In relation 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 international locations and areas worldwide.
LinkedIn’s reputation rose following a major flip away from X (previously Twitter), and customers seemed for continuation with their established viewers and exiting community, however information feeds are actually filled with AI-generated posts and really noisy with self-promotional shouting.
Additionally, there have been adjustments to the platform’s algorithm that prioritize advert income and sponsored content material, and it may be inconceivable to seek out posts from the individuals you do wish to attain and work together with.
Fortunately, LinkedIn isn’t the one platform the place you’ll be able to community and proceed to work together with individuals in your group and community in your {industry}.
Listed here are eight skilled networking alternate options to LinkedIn that can assist you connect with 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 lovers in your personal local people, wherever you might be situated. It’s a platform that encourages face-to-face conferences to kind lasting, high-quality connections.
Whether or not you enroll as an organizer or a member, the platform offers 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’ll be able to take pleasure in a variety of social actions.
In the event you don’t discover one which pursuits you or one which works along with your schedule, you’ll be able to 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 2025Much like Meetup, Eventbrite is a large networking platform, internet hosting 4.7 million whole occasions in 180 international locations in 2024, centered on larger-scale skilled gatherings and festivals alike.
You’ll be able to attend and luxuriate in immersive or digital stay experiences. It’s a seamless registration and sign-up course of, and very similar to attending a live performance, you purchase tickets to an occasion so you’ll be able to meet fellow friends, discuss store, and increase your skilled circle.
Neighborhood & Group-Primarily based Networking
3. Discord
Screenshot from Discord, October 2025Whereas most individuals assume Discord is proscribed to being a screen-sharing gaming communication platform (about 90% of customers play video games), additionally it is an ideal networking possibility.
It’s common to think about using Discord as a substitute for 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 can also make, because of devoted areas, specifically Discord servers.
The platform makes collaboration a no brainer. Members can be a part of a number of channels, voice rooms, and stay co-working classes which can be centered on their area of interest, which is much extra personable than a plain DM.
The informal atmosphere 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 greatest generally known as an organization’s inside messaging software, it has been adopted as a networking platform that may be thought-about 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 a part of Measure, a digital analytics group Slack group, or LocallyOptimistic, one other information group that shares their challenges working with information.
Learn the principles fastidiously, as some Slack Chapters don’t permit mentions of your personal model/product, nor do they enable contacting for job alternatives.
The caveat is that you just’re probably already utilizing Slack for work, so notifications in your cell phone and work gadget may be distracting. If you end up simply distracted by instantaneous messaging (IM) and cellular/desktop notifications, Slack won’t be the best choice (although you’ll be able to at all times alter notifications in your settings).
To search out your related Slack group, merely seek for “[Your Topic] + Slack Neighborhood” in Google; this normally turns up a number of choices. If it doesn’t exist but, you’ll be able to create your personal Slack workspace and invite individuals to hitch free of charge.
5. Fb Teams
Screenshot from Fb, October 2025There are 3 billion month-to-month energetic customers on Fb, which implies that whereas it’s usually considered as a private social media platform, you’re greater than more likely to discover your skilled community on it.
Fb can function an ideal, much less formal different to LinkedIn, significantly Fb teams, which stay standard for skilled networking. You’ll be able to plug in associated key phrases on your curiosity or {industry} inside Fb, then click on on Teams and filter the outcomes in keeping with 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 features of digital advertising, from tactical data to working 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 rising in popularity and can be utilized for networking. With over 100,000 energetic communities, Reddit boasts a whole bunch of helpful advertising subreddits, together with r/PPC for paid search and r/search engine marketing. These communities are utterly free to hitch and open to the general public.
You’ll be able to 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, guaranteeing they’re not scams. So, in the event you’re job looking, it’s greatest to seek for categorised boards reminiscent of r/RemoteJobs and r/forhire. You’ll be able to reply to present posts or create your personal; merely join a free Reddit account to take part within the dialog.
7. X (previously Twitter) Threads
Screenshot from X (previously Twitter), October 2025Like Reddit, X (previously Twitter) isn’t a direct LinkedIn different, however it’s public, free, energetic, and continues to be going robust with over 586 million estimated MAU. You’ll be able to join with a broad viewers on it to change work-related concepts and ask for suggestions. It’s perfect 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 research 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 result in convention invites, podcast appearances, or doubtlessly job alternatives.
Startup & Profession Centered Platform
8. AngelList
Screenshot from AngelList, October 2025For a extra startup-focused networking expertise, AngelList is a powerful different to LinkedIn. With over 13,000 energetic startups on the platform, it was initially created for startup founders to boost funding, however has developed right into a networking platform helpful to tech, advertising, and entrepreneurial professionals.
Members can create specialised profiles to focus on their abilities, apply for job listings, comply with corporations, take part in discussions with professionals of their subject, and join with founders to share data and experience.
AngelList is like LinkedIn, however custom-fit to startup lovers and founders, so it’s extra probably that can assist you acquire startup-stage connections and alternatives sooner than in the event you have been to browse on LinkedIn.
Wrapping Up
Whereas LinkedIn continues to be the biggest skilled networking website on the planet, it’s not the one one you want. There are such a lot of alternate options to construct significant connections.
Many of those alternate options listed could also be extra useful than LinkedIn as a result of they deal with creating extra skilled connections primarily based on group or area of interest pursuits, or provide 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 way of a number of job boards on Reddit. The bottom line is to fulfill your friends the place they’re, pitch your greatest work, and join round a shared objective.
Whether or not you like an off-the-cuff forum-style job posting or a high-energy stay occasion, these LinkedIn alternate options can assist 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 sometimes extra informal and approachable in nature. Listed here are a number of the advantages:
- They’re 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 have interaction 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 related platforms provide 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 entails evaluating a number of elements:
- Function: 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, usually 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: Think about in the event you desire informal social media interactions, structured networking websites, or {industry} boards for data change.
- Person Base: The scale and exercise degree of the group can vastly affect networking alternatives and useful resource availability.
- Value: There is perhaps membership charges concerned, so assess if the potential advantages justify the bills.
Analyzing these features can assist pinpoint the perfect networking platforms for reaching your skilled targets.
