The joint announcement from Twitter and LinkedIn that they are to partner with one another sets a precedent and opens up further possibilities for the integration of business and social networks according to PR company Punch Communications.

The integration allows users of both networks to effectively synchronise their status updates between the two sites. Users can also send updates to one or the other or both, depending upon the nature and context of the update visible to contacts from one or both accounts.

Pete Goold, MD of online PR consultants Punch Communications, said of the deal: “The Twitter-LinkedIn partnership could be key in the evolution of social media as a tool for conducting business.

“LinkedIn is the core online network for those individuals in the modern business sector who are looking to connect with one another, and so the participation of Twitter in these circles could serve to accelerate any of its developments as a business communications medium.

Mike Taylor, MD at Web-Based Recruitment, told Recruiter: “If you are doing a Twitter update, LinkedIn users will also see what you are up to so in terms of spreading the word about potential vacancies, it is a good thing.

“LinkedIn is definitely a business network, whereas Facebook and the others are more social.

“With the three main players - Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook - it seems there is more collaboration now. These sites don’t make a lot of money so it is a way for them to work together so as they don’t have a lot of adverts on site.”