Handshakes is an online social networking service that connects the people in your personal networks and community, creating a new resource that's based on a trusted web of your friends and associates. You can use this abundant network to find jobs, buy and sell goods, locate a roommate, and accomplish much more with the help of groups and individuals who know you and share your interests.

Once you've registered with Handshakes, you'll invite people you know to join your social or business network. Your friends will come to Handshakes and invite their friends. As your network grows, you'll have more opportunities to interact easily with everyone you know, make new acquaintances, and use the network's collective knowledge to enrich your life. Social networks are the heart and soul of Handshakes; the larger they are, the more powerful they become. Best of all, everyone in your network has been invited, approved and recommended by someone else inside your social circle.

Your network consists of your one handshake friends (people you know), as well as people 2 handshakes or closer (friends of your friends), and people 3 handshakes or closer (people who know friends of your friends). Your personal network on Handshakes will connect you with people as far as 4 handshakes away from you. The larger your network becomes, the more useful and fun it will be; keep growing your network, and you'll have access to more classifieds, messages, clubs and events.

Every page on the Handshakes site has an invite link that lets you send messages to your friends who have not joined yet. You can email customized message that describes Handshakes. When you find a friend at Handshakes, you can add them through the "Add to Friends" link on the right. If you want to find someone on the network, use search to find them by their name or email address.

First, complete your profile, so others can learn more about you. Then, invite more friends to join Handshakes, create a group of your friends and you'll be on your way to connecting your social network.

Handshakes does not sell the information we collect from our users to third-party companies. One of our core values is that our members create and control their networks, as well as their personal information. Once you join Handshakes, you'll decide exactly what others can learn about you by creating and editing your profile. For more information on how Handshakes values your right to control your personal data, please read our privacy policy.