David M. Richelieu Hardware Ltd Linkedin

LinkedIn is a huge professional networking site.

In fact, information technology is the globe's largest professional network, with more than than 610 1000000 users in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

I tend to use LinkedIn as a virtual Rolodex and I endeavour to connect with all of the individuals that I piece of work with, and then that I always accept an updated ways of contacting them.

All the same, like any social network, LinkedIn has weaknesses.

For ane, because of the size and the number of users, my feed doesn't ever feel personal and the content isn't always hyper-relevant.

Worse all the same, I get DMs by the dozen from people trying to sell me things. The ratio of quality connections to spammers seems to exist sliding in the wrong direction lately.

Although I tin't see myself leaving LinkedIn – and I'm non suggesting you should, either – in that location are a number of other sites and platforms that can add supplemental value.

Hither are 13 professional networking alternatives to LinkedIn.

ane. Meetup

Meetup is a cool platform that allows yous to seek out (or create!) local meetups. When yous register, you mark your interests.

Meetup will so notify you of whatever local meetups that you might exist interested in, as they are created. The meetups span a wide multifariousness of topics from professional topics to hobbies and everything between.

If you don't discover one that yous're interested in, or 1 that works with your schedule, you tin can set one up and Meetup will notify anyone that has identified your topic as something that is of interest to them.

It's a keen way to bring like-minded people together, locally.

2. Xing

Xing is a professional network that is like to LinkedIn.  After signing up, yous tin join groups with agreeing professionals to network and share ideas.

You tin can stay on top of the latest news in your industry and identify relevant seminars, conferences, and tradeshows.

Y'all tin can post jobs, search jobs, and research companies. Xing is more prominent in Europe than in the U.S., just is used past people in over 200 countries.

It is costless to use simply y'all tin unlock boosted features with a premium membership, like to LinkedIn.

3. Bark

Bark is designed to connect local professionals with people who are seeking their services.

Looking for a professional'southward assistance? Yous tin cut down on search fourth dimension by using Bawl.

Bark volition accomplish out to professionals in your area and circle dorsum with estimates. Even more valuable, you can set upward your ain contour and be paired with prospects that are seeking out the services that you offer.

iv. Opportunity

Opportunity is a networking site that prides itself on "professional matchmaking." It strives to connect people based upon their needs.

For instance, users can be notified each time someone in their target market place indicates that they need what the user offers.

Besides, users can be notified of relevant employment opportunities. In addition, professionals tin discover other professionals based upon the preferences they select (e.g., age, gender, interests, personality).

5. Jobcase

Jobcase is pretty unique in that it has been powering over 100 pop job sites since 2009.

Because of that, Jobcase has access to a wealth of data about open roles and the companies that are currently hiring for roles that you might be interested in.

So how does it work?

With Jobcase, yous can gear up a profile and go access to a huge database of jobs. In improver, you can join groups, or peruse the customs to participate in discussions.

Jobcase boasts over lxxx 1000000 users, then in that location are plenty of discussions to bring together in on!

6. Lunchmeet

Lunchmeet is a mobile app. This is a valuable tool to identify local professionals with like interests (similar to Meetup.com).

What makes Lunchmeet unique is that you use it to identify i other local professional to meet for coffee or lunch, as opposed to pulling in a oversupply.

With Lunchmeet, you tin prepare your availability for an impromptu meeting and find other local professionals with availability during those time slots.

7. Community Forums

One of the easiest, and however near disregarded, networking opportunities are in community forums.

Interested in Google Ads? Check out the Google Ads forum.

Bing Ads? Bank check out the Bing Ads forum.

Not so much interested in ads? The Google Webmaster Primal Forum might be more than your speed.

The forums are a great fashion to ask questions and to share your experience with others that are seeking input. The forums stay active and are frequented by many knowledgeable people.

8. Twitter Threads

Believe it or non, some of the all-time manufacture networking that I've been privileged to stumble upon has come from some really nifty Twitter communities!

The especially bully thing nearly these is that: they are public, they are gratuitous, they are active, and they can exist really supportive.

New members are welcomed and people are encouraged to share their questions and struggles. Plus, it's but fun to talk store with others who become it.

I've fabricated a lot of lasting connections on Twitter, which take led to a multifariousness of career opportunities from speaking at industry events to client referrals and more.

Digital marketers tin can notice relevant content on #PPCchat, #FBadsChat #SEOchat, #SEOtalk, #SEMrushChat, #HootChat, #SproutChat, #socialROI, and #contentwritingchat – simply to name a few.

nine. Reddit

Although Reddit has a stiff reputation for existence the source of many-a-meme, it's likewise so much more than that.

Reddit hosts a huge span of micro-communities, including r/PPC for paid search and r/SEO for, you guessed information technology, SEO.

Like Twitter, the communities are completely free to bring together and public to peruse. Simply visit https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/ or https://www.reddit.com/r/PPC/ and you'll see a list of topics.

You lot can answer to existing posts or create your own; just sign-upwardly for a free Reddit account if you want to partake in the action.

Not interested in SEO or PPC? No problem.

Reddit has a huge list of topics. At that place's something for everyone.

10. Slack

Slack receives some mixed reviews and it'southward no surprise why: there are several Slack communities that can add a lot of value.

On the other manus, it can as well exist really distracting. Almost every other networking customs in this list is browser-based (with the exception of Lunchmeet).

Slack is a messenger-based mobile app and desktop application, where each community has a mix of public threads and the selection to DM anyone else in the customs.

I'm a fan, because I've joined some great communities, met neat people, and have even created working relationships all through Slack.

Nonetheless, if y'all find yourself easily distracted by IMs and mobile/desktop notifications, Slack might not be the all-time option.

Note: information technology is possible to adjust your notifications in the settings to help mitigate the distraction.

If interested in finding a Slack community, a quick Google search for "'Insert Topic Here' + Slack Customs" usually turns upwards several options.

Information technology's as well piece of cake and free to create your own Slack customs and invite your friends.

xi. Facebook Groups

Mayhap somewhat surprisingly, at that place are several Facebook groups dedicated toward sharing professional person knowledge and experiences.

Although Facebook is ofttimes considered to be more of a personal social platform than LinkedIn, it can also be a great source for professional networking.

If interested in seeking out a customs, just apply Facebook'south search tool to find groups most the topic of interest.

There are several communities that cater to diverse aspects of digital marketing from tactical noesis all the way to running a digital agency.

12. Sumry

Sumry is a site that was built to make get-go impressions easier. It is a web app that builds online resumes and portfolios.

Sumry allows you to aggregate your certifications, skills, and piece of work experience and it besides allows you to include testimonials and your total timeline of work experience – similar to LinkedIn.

With the premium version, it besides gives users a take a chance to innovate themselves before submitting an application.

Once you are ready to submit, Sumry makes information technology easy to utilise with ane-click with a link to your profile and a PDF of your resume.

thirteen. Gust.com

Gust is a community focused solely on startups, in fact, it claims to be the world'southward largest startup network.

Gust is a global SaaS funding platform, for the sourcing and management of early-stage investments for startups. It enables entrepreneurs to collaborate with investors and angel investor networks.

Summary

LinkedIn is the largest professional networking in the world, but there are enough of other networking options to aid you make meaningful connections.

In fact, some of these alternatives may exist more helpful than LinkedIn considering they focus on creating more than professional connections based on your location or niche.

More Resources:

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

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Paradigm Credits

All screenshots taken by writer, March 2019

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