Social networks like micro-blogging site Twitter have garnered plenty of attention lately – thanks to celebrity supporters from Oprah to Ashton Kutcher. Sure, it helps to have a recognizable name or brand when you’re trying to build a base of Twitter followers, Facebook fans or LinkedIn connections, but it’s not a requirement.

In a recent CNN.com piece about the growth of the site, CNET blogger Caroline McCarthy summed it up as follows: “The power of Twitter is about the millions of people using it and how easy it is to filter and aggregate their thoughts and conversations.”

To get started, sign up for one or a few of the networks that relate to your interests or your business and give it a try. The basis of social networking hinges on the term social, after all, so apply your business networking skills to the online world, and it opens up a whole new realm of possibilities.

For those of you still a little confused about how to navigate Twitter, work your way through it as you might any business or social function where most of those in attendance happen to be strangers. Learnaboutweb.com does a great job of illustrating this analogy – suggesting you start with those you know and share a bit about yourself with others to develop authentic relationships.

If the world of social networking is new to you – or just new to your business – you might be wondering why it’s worth the time and effort at all. The answer is simple. Sites like Twitter and Facebook have the power to drive significant traffic to your company’s Web site or blog, which can result in higher visibility and profits. With a little time and effort, these sites can help get the name of your business and your products out to the public.

What’s more, they give your business a personality. Use these networks to establish or further your brand. Seek out others who work in your industry or might have a use for your product and ask for their input.

Don’t feel pressure to grow your numbers exponentially. It’s best to take this one step at a time. Consider the advice of Hubspot,  which suggests a Twitter ratio of 1:1 is best. Follow and you’ll be followed – provided you’ve got something interesting and honest to add to the conversation.

So get ready, get out of your comfort zone, and start building those useful relationships. It won’t matter that you’re not Ashton Kutcher. You too can build a significant online following if you take the time to try.

Social Media has changed the way we do business. There is no doubt about that. At the same time, it has changed the playing field for job-seekers and employers. We all have more information at our disposal – which can be useful or detrimental to a job search.

We’ve compiled the following strategies to help you to connect with those companies that are hiring. Here’s how to get going and get noticed:

Research - Start with the company’s own Web site and blog. 
A company’s online presence offers a window into the business itself. Beyond the obvious services, this is how the company presents itself to prospective clients and the public. Read the blog. Become familiar with its writers and the topics discussed there. Consider commenting only if you could add something useful to the conversation. You can get a feel for the work environment long before you set foot in the office or get an interview.

Keep Going - Don’t stop there.
Research anything else you can find online – articles mentioning the company, it’s managers or employees. Find out if the business has earned awards for its work, if it is engaged with the community. You can learn a lot with a little digging.

Go Social - Use social networks to your advantage.
Seek out company pages on Facebook, profiles on LinkedIn. Search for personnel on Twitter and connect to them. By following daily updates you can get a feel for the flow of work and the personalities you’d be working for or with at the prospective business.

Get Networking – It’s time to engage.
Once you’ve established those connections you have a great opportunity to ask questions and get to know the employees. This is an ideal chance to find out if the company in question is the right fit. See what sort of education and background other staff members have, and show a genuine interest in the business.

Apply Yourself - From there, you’ve earned an edge above the competition.
Get your perfectly polished online resume complete with a concise, personalized cover letter over to the right person and express your interest formally. Ask for an interview. From here, the traditional job-hunting standards hold true.

The Flipside - Just remember prospective employers are also social media savvy.
They have these same tools at their disposal when seeking serious candidates. Monitor the information you’re putting out into the Blogosphere. Remember that public profiles on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and elsewhere can and likely will be viewed by potential employers. If they contain something you wouldn’t want on your resume, keep those posts and profiles private.

Do you have tips for job-seekers? Have you found a job thanks to social networking? We want to hear about it.