If you're a keen online networker like me, you'll soon find yourself belonging to an ever-growing collection of web-based networks. So far I've joined Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, ecademy, Plaxo and Bradford Chamber of Commerce, and those are just the ones I remember!

The question is, how do you manage them all? The ideal would be a piece of software where you could see them all at once. Sadly, there isn't one! Several link up to three separate ones togther, but none manage greater numbers, though I'm sure there eventually will be.

If however you are going to stick to using a limited number of networks, the best downloadable software right now is the latest version of TweetDeck (v0.30.5) Free to download and simple to master, you can view your Twitter, MySpace and Facebook Feeds on one page in individual columns. After some initial teething problems on the Facebook link-up, this works fine, except for the fact that the MySpace and Facebook columns don't update very efficiently - not very useful if you use either of these frequently.  Several others like LinkedIn and ecademy both offer links to Twitter and Facebook, but with nothing like the ease of use of TweetDeck.

For multiple site users such as myself, the best way is simply to organise your favourites on good ol' Internet Explorer. Click the FAVOURITES button and selecy ORGANISE FAVOURITES. Make a new folder called NETWORKING and then add all your networking sites to this folder. If you're only wanting a presence online, then set aside half an hour each day to visit each network in turn, updating your details and issuing a bulletin or two in each.

For the likes of myself, online networking is a major part of my strategy, and I work hard making new virtual relationships online. This resulted in a hypnosis session of mine on CD reaching California! I spend hours at a time online communicating with people via TweetDeck whilst doing other tasks such as writing this article! I also keep up with Facebook every 30 minutes, and visit the others daily.

...With online networking, it is only worthwhile if you are going to put in the time and effort. If you have both time and inclination, your reward is a wealth of contacts all over the world, and you never know when one is going to give you that big referral....