Connect with other Viadeo members

Viadeo is based on a well known concept: a person is more likely to accept to meet with you if you share mutual friends or references (such as being alumni of the same school).

If you know a Viadeo member and would like to add them to your network, use the 'I know xxx' feature (Click on the member's profile and then on 'I know'.

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

This function is limited to 25 requests in order to reduce the risk of a member spamming people they do not know. After using this function 25 times, the link 'I know XXX' will be redirected to the normal invitation procedure.

If you would like to contact a Viadeo member you do not yet know, simply click on their profile, then on 'Connect' (you can also click on the Distance link in the search engine results).

This will display one or several paths that you can use to contact this person. A path here is a group of Viadeo members connected to one another, in which you are the first link and the person you would like to contact is the last.

You can use the option 'Write to them' to send a message to a Viadeo member provided that they are part of your network (N+...) of contacts. By clicking on the 'My Preferences' link you can decide the level (N+...) at which you will accept direct messages from your network.

The Connection Requests function is reserved for Premium Members.

You can choose whether to contact a member by a Connection Request or via your network Introduction Request.

This is how an Introduction Request takes place:

Example:

You John Smith  Thomas Hall  Recipient

If you have the choice between several paths, select the one that makes the most sense. View the profiles of the members in the path and select those you think will be most likely to forward your request.

To connect with the recipient, you will need to write a message, briefly introducing yourself and explaining the reason for your request. Click on 'Draft my invitation' and type your message.

You can also add a message to your mutual contact asking them to forward your request by recommending you. Then click on 'Send my invitation.'

Your request is forwarded to your contact. They receive an email with the message that you sent. They may then connect on Viadeo to transfer your request to the next member in the path.

Please note that your request can be read by all the members on the path so that they can decide whether or not to forward your request.

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

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 the members on the path (there may be up to three between you and the recipient) agree to transfer your request, it will then reach its recipient. In turn, they are free to accept or decline it.

If your request is accepted, you will be sent an email including their response, email address and, possibly phone number if they decide to share it with you. All you need to do from then is to connect to initiate, we hope, a fruitful cooperation.

In the recipient declines your request, you will receive an email informing you of his decision, which may or may not include a response explaining the reason for their refusal.

One of the members of the path may refuse to forward your request. This generally happens when the person knows the contact well and thinks that your request will not be of interest to them. You will be informed of this and you may also receive a message from the person who refused to forward your request, explaining their refusal.

You need only 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.

If one of your contacts asks you to forward an request, whether they sent it themselves or if they are a link, it is up to you to decide whether or not to transfer the request by reading it.

If the person who sent you this request recommends that you forward it and if you trust their judgment, then transfer the request. On the other hand, if you know the recipient (if you are the next to last member of the path) and if you think that this request will be of no interest, you can refuse to transfer it. You may write a message to the sender to explain your decision.

You will receive an email and a message on your Dashboard to inform you that a member has sent you a message. You can then connect to Viadeo and decide whether or not to accept or refuse the request.

If you accept the request, you may want indicate your phone number or other contact information as well as your availability. Only the sender of the invitation will receive your response. By ticking the box provided, you can send a copy of your response to the contact who relayed the request.

If you decline, you may want to send a message explaining the reasons for your decision.

When you have accepted a request and meet or talk on the phone with the sender of the request, you can give your opinion about why the initiated introduction was of interest to you. This information is only visible to you. It is not currently used on Viadeo (other than for anonymous statistical purposes) but will be in the future in order to 'evaluate' the introductions you have received.

• The first tab, 'Requests sent', includes the entire set of requests that you have written, accepted, refused, or which are being forwarded.
• The second tab, 'Requests received', includes the entire set of requests that have been sent to you.
• The third tab, 'Forwarded Introductions', includes the entire set of requests that you have been asked to forward as well as the history of requests you have forwarded.