Start with those you already know. If the social network is capable, load your email address book in and run a search for people you already know. It doesn't do to make new friends if you aren't keeping in contact with those you already have. You address book probably won't have everyone you know, so use the searches to find others. Enlarge your circle of friends by searching in networks you may know people in like your graduating class of college or highschool, work networks, and community networks. Don't forget to run periodic searches for people you know as your friends may join your social network after you.

Once you have those you know among your circle of friends, start being outgoing online. Join groups that have similar interests or do similar activities to your own and start posting on the groups' message boards and forums. There are groups for almost every niche, and if you can't find the group you want, you can start a group and invite others to join. Get involved with the groups that hold your interest. Make comments on other's comments and read what people comment about what you have said. The key to making friends through online social networks is to get involved. The more you get involved, the more you'll start to meet people and get friendship invitations.

As a word of advice, when you are inviting people to be friends, don't use the template the social network gives you, but write them a personal note. A personal note conveys a true invitation to be friends and helps people see that you are genuine. People who feel like you really do want to be their friend will be more than happy to accept your invitation.

Just like in real life, to really make friends online, you have to be yourself. Don't be another online phony because there are already too many of them out there. Being genuine is required if you want to make and keep friends. Online friends may not be as close to you as real life friends, but they still want to be accepted and feel like they really know you.

Social networks were invented to build online communities, so just like real life communities, if you want to use it to make friends, you have to get involved. You can get involved in groups, networks, and posting. If you are really focused on making new friends through online social networks, join more than one and make your personal profile available through public search. You may meet some whack-o's, but you also may meet some really good people that are just like you. They want to meet new people and make friends too.