LinkedIn can be an invaluable too for effectively marketing you and your organization, but as with other social media networking sites, you are faced with a dilemma. Is it better to have a quality network or a large network? The quantity vs. quality debate is not new, but do you really need to pick a side?

Maybe not. According to Helen Overland of Non-Linear Creations, you can have both if you get to know LinkedIn. As many of you know, the purpose of LinkedIn is to network with people who you know on a professional level. Unlike social media sites like Facebook, where users communicate in a friendly, informal way, LinkedIn is the place to find executives looking to expand their business network.

Developing a core central quality network on LinkedIn is a great way for you to maintain business relationships and spark new ones. It’s also a good way to keep in touch with what’s going on in your particular industry. Having a quality network enables you to contact a group of people who are truly interested in what you have to say. Diluting this network with contacts who you may not know just to add numbers may make you look hungry for any opportunity. Still, there are times when you need to contact a large number of people. How do you do add quantity without diluting the quality of your LinkedIn network?

You can build a quality LinkedIn network and then contact a couple of people who are listed as open network. That way you can maintain your core group while also being able to talk to all of the first and second degree contacts of your open network contact.

One great resource for finding open network contacts on LinkedIn is to visit www.toplinked.com. This site lists the TopLinked people on LinkedIn and enables you to connect with these power users. Still, it is best to learn as much as you can about these open networkers because they are often recruiters and it is good to know who you are dealing with.

So, to summarize, quality is important, but sometimes you also need quantity. It is possible to preserve your quality network and also contact a large number of people; you just have to do your research. Good thing there are tools out there that can help you have your cake and eat it too.