Don’t limit your networking potential to LinkedIn.
If LinkedIn isn’t working anymore, or you’re tired of the same old connection, look for a LinkedIn alternative.
Finding a new platform isn’t about replacing LinkedIn. It’s about findng new opportunities aligning with your career trajectories and industry niches.
These LinkedIn alternatives provide a focused environment for connecting professionals. You can connect with people in your field, talk about topics related to your industry, and create relationships that match your career goals and interests.
Within these niche markets, several specialized networking platforms stand out as effective LinkedIn alternatives for specific industries:
Behance is a platform where creatives can connect and showcase their work. It is a hub for the creative industry and a notable LinkedIn alternative for artists, designers, and other visual professionals.
Tailored for the academic and research community, ResearchGate offers a scholarly networking alternative where professionals can share papers, collaborate on projects, and engage in scientific discourse. It is positioning itself as a strong LinkedIn alternative.
As a networking destination for startups, investors, and job seekers, AngelList facilitates connections within the startup ecosystem, making it a worthy networking LinkedIn alternative.
For those immersed in the tech and startup sectors, platforms that cater specifically to their dynamic and innovative nature are essential. Here are some of the top LinkedIn alternatives:
GitHub is primarily known as a repository hosting service, but It also acts as a networking hub for developers. It enables tech professionals to collaborate on projects, share code, and connect with other developers, making it a valuable platform for those seeking LinkedIn alternatives.
An excellent resource for technology job seekers, Jobcase provides a community-driven space where individuals can share insights, find opportunities, and get support throughout their job search process.
While global networking platforms offer extensive reach, sometimes the most valuable connections are made locally. Localized and community-driven LinkedIn alternatives can provide more personalized networking opportunities:
Meetup is a platform that encourages local networking gatherings across a wide range of interests and industries. It enables professionals to find and organize in-person events, fostering a sense of community and allowing for more direct networking opportunities.
As the name suggests, Network After Work facilitates after-office professional networking events in various cities. It's a great way for professionals to unwind while expanding their professional circles in a more relaxed setting.
Many professionals are already part of several communities where networking can naturally occur. Here are platforms that extend professional networking to these existing communities:
Facebook allows professionals to network within specific niches. These groups can be industry-specific, skill-related, or even region-based, offering a space for detailed discussions and networking opportunities.
Alignable is a platform designed specifically for small business owners to connect with one another, share advice, and create local business partnerships.
It's crucial to find platforms that cater to specific needs and industries. Here's a look at some of the LinkedIn alternatives designed for particular professional scenarios:
For service professionals seeking to connect directly with potential clients, some platforms streamline this process:
Bark is an alternative for professionals to find clients by matching their services with customer requests. It's an effective way for freelancers and service providers to gain exposure and grow their client base.
Opportunity is a networking platform that aligns professionals with business opportunities based on shared goals. It's a valuable tool for those looking to expand their business or collaborate on projects.
These platforms facilitate the discovery of new clients and opportunities and allow professionals to showcase their expertise in a marketplace tailored to their industry.
For job seekers and those looking to advance their careers, some platforms emphasize job discovery and professional growth:
Jobcase is a platform that offers access to many job resources, community support, and career advice. It's a great place for job seekers to find opportunities and discuss various aspects of the job market.
Goodwall caters to young talent looking to network professionally and develop their careers. It provides a space for showcasing achievements, connecting with universities, and finding internships or entry-level jobs.
These platforms offer unique opportunities for professionals to share insights, join discussions, and connect with industry leaders:
Chat platforms have emerged as essential tools for real-time communication and community building within professional circles:
There are many platforms available, so it’s necessary to pick the one that best suits your needs.
Whatever your goals are, there's a platform tailored to your needs:
Not all networking platforms are created equal, especially when it comes to industry-specific networking. It's important to consider the relevance of a platform to your field and its usability:
Take time to explore and familiarize yourself with the platforms to ensure they meet your professional networking needs.
While specializing in one platform can be beneficial, there's also merit in adopting a mixed networking approach:
Transitioning to alternative networking platforms requires a strategic approach to ensure you're reaching the right audience and making a meaningful impact.
Your personal brand is a representation of your professional expertise and values.
How can you participate genuinely and build an authentic presence on a networking platform?
Networking is about cultivating mutually beneficial relationships.
Use these techniques to build valuable professional connections:
-> Tailor your networking efforts to fit your unique industry and career goals.
-> Each platform offers distinct advantages and caters to different networking styles and preferences.
-> Try multiple options. Sign up for different platforms, engage with their communities, and check their potential to serve your networking needs.
->Remember, it's all about finding the right fit for you and your career aspirations.
G2 Rating | Price | Best for | Standout feature | Con | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.9 star star star star star | $30/mo $75/mo $2,999/mo | Large, distributed sales teams | AI evaluation precision, gamified KPIs | Lack of tracking system | |
4.6 star star star star star-half | Not publicly available | Sales operations and finance teams | Powerful configurability | Limited training resources and complex to navigate | |
4.4 star star star star star-half | Not publicly available | Mid-market and enterprise businesses | Comprehensive incentive management | Potentially high cost and steep learning curve | |
4.7 star star star star star-half | $15/user/mo $40/user/mo Enterprise: custom price | Complex sales structures and businesses of all sizes | Complex sales structures and businesses of all sizes | Steep learning curve | |
4.6 star star star star star-half | Not publicly available | Collaborative teams | Connected planning | Complexity and steep learning curve | |
4.6 star star star star star-half | Not publicly available | Companies with complex sales structures | Complex incentive compensation management (ICM) with high efficiency and accuracy | Complexity for smaller teams and potentially high costs | |
4.7 star star star star star-half | Not publicly available | Companies who want to automate commission calculations and payouts | Simplicity and ease of use | Lack of features like redirection | |
4.7 star star star star star-half | $30/user/mo $35/user/mo Custom: upon request | Businesses that need a comprehensive and user-friendly sales compensation management software | Ease of use and adoption | Lack of ability to configure the product based on user needs | |
4.8 star star star star star-half | Not publicly available | Companies with modern sales culture and businesses who want real-time insights | A built-in dispute management and real-time visibility | Users say it works slowly, customer support is slow | |
4.9 star star star star star | $30/user/mo $50/user/mo | Smaller sales teams | Powerful automation | Lesser user base and average user interface | |
4.7 star star star star star-half | Not publicly available | Companies with scalable needs | Automated Commission Calculations | Lack of filtering by date, no mobile app |
PRM Tool | Rating | Feature | Pro | Con | Mobile App | Integrations | Free Plan | Pricing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.65 star star star star star-half | Org-wide alignment | User-friendly layout and database | Suboptimal as a personal CRM | square-check | Lack of tracking system | square-check | Team: $20/month Business: $45/month | |
4.7 star star star star star-half | Social Media Integration | Easy contact data collection | No marketing/sales features | square-check | Lack of tracking system | square-xmark 7-day trial | $12/month | |
4.75 star star star star star-half | Block Functions | High customization capability | Not a dedicated CRM | square-check | Limited | square-check | Plus: €7.50/month Business: €14/month | |
N/A | Open-source | Open-source flexibility | Requires extensive manual input | square-xmark | Limited | square-check Self-hosted | $9/month or $90/year | |
3.1 star star star | Simple iOS app | Ideal for non-tech-savvy users | iPhone only | square-check iOS only | Limited | square-xmark 1-month trial | $1.49/month or $14.99/month | |
3.6 star star star star-half | Smart Contact Management | Feature-rich and flexible | Reported bugs | square-check | Rich | square-xmark 7-day trial | Premium: $13.99/month Teams: $17.99/month | |
4.4 star star star star star-half | Customizable Interface | Customizable for teamwork | Pricey for personal use | square-check | Rich | square-xmark | Standard: $24/member Premium: $39/member | |
4.7 star star star star star-half | Integrated Calling | Integrated Calling | Too sales-oriented & pricey | square-check | Rich | square-xmark 14-day trial | Startup: $59/user/month Professional: $329/user/month | |
4.8 star star star star star | Business Card Scanning | Business Card Scanning | Mobile only | square-check | Limited | square-check | $9.99/month | |
4.45 star star star star star-half | 160+ app integrations | Comprehensive integrations | No free app version | square-check | Rich | square-xmark 14-day trial | $29.90/month or $24.90/month (billed annually) |
Capterra Rating | Free Trial | Free Plan | Starting Price (excluding the free plan) | Maximum Price (for the most expensive plan) | Best for | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.5 star star star star star-half | square-check 14-day | square-check | €15/month/seat billed annually | €792/month/3 seats billed annually + €45/month for each extra seat | Versatility and free plan | |
4.2 star star star star | square-check 30-day | square-xmark But it offers reduced price to authorised nonprofit organisations | €25/user/month | €500/user/month billed annually (includes Einstein AI) | Best overall operational CRM | |
4.3 star star star star star-half | square-xmark | square-check Limited to 3 users | Comprehensive incentive management | €52/user/month billed annually | Small-medium businesses and automation | |
4.5 star star star star star-half | square-check 14-day | square-xmark | €14/seat/month billed annually | €99/seat/month billed annually | Sales teams and ease of use | |
4.1 star star star star | square-xmark | square-check Limited 10 users | $9.99/user/month billed annually | $64.99/user/month billed annually | Free plan for very small teams up to 10 |
CRM goal | Increase the sales conversion rate for qualified leads from marketing automation campaigns by 10% in the next 6 months. | ||||
SMART Breakdown | 1. Specific: It targets a specific area (conversion rate) for a defined segment (qualified leads from marketing automation). | 2. Measurable: The desired increase (10%) is a clear metric, and the timeframe (6 months) allows for progress tracking. | 3. Achievable: A 10% increase is possible based on historical data and potential improvements. | 4. Relevant: Boosting sales from marketing efforts aligns with overall business objectives. | 5. Time-bound: The 6-month timeframe creates urgency and a clear target date. |
Actions | Step 1: Refine lead qualification criteria to ensure high-quality leads are nurtured through marketing automation. | Step 2: Personalize marketing automation campaigns based on lead demographics, interests, and behavior. | Step 3: Develop targeted landing pages with clear calls to action for qualified leads. | Step 4: Implement lead scoring to prioritize high-potential leads for sales follow-up. | Step 5: Track and analyze campaign performance to identify areas for optimization. |
Outcomes | Increased sales and revenue | Improved marketing automation ROI | Marketing and sales alignment | Data-driven marketing optimization |