17 Best Alternatives to Linkedin for professional Networking

Apart from career options, as a member of Beyond.com you also get the opportunity to read career content originally curated from over 1400 sources. This helps you to find resources and suggestions that suit them the best.

Data.com Connect

Data.com Connect is built on a unique concept, unlike other professional networking platforms, as it equips you with both the phone number and the email id of the individuals from the targeted companies that are listed in the business directory. That’s not all, as you also get the latest contact information updates of people from any organization and from any department from the regular staff to even the senior executives.

Data.com Connect also allows you to search their business directory by individual name, company name or even the type of the industry that helps you start networking with individuals from the same industry or location as yours. It is free to use, however, for premium features the price starts at $250/year.

Opportunity

If you belong to the field of sales & marketing, looking for employment opportunities, wish to get into a partnership, hire professionals or simply want to grow your professional network, Opprtunity gives you the perfect platform to do so. It uses a scientific method (first of its kind) to connect you to matching individuals who can provide you the right opportunity to do your business.

Opprtunity uses matching algorithms that analyze several data points such as, type of industry, skills, location and other signals across the internet. It essentially helps professionals to generate sales leads, post employment opportunities, develop business connections and more.

While Opprtunity is free to use, it is not a separate entity but rather requires you to sign in using LinkedIn.

Sumry

Sumry is a web application that helps you create work portfolios and resumes online. The best part about Sumry is that accentuates your education, expertise, certifications, work experience and also showcases any recommendations from individuals who may have worked with you in the past, setting it apart from the other professional networking services.

This helps you to apply for a position as soon as you find a job that interests you and provides an opportunity to be introduced to the company even before you formally send them an application. Sumry is free of cost for the basic use, however, for enhanced services you can subscribe to the Pro version for $7 a month.

NetParty

With around 200,000 users, NetParty is a social networking platform for young professionals across the globe. This is a great alternative to LinkedIn for those who prefer some fun while growing their professional network. NetParty has several branches across Europe and North America and holds exclusive parties allowing the young professionals to catch up with each other in a comfortable environment.

It’s free to join NetParty, so you just need to sign up and you will also be able to view upcoming parties, get access to entry passes and receive assistance on commuting options, etc.

Jobcase

Jobcase allows you to build an exhaustive portfolio that demonstrates your educational details and work experience along with preferred compensation, work conditions, whether you are okay to relocate and personal attributes. The fact that Jobcase consists of job details from more than 100 current job listing domains that includes the likes of CareerBuilder and Indeed, it exposes you to more job providers and professional connections than LinkedIn.

Jobcase is free to use where you can either directly sign up or log in through LinkedIn account, Facebook or Google.

Volley

Volley is identical to Quora or Yahoo! Answers platform where members (designers, business groups or developers) get the opportunity to share their help in answering a specific question by their own knowledge or by their extended social networks. So, when someone posts a query either one of the Volley members can answer it or refer the one asking the question to someone they know who can answer.

Volley membership requires real identities and real connections with real individuals; hence you are assured that you are getting your answers from genuine people on the other end.

Volley is free to use and queries can be for any topic just like in Quora that can even include career

EFactor

If you own a business, EFactor is just the right platform for you to showcase your expertise and connect with like-minded people. It is said to bet the world’s largest enterprising community where you can have access to tools, individuals and resources to build relevant connections both online and offline.

Apart from allowing you to connect with possible clients and partners and attend events personally, EFactor also imparts info on how to cut business costs, prepare a business plan and learn how to address your ideas to help entrepreneurs.

EFactor is free for use and you register using your LinkedIn or Facebook account.

Bark.com

As a Bark member, you can expect to be connected to local businesses. It can easily help you to find expert advocates, plumbers or accountants in your area rather than wasting any time. Bark then contacts these businesses on your behalf along with providing you an estimate.

While you can search for businesses using this technique, you can also create your own portfolio so that even you can be hired. Bark also works as a professional networking platform that lets you connect to related professionals from your industry.

You can use Bark with a free account and can also upgrade to the premium version for your business to be promoted immediately.

Quora

If you own a business set up, Quora is the right option for you to network with people thinking on the similar lines. Whenever you have doubts about your business strategies like, critical partnerships, or want to know how to train the sales team within simply post a query and you will responses from the field experts.

Quora is free to use and in return you get some brilliant ideas.

Facebook

Even though we cannot call Facebook a professional networking platform, staying connected to your professional contacts can be of your advantage in the long term. Whether you have previously worked for a certain company or currently working, keeping in touch with them over the most popular social networking medium gives it a personal touch.

Besides, Facebook gives you the option to highlight your work experience apart from personal details. Moreover, mutual friends can further help extend your professional network. Facebook is free to use and does not require any membership fee.

Twitter

If you are looking for an excellent alternative to LinkedIn, Twitter can be the one. The best part about Twitter is its open atmosphere where you can look for keywords and hashtags, communicate with individuals or meet up with new people from the same industry as yours.

Makerbase

Makerbase is a relatively new open-source platform that took off earlier this year and is already gaining popularity with its innovative concept. It is for those who create apps and websites and also for the people who assist on the projects. Makerbase helps you to find the makers of your favorite apps and websites all under one platform.

As a maker while you can be the founder of an app or the host of a conference, you can also be the one who coded the program, designed the logo, or even a copywriter. So in short, Makerbase is an editable directory that allows you to add yourself as a maker and list all those projects that you worked on or assisted a team irrespective of the fact whether it was a hit or not. You can also add names of all those who assisted you in the project keeping in mind that a maker is an individual and not any brand or company.

The projects can be anything ranging from an app, website, videos, games to eBook, blogs, or even podcasts, but not necessarily only of the digital category. Anything that included the use of programmable hardware or based on web technology is considered to be a project. Brands, organizations or humans are not projects. While you can add even books, memes, crowdsourcing or conferences, you can also edit and revise the maker, role or project just as we would do on Wikipedia. You simply need to click on the “Edit” option and perform your task. You can also Archive any errors or Unarchive any mistakenly Archived items. Click on the flag icon to delete a page permanently or if you want to report an abuse.

Makerbase is absolutely free of cost and can be accessed by logging into your Twitter account.

LunchMeet

Find like-minded business professionals over LunchMeet platform that helps you to schedule a face-to-face meeting with them over lunch, drinks or simply over a cup of coffee according to your availability. However since it’s created on LinkedIn’s API you need to sign with your LinkedIn account and select a mutually convenient to meet up with the professional.

Moreover, the app can also help you with the nearest restaurants based on your current location using the in-app map and shares the related details with your contact via the messaging service. LunchMeet is a free to use iOS app that enables you to add your meetings to your iOS calendar.

Zerply

If you are into creativity and want a platform to showcase your talent that helps you to get hired by the right people, Zerply is just the right alternative for you. It is a professional networking platform that allows you to post your resume and even display your work using videos, storyboards or portfolios to capture the interest of the entertainment industry with your creative skills. Zerply is especially meant for animators, designers and the likes.

Zerply is free to use and to join the network you can either apply with their team by displaying your work or needs to be invited by any of the existing members.

Madhuparna

I find passion in writing Tech articles around Windows PC and softwares