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Networks get things done.

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Whether it's sending a letter or lighting your home, networks make it happen.

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To get from Chicago to Santa Fe, we need to see the network of roads that will get us

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there.

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We see that Chicago is connected to St. Louis, which is connected to Dallas, which is connected

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to Santa Fe.

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Of course, people networks can help us with finding jobs, meeting new friends, and finding

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partners.

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You know how it works.

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Bob is your friend, and he knows Sally, and Sally's friend Joe has a job for you.

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This is a network of people, a social network.

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Yay!

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The problem with social networks in the real world is that most of the connections between

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people are hidden.

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Your network may have huge potential, but it's only as valuable as the people and the

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connections that you can see.

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Boo!

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This problem is being solved by a type of website called a social networking site.

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These websites help you see connections that are hidden in the real world.

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Here's how it works.

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You sign up for a free account and fill out your profile.

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Then you look for people you know.

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When you find someone, you click a button that says add as friend.

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Once you do this, you and that person have a connection on the website that others can

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see.

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They are a member of your network, and you are a member of theirs.

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What's really cool is that you can see who your friends know and who your friend's friends

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know.

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You're no longer a stranger, so you can contact them more easily.

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This solves a real world problem because your network has hidden opportunities.

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Social networking sites make these connections between people visible.

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Like a map for a highway, they show you the people network that can help you get to your

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next destination, whether it's a job, a new partner, or a great place to live.

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Your network is suddenly more useful.

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You can get started at these sites, LinkedIn, Facebook, and MySpace.

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I'm Lela Fever, and this has been Social Networking in Plain English on the Common

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Craft Show.