Viadeo works in the same way as networking offline: you get introduced to new friends by a mutual friend. New contacts are more likely to accept your connection request if you have friends in common or other references.

If you want to add someone you know on Viadeo to your contacts, go to the member's profile and then click 'Add to my contacts'.

This feature allows you to send the person a short memo. They can then decide to accept or refuse your request to connect.

To prevent spamming, this feature may only be used 25 times, after which you will be asked to send an Introduction Request.

If you would like to connect to a Viadeo member, simply open the member's profile and click 'Get Introduced'. This link is also visible in search results).

You can see the paths available to contact a member. You need to ask the members in the path to forward your connection request to the member you would like to connect to.

Click 'Send a message' to send a message to members in your network, including your contacts and their contacts. Go to 'My Preferences' if you only want to receive message from your contacts.

You cannot send Connection Requests to members directly unless you are a Premium Member.

You may contact this person through a Connection Request or by sending an Invitation Request through your network.

Example of indirect introduction:

YouJohn Smith Thomas Hall Recipient

You probably have a few paths available to connect to a member. Select a path with members who are more likely to forward your request.

Then 'write my request' to introduce yourself and explain your request.

Add a message to ask your mutual contacts to forward your request. Then click 'send'.

Your request is sent to the mutual contacts by email. They can forward your request to the next member in the path.

Please note that your messages are visible to the members on the path.

When a member agrees to forward the request, they continue as you did: write a message for the next member in the path and ask them to forward your request.

Please note that messages between members are confidential and cannot be read by third parties. Thus, the initial message you sent your contact can only be read by them.

If all of the members on the path (up to three between you and the recipient) accept to forward your request, it will reach its recipient, who can choose to accept or decline you it.

If your request is accepted, you will receive an email including their response and contact details. All you need to do next is to connect to initiate, we hope, a fruitful cooperation.

If your request is declined, you will also receive an email, with possibly an explanation of refusal.

This happens generally because the person knows the contact well and thinks that your request will not be of interest to them. You will receive a message from the person who refused to forward your request, explaining their refusal.

Click on the link 'Introductions' to see all the introduction requests that you have sent. When you click on an introduction request you can see the progress of your request: i.e. you can see the person who needs to forward your demand and for how long your introduction is pending.

Please use your own judgement to decide whether or not to forward the request.

Viadeo members are encouraged to establish trusted network. Think for your contacts and help them establish useful connections with other members.

You will receive an email notifying you of the request with a message from the person who forwarded it to you. Connecting with people through Viadeo enables you to choose whether to accept or decline requests.

If you accept the request, you can include a message or your contact details with the email to confirm your acceptance.

If you decline the request, you can send an explanation.

Rate the usefulness of the connection. The information is only visible to you.

• Under 'Connection Requests', you will find all of your sent, accepted, declined, and pending Requests.
• Under 'Introduction Requests to Forward', you will find all of the Requests you have been asked to forward.