When it comes to thought management and nice alternatives, professionals are lacking out in the event that they’re not on LinkedIn. It’s the world’s largest skilled community with over 1.2 billion members in 200 countries and areas worldwide.
LinkedIn’s reputation rose following a big flip away from X (previously Twitter), and customers seemed for continuation with their established viewers and exiting community, however information feeds are now stuffed with AI-generated posts and really noisy with self-promotional shouting.
Additionally, there have been modifications to the platform’s algorithm that prioritize advert income and sponsored content material, and it may be unimaginable to discover posts from the individuals you do need to attain and work together with.
Fortunately, LinkedIn isn’t the solely platform the place you may community and proceed to work together with individuals in your neighborhood and community in your {industry}.
Right here are eight skilled networking options to LinkedIn to make it easier to join to alternatives:
Occasion & In-Individual Networking
1. Meetup
Screenshot from Meetup, October 2025With over 52 million members, Meetup is a social media platform that connects you to like-minded fanatics in your personal local people, wherever it’s possible you’ll be situated. It is a platform that encourages face-to-face conferences to type lasting, high-quality connections.
Whether or not you join as an organizer or a member, the platform supplies instruments that make it easier to create and talk scheduled Meetup occasions.
From internet hosting digital occasions about AI instruments as an organization to assembly fellow entrepreneurs and practising public talking abilities, you may get pleasure from a variety of social actions.
If you happen to don’t discover one which pursuits you or one which works along with your schedule, you may set one up, and Meetup will notify anybody who has recognized your subject as one thing of curiosity to them.
2. Eventbrite Communities
Screenshot from Eventbrite, October 2025Comparable to Meetup, Eventbrite is an enormous networking platform, internet hosting 4.7 million whole occasions in 180 international locations in 2024, targeted on larger-scale skilled gatherings and festivals alike.
You may attend and revel in immersive or digital reside experiences. It’s a seamless registration and sign-up course of, and very like attending a live performance, you purchase tickets to an occasion so you may meet fellow friends, speak store, and develop your skilled circle.
Neighborhood & Group-Based mostly Networking
3. Discord
Screenshot from Discord, October 2025Whereas most individuals suppose Discord is restricted to being a screen-sharing gaming communication platform (about 90% of customers play video games), it is additionally an amazing networking choice.
It’s not uncommon to think about using Discord instead to LinkedIn. In any case, it’s a free voice, video, and textual content communication platform with over 200 million month-to-month energetic customers (MAU).
Screenshot from Discord, October 2025Though it appears extra profitable for builders and gaming-related professionals to community on the platform, what units Discord aside is the real-time connections you may make, thanks to devoted areas, specifically Discord servers.
The platform makes collaboration a no brainer. Members can be part of a number of channels, voice rooms, and reside co-working classes that are centered on their area of interest, which is much more personable than a plain DM.
The informal setting additionally helps professionals calm down and work together higher than on formal job websites. Non-curated, genuine posts inside tight-knit communities on Discord can increase your skilled networking higher than polished LinkedIn posts that get little to no consideration.
4. Slack Communities
Screenshot from Slack, October 2025Whereas Slack is finest often known as an organization’s inside messaging device, it has been adopted as a networking platform that may be thought of as a LinkedIn different. There are nice communities for no matter your area of interest could also be, from startup founders to UX designers. For instance, information specialists can be part of Measure, a digital analytics neighborhood Slack group, or LocallyOptimistic, one other information neighborhood that shares their challenges working with information.
Learn the guidelines rigorously, as some Slack Chapters do not permit mentions of your personal model/product, nor do they enable contacting for job alternatives.
The caveat is that you simply’re seemingly already utilizing Slack for work, so notifications on your cell phone and work gadget may be distracting. If you end up simply distracted by prompt messaging (IM) and cell/desktop notifications, Slack may not be the most suitable choice (although you may at all times alter notifications in your settings).
To seek out your related Slack neighborhood, merely seek for “[Your Topic] + Slack Neighborhood” in Google; this normally turns up a number of choices. If it doesn’t exist but, you may create your personal Slack workspace and invite individuals to be part of without spending a dime.
5. Fb Teams
Screenshot from Fb, October 2025There are 3 billion month-to-month energetic customers on Facebook, which implies that whereas it’s typically considered as a private social media platform, you’re greater than seemingly to discover your skilled community on it.
Fb can function an amazing, much less formal different to LinkedIn, notably Fb teams, which stay in style for skilled networking. You may plug in associated key phrases on your curiosity or {industry} inside Fb, then click on on Teams and filter the outcomes in accordance to your location.
There are a number of teams that share professional recommendation, maintain conferences, or function a community for hiring freelancers. These teams cater to varied points of digital advertising and marketing, from tactical data to operating a digital company.
Open & Social Networking Platforms
6. Reddit
![Search for [digital marketing] on Reddit](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/screenshot-2025-10-08-at-8.36.15-pm-225.png)
Screenshot from Reddit, October 2025Reddit is gaining popularity and can be utilized for networking. With over 100,000 energetic communities, Reddit boasts hundreds of useful marketing subreddits, together with r/PPC for paid search and r/search engine optimization. These communities are utterly free to be part of and open to the public.
You may reply to these searching for skilled opinion and construct up your karma and profile to earn curiosity in your model/providers.
Every of those has its personal function, with a algorithm and mods in place to implement them, making certain they’re not scams. So, in the event you’re job looking, it’s finest to seek for categorised boards reminiscent of r/RemoteJobs and r/forhire. You may reply to present posts or create your personal; merely join a free Reddit account to take part in the dialog.
7. X (previously Twitter) Threads
Screenshot from X (previously Twitter), October 2025Like Reddit, X (formerly Twitter) isn’t a direct LinkedIn different, but it surely’s public, free, energetic, and is nonetheless going sturdy with over 586 million estimated MAU. You may join with a broad viewers on it to alternate work-related concepts and ask for suggestions. It’s supreme for digital entrepreneurs as a result of it’s a high social media platform that simply attracts individuals inside the tech {industry}.
The communities on the platform are public, free, energetic, and may be actually supportive. It’s also possible to ask Grok, the free AI assistant constructed into the platform, to analyze real-time information and present developments, to summarize conversations or uncover related information.
SEOs and digital entrepreneurs can discover hashtag-driven communities, reminiscent of @SEOChat, #PPCchat, #FBadsChat, #SEOchat, #SEOtalk, #socialROI, and #contentwritingchat. Merely exhibiting up for related conversations can lead to convention invites, podcast appearances, or probably job alternatives.
Startup & Profession Centered Platform
8. AngelList
Screenshot from AngelList, October 2025For a extra startup-focused networking expertise, AngelList is a robust different to LinkedIn. With over 13,000 energetic startups on the platform, it was initially created for startup founders to increase funding, however has developed right into a networking platform helpful to tech, advertising and marketing, and entrepreneurial professionals.
Members can create specialised profiles to spotlight their abilities, apply for job listings, observe firms, take part in discussions with professionals of their area, and join with founders to share data and experience.
AngelList is like LinkedIn, however custom-fit to startup fanatics and founders, so it’s extra seemingly to make it easier to acquire startup-stage connections and alternatives quicker than in the event you have been to browse on LinkedIn.
Wrapping Up
Whereas LinkedIn is nonetheless the largest skilled networking web site in the world, it’s not the just one you want. There are so many options to construct significant connections.
Many of those options listed could also be extra useful than LinkedIn as a result of they focus on creating extra skilled connections based mostly on neighborhood or area of interest pursuits, or supply location-based networking in a way more relaxed setting.
Professionals are branching out to different channels like Slack, the place they’ll foster real connections and or discover profession alternatives by means of a number of job boards on Reddit. The important thing is to meet your friends the place they are, pitch your finest work, and join round a shared purpose.
Whether or not you like an informal forum-style job posting or a high-energy reside occasion, these LinkedIn options may help you develop your community and take the subsequent step in your profession.
Extra Sources:
Featured Picture: Master1305/Shutterstock
FAQ
Is on-line networking on social platforms like X (Twitter) as efficient as formal networking websites?
Social platforms like X (Twitter) may be remarkably efficient for skilled networking as a result of these communities are typically extra informal and approachable in nature. Right here are a few of the advantages:
- They are public and free, permitting unfettered entry to {industry} discussions.
- Communities reminiscent of X (Twitter) present supportive environments the place new members are welcomed and inspired to contribute.
- Professionals can use hashtags to interact in industry-specific conversations, share experience, or search recommendation.
- Many professionals have leveraged X (Twitter) for profession alternatives, together with talking occasions or shopper referrals.
X (Twitter) and comparable platforms supply a dynamic and interactive avenue for constructing skilled relationships and staying present with {industry} developments.
What are some concerns when selecting an expert networking platform?
Selecting a networking platform appropriate on your skilled wants includes evaluating a number of elements:
- Objective: Decide in the event you want a platform for job looking, {industry} networking, shopper outreach, or skilled improvement.
- Geographical Focus: Some platforms are higher for native networking (like Meetup), whereas others have a broader, typically world attain.
- Business Relevance: Search for platforms internet hosting communities or boards that cater to your particular {industry} or area of interest.
- Format and Options: Contemplate in the event you favor informal social media interactions, structured networking websites, or {industry} boards for data alternate.
- Person Base: The dimensions and exercise stage of the neighborhood can vastly impression networking alternatives and useful resource availability.
- Price: There is perhaps membership charges concerned, so assess if the potential advantages justify the bills.
Analyzing these points may help pinpoint the finest networking platforms for reaching your skilled targets.
Disclaimer: This article is sourced from external platforms. OverBeta has not independently verified the information. Readers are advised to verify details before relying on them.
