13 Awesome Professional Networking Alternatives To LinkedIn

LinkedIn is simply a immense master networking site.

In fact, it is nan world’s largest master network, pinch much than 610 cardinal users successful much than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

I thin to usage LinkedIn arsenic a virtual Rolodex and I effort to link pinch each of nan individuals that I activity with, truthful that I ever person an updated intends of contacting them.

However, for illustration immoderate societal network, LinkedIn has weaknesses.

For one, because of nan size and nan number of users, my provender doesn’t ever consciousness individual and nan contented isn’t ever hyper-relevant.

Worse yet, I get DMs by nan twelve from group trying to waste maine things. The ratio of value connections to spammers seems to beryllium sliding successful nan incorrect guidance lately.

Although I can’t spot myself leaving LinkedIn – and I’m not suggesting you should, either – location are a number of different sites and platforms that tin adhd supplemental value.

Here are 13 master networking alternatives to LinkedIn.

1. Meetup

Meetup is simply a cool level that allows you to activity retired (or create!) section meetups. When you register, you people your interests.

Meetup will past notify you of immoderate section meetups that you mightiness beryllium willing in, arsenic they are created. The meetups span a wide assortment of topics from master topics to hobbies and everything successful between.

If you don’t find 1 that you’re willing successful aliases 1 that useful pinch your schedule, you tin group 1 up and Meetup will notify anyone that has identified your taxable arsenic thing that is of liking to them.

It’s a awesome measurement to bring like-minded group together, locally.

2. Xing

Xing is simply a master web that is akin to LinkedIn.  After signing up, you tin subordinate groups pinch like-minded professionals to web and stock ideas.

You tin enactment connected apical of nan latest news successful your manufacture and place applicable seminars, conferences, and tradeshows.

You tin station jobs, hunt jobs, and investigation companies. Xing is much salient successful Europe than successful nan U.S., but is utilized by group successful complete 200 countries.

It is free to usage but you tin unlock further features pinch a premium membership, similar to LinkedIn.

3. Bark

Bark is designed to link section professionals pinch group who are seeking their services.

Looking for a professional’s assistance? You tin trim down connected hunt clip by utilizing Bark.

Bark will scope retired to professionals successful your area and circle backmost pinch estimates. Even much valuable, you tin group up your ain floor plan and beryllium paired pinch prospects that are seeking retired nan services that you offer.

4. Opportunity

Opportunity is simply a networking tract that prides itself connected “professional matchmaking.” It strives to link group based upon their needs.

For instance, users tin beryllium notified each clip personification successful their target marketplace indicates that they request what nan personification offers.

Likewise, users tin beryllium notified of applicable employment opportunities. In addition, professionals tin observe different professionals based upon nan preferences they prime (e.g., age, gender, interests, personality).

5. Jobcase

Jobcase is beautiful unsocial successful that it has been powering complete 100 celebrated occupation sites since 2009.

Because of that, Jobcase has entree to a wealthiness of information astir unfastened roles and nan companies that are presently hiring for roles that you mightiness beryllium willing in.

So really does it work?

With Jobcase, you tin group up a floor plan and get entree to a immense database of jobs. In addition, you tin subordinate groups, aliases peruse nan organization to participate successful discussions.

Jobcase boasts complete 80 cardinal users, truthful location are plentifulness of discussions to subordinate successful on!

6. LunchMeet

Lunchmeet is simply a mobile app. This is simply a valuable instrumentality to place section professionals pinch akin interests (similar to Meetup.com).

What makes Lunchmeet unsocial is that you usage it to place 1 different section master to meet for java aliases lunch, arsenic opposed to pulling successful a crowd.

With Lunchmeet, you tin group up your readiness for an impromptu gathering and find different section professionals pinch readiness during those clip slots.

7. Community Forums

One of nan easiest, and yet astir overlooked, networking opportunities are successful organization forums.

Interested successful Google Ads? Check retired nan Google Ads forum.

Bing Ads? Check retired nan Bing Ads forum.

Not truthful overmuch willing successful ads? The Google Webmaster Central Forum mightiness beryllium much your speed.

The forums are a awesome measurement to inquire questions and to stock your acquisition pinch others that are seeking input. The forums enactment progressive and are frequented by galore knowledgeable people.

8. X (Twitter) Threads

 

Believe it aliases not, immoderate of nan champion manufacture networking that I’ve been privileged to stumble upon has travel from immoderate really awesome X (Twitter) communities!

The particularly awesome point astir these is that: they are public, they are free, they are active, and they tin beryllium really supportive.

New members are welcomed and group are encouraged to stock their questions and struggles. Plus, it’s conscionable nosy to talk shop pinch others who get it.

I’ve made a batch of lasting connections connected X (Twitter), which person led to a assortment of profession opportunities from speaking astatine manufacture events to customer referrals and more.

Digital marketers tin find applicable contented connected #PPCchat, #FBadsChat #SEOchat, #SEOtalk, #SEMrushChat, #HootChat, #SproutChat, #socialROI, and #contentwritingchat – conscionable to sanction a few.

9. Reddit

Although Reddit has a beardown estimation for being nan root of many-a-meme, it’s besides truthful overmuch much than that.

Reddit hosts a immense span of micro-communities, including r/PPC for paid hunt and r/SEO for, you guessed it, SEO.

Like X (formerly Twitter), nan communities are wholly free to subordinate and nationalist to peruse. Simply sojourn https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/ aliases https://www.reddit.com/r/PPC/ and you’ll spot a database of topics.

You tin reply to existing posts aliases create your own; conscionable sign-up for a free Reddit relationship if you want to partake successful nan action.

Not willing successful SEO aliases PPC? No problem.

Reddit has a huge list of topics. There’s thing for everyone.

10. Slack

Slack receives immoderate mixed reviews and it’s nary astonishment why: location are respective Slack communities that tin adhd a batch of value.

On nan different hand, it tin besides beryllium really distracting. Nearly each different networking organization successful this database is browser-based (with nan objection of Lunchmeet).

Slack is simply a messenger-based mobile app and desktop application, wherever each organization has a operation of nationalist threads and nan action to DM anyone other successful nan community.

I’m a fan, because I’ve joined immoderate awesome communities, met awesome people, and person moreover created moving relationships each done Slack.

However, if you find yourself easy distracted by IMs and mobile/desktop notifications, Slack mightiness not beryllium nan champion option.

Note: it is imaginable to set your notifications successful nan settings to thief mitigate nan distraction.

If willing successful uncovering a Slack community, a speedy Google hunt for “’Insert Topic Here’ + Slack Community” usually turns up respective options.

It’s besides easy and free to create your ain Slack organization and induce your friends.

11. Facebook Groups

Maybe somewhat surprisingly, location are respective Facebook groups dedicated toward sharing master knowledge and experiences.

Although Facebook is often considered to beryllium much of a individual societal level than LinkedIn, it tin besides beryllium a awesome root for master networking.

If willing successful seeking retired a community, conscionable usage Facebook’s hunt instrumentality to find groups astir nan taxable of interest.

There are respective communities that cater to various aspects of integer trading from tactical knowledge each nan measurement to moving a integer agency.

12. Sumry

Sumry is simply a tract that was built to make first impressions easier. It is simply a web app that builds online resumes and portfolios.

Sumry allows you to aggregate your certifications, skills, and activity acquisition and it besides allows you to see testimonials and your afloat timeline of activity acquisition – akin to LinkedIn.

With nan premium version, it besides gives users a chance to present themselves earlier submitting an application.

Once you are fresh to submit, Sumry makes it easy to use pinch one-click pinch a nexus to your floor plan and a PDF of your resume.

13. Gust.com

Gust is simply a organization focused solely connected startups, successful fact, it claims to beryllium nan world’s largest startup network.

Gust is simply a world SaaS backing platform, for nan sourcing and guidance of early-stage investments for startups. It enables entrepreneurs to collaborate pinch investors and angel investor networks.

Summary

LinkedIn is nan largest master networking successful nan world, but location are plentifulness of different networking options to thief you make meaningful connections.

In fact, immoderate of these alternatives whitethorn beryllium much adjuvant than LinkedIn because they attraction connected creating much master connections based connected your location aliases niche.

More Resources:

• 5 Tips for Using Social Media to Find (and Land) Your Dream Job
• Top 9 Benefits of Social Media for Your Business
• Top 4 Tips for Creating High Engagement LinkedIn Posts 

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