On LinkedIn, everyone’s Rolodex is protected since only people they trust can see who they know.

LinkedIn’s referral-only approach has attracted an elite group of business people not matched by any other network. And LinkedIn works: users accept 84% of all referrals because the only way users can be approached is if one of their trusted contacts forwards a contact request to them because they believe it is an opportunity their contact will appreciate.

This gated access approach has made the LinkedIn network a web of trust where users strengthen existing professional ties and enhance their reputation by helping their business contacts with introductions.

Professionals in over 130 industries are actively searching the extended networks of their trusted business contacts on LinkedIn to discover inside connections to potential business partners, to get in touch with industry experts for advice, or to find recommended professionals to fill open job positions. On average, users search LinkedIn once per second for people and opportunities, and LinkedIn has already facilitated over 900,000 business introductions. Over 800 alumni and professional organizations have selected LinkedIn for Groups to set up member-only groups on LinkedIn that facilitate networking among their members.

LinkedIn is certified to meet the strict privacy guidelines of the European Union. All relationships on LinkedIn are mutually confirmed, and nobody is represented to be in the LinkedIn network without their knowledge and explicit consent.

LinkedIn is located in Palo Alto, CA and funded by Greylock and Sequoia Capital, the venture capitalists behind Google, Yahoo!, Cisco and Apple. LinkedIn’s CEO Reid Hoffman was formerly EVP of PayPal, the Internet’s de-facto standard for secure, private financial transactions between individuals.

Join LinkedIn now at www.linkedin.com