While the platform is specifically focused on creating a space where companies and employees collaborate on tasks, it also happens to be a great platform for online networking. Slack is a free-to-use virtual workspace, team collaboration and communication tool that needs little introduction. Users on this tier get access to additional features like VIP lead notifications, the Global Search Tool, and advanced communication features. While most features on the platform are free to use, there is a higher “pro” tier that is subscription-based. Functional all over the globe, it offers members a chance to network with relevant people in their sector, connect to (and apply for) new job openings, and even generate leads. Opportunity is a networking platform for professionals. Through the platform, you can invest in startups, find out information about fast-growing companies, list job opportunities and find employment. It’s free to register on the platform.ĪngelList is one of the most popular LinkedIn alternatives and bills itself as the world’s largest startup community. The website and its accompanying Android and iOS apps provide a list of events in 855 cities spread across 193 countries. It’s also a great site for self-promotion and business promotion. Meetup is an excellent platform for discovering events where you can grow your offline network and make face-to-face connections. The professional events, categorized under career and business, tend to be a mixture of seminars and after-work networking. Events are grouped under various categories. Through the Meetup platform, you can find communities of people who have common interests. Established in 2002 by Scott Heiferman, Meetup allows you to create and host events and discover and register for local events. If your definition of “professional networking” is synonymous with seminars, conventions and any kind of so-called “meet-ups”, Meetup is right for you. While LinkedIn is the most popular platform for professional networking, it’s not the only one. Most people who engage in professional networking use LinkedIn to build connections or find new opportunities, possibly because they were told to grow their LinkedIn presence when they started working. Editor’s note: This article is a re-run as part of our countdown of top stories from the past year.

Websites like linkedin