. What are the four top advantages in updating your account?

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  5 Ways to Get More from LinkedIn in 2010

  As the economy plummeted in 2009, LinkedIn's popularity skyrocketed. LinkedIn grew to more than 53 million members and announced partnerships with IBM, Microsoft and Twitter. If you're on the hunt for a new job-or just looking to ramp up your activity and connections-start the new year off right with these five tips to help you get more from the business networking service.

• How to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile: Stand Out to Employers, Recruiters

  As the economy falls deeper into recession, many people have turned to LinkedIn, the social network for professionals, to job hunt and connect with contacts who might help them land a new gig. But career experts say your LinkedIn job-hunting efforts will all be for naught if you don't build your profile page properly and ensure that it is search-friendly for potential employers and recruiters.

• Can your online past come back to haunt you?

  When it comes to some aspects of finding a job by social networking, such as online reputation management, Sean Ryan, senior vice president of engineering and a hiring manager at online measurement tools vendor Lyris, has a completely opposite view than most. The vast majority of recruiting professionals say it's important to make sure there's nothing online that could be too personal or embarrassing or that might turn off potential employers doing a background check.

• Your online reputation: Leveraging LinkedIn

  Make the most of your LinkedIn account. Part 3 in our series on how to maneuver your professional reputation through Web 2.0.

• LinkedIn Users Debate Whether CIO Means "Career is Over"

  In LinkedIn Answers this week, director at IBM Global Services Yaseen Babbar raised the question, "What is the future of the 'CIO' position in organizations?"

• LinkedIn Recommendations: Five Ways to Make The Most of Them

  As potential employers or recruiters peruse your work experience on LinkedIn, recommendations from past and present colleagues can be one of the most helpful features to help communicate your value. Here's five tips for doing the most good for yourself with LinkedIn recommendations.

• Social networking behind the firewall

  Microsoft calls it TownSquare. Deloitte hosts D Street. IBM has its Beehive, and Best Buy its BlueShirt Nation.