[solarmist]

I didn't start getting a ton of recruiter spam until I had a linkedin profile and started "connecting" with recruiters on linkedin (to "get my name out"; not sure I'd use this method to get my name out again though). Before that I would only occasionally get anything. Now every time I update my profile I get a flood of recruiter spam.

[lostcolony]

You don't need to connect to recruiters, per se. But yes, having a LinkedIn profile will ensure you get a constant trickle of recruiters. Any time you touch your profile, expect the number to increase; LinkedIn's algorithm seems to promote newly updated profiles, likely due from the assumption that touching your LinkedIn profile is like updating your resume; you're more probable to be looking for a job than someone who has left it sitting there untouched for two years.

[solarmist]

Well, it also made a big difference once I moved to the Valley