The world of technology is a vast and extremely complex phenomenon that continues to evolve day by day. The use of online apps is something that we once considered to be very important for its limited access, but we now see it as a normal part of our everyday lives.
With that said, there are aspects of our lives that we could easily improve with some of the business networking apps that exist today.
So, today, we are going to be talking about some of the most unknown yet powerful business networking apps and how they can benefit your efforts.
Do keep in mind that these are not all of the apps available that can help your business networking goals. These are only some suggestions that we have found during our own research. There is always the possibility of other discoveries.
Before we get started though, let’s get the popular ones out of the way.
We know you that most likely know about the top apps for business networking, but here is a quick recap just in case:
- Meetup
- TikTok
While most people may not think of these as business networking apps on their first thought, that is what they are if you use them for business. They are the biggest social networks available today and this means that there are millions of potential business relationships simply waiting to happen.
LinkedIn is the ultimate business authority given that no other network is as vast with a business-oriented user base. The level of popularity of this network is undeniable and having it in your list of apps to use for business networking is always a great idea.
Facebook is undoubtedly the largest social network available today. Most of the people who are on LinkedIn are also on Facebook, but the main difference is that many people use Facebook for purposes other than business.
Instagram is the ultimate mobile-friendly application that is always making waves, but it is less of an optimal place for business networking than the other options out there.
Last but not least, WhatsApp continues to be the most popular messenger app and this makes it a great place for networking (if you know how to leverage it).
These are the most relevant apps that you can use for business networking, but there are others that are also very useful and can prove to be very engaging for you and your target contacts.
The following list of apps could be a great introduction to more opportunities.
The Top, Little-Known Business Networking Apps of Today
Bizzabo
In a similar way to Eventbrite (which we also go over below), this is an app that allows people to schedule events and arrange them with specific purposes. You can also attend as many events as you want to and, depending on your comfort level with online meet-ups, this can prove to be a great way for you to start networking if you’re new.
This is an app that allows you to create events with all of the features you need to do it right. (And, their features are quite possibly the best way to make sure that you get a reliable result from this approach to online event networking.) You can even set up your marketing campaigns to sell tickets and promote the events that you’re scheduling.
Very few applications offer this level of engagement and this is one of the main reasons why it is such a great addition to consider. You have nothing to lose but a little time by trying it out. And, you have a lot of business and network growth to gain.
When you start to attend these online events, you can communicate with a large number of people that would be hard to find otherwise. There are many things that can happen with the sort of features this app provides and you could end up finding the right people for new business partnerships with the right events.
Shapr
Those of you reading here who are familiar with the use of dating apps that swipe to get good matches for their profile are going to feel right at home with Shapr. This application is basically the Tinder of business networking and it’s extremely useful for those of us who don’t want to waste our time, and are looking to network with like minded people.
Given that we are living in a world that caters to simplified solutions, it can make sense to consider the use of an app that makes it so easy for you to find people who are going to help you expand your business network. (And, simplified in a way that’s been proven with one of the most popular dating apps in the world at the time of this article’s writing.)
If that sounds like something that interests you, Shapr might be for you.
Guild
Similar to WhatsApp, in my opinion, and can provide you many of the same benefits through its interface (albeit, there are some minor differences between the two apps).
This is a professional communications app. And, it’s perfect for those who want to ensure that their information remains private and shared within a secure environment.
In all honesty, its applications to business networking are limited. But, in times when privacy has become such a huge part of our lives, we felt this app deserved a mention on a site that talks about how you can build relationships with strangers.
The privacy issues that some people fear with larger networks are being addressed by smaller apps like this one.
Honorable Mentions
Meetup
This is an excellent application that is used by people who are looking to find people with similar interests. This app has become very popular in more than 400 countries and counting. And, it is very easy to use with its robust list of categories to choose from if you want to target specific events (or, we could call them literal “meet-ups”) to attend.
As an added plus, the interface has come along way. It’s super intuitive and most people will get the hang of things within minutes.
When you have access to such a large database of people with similar interests, you are able to do some substantial networking. This app is so vast that you could spend weeks and even months networking with new people.
Eventbrite
When you are able to use an application to search for all kinds of events and conventions, this can be a gold mine for networking.
Eventbrite offers exactly that with the most reliable results you can expect in the business. You can create your own events or attend events that you consider to be worth your time.
This is probably the most popular of the lesser-known apps, but it is well known by a large community of business professionals. (With that said though, it is far from the popularity of known networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook. And yet, that doesn’t make it any less effective or valuable.)
Clubhouse
This is a very original one. It allows you to interact in audio conversations.
This makes it ideal for those who would rather listen instead of reading or watching something. The app is very unique and it does seem like a promising project, so we will have to wait and see how things go for the app’s development and popularity because it’s still relatively new.
The best thing that I think this app has going for it is that it can be perfect for people on the go. When someone is looking to make the most out of their time during commutes to work, while walking somewhere, or even when waiting in line at the bank, the communication ideas and features this app explores become very important.
The idea is to be able to make proper use of your time as much as you possibly can. And, for those busy professionals out there, that can make this app perfect to try out as a way to be more efficient and productive.
Lunchclub
This app was created for the purpose of allowing professionals to meet new people for business networking. Once professionals with similar interests (and profiles) are matched, they can meet over a virtual one-on-one meeting. The way it works is pretty simple and it allows people to get to know others with excellent results.
You could say that this is a matchmaker for professionals and it truly does help save time and the effort of business networking on your own steam. The simplicity of the app and the functions it offers are truly appealing.
And, the head of our website, Ali Scarlett, has actually worked with their board of directors to share his expertise in networking to help them improve the app in the coming months.
So, you can expect some exciting developments coming from Lunchclub soon.
How to Use Business Networking Apps As Effectively As Possible
Keep In Mind That There Are Many Apps for Many Purposes
Even when you have so many options to choose from here, you can always look for other alternatives. The most important thing to consider when it comes to apps is that the options are vast.
We have barely scratched the surface of the existing apps for business networking, but we did offer what we consider to be the most reliable options. Just make sure that anything you choose to use is going to actually help you with your business networking goals (and that you’re not losing yourself in the fun of experiencing a new app).
When you settle on an app that you feel works best for you and start to make good use of it, you’ll start to notice an increase in your business connections in no time.
Try Them Out and See How They Fit Your Needs
We know that it can be a time consuming process to decide which of these apps to try out and then actually go do it. They all offer something different and they can take at least a few days to learn how to navigate properly.
Even if this feels like a chore though, you can always break the time you spend exploring each app into chunks and check out one of the apps every other day or so. Blocking out time in your day to make it a priority is going to make the process much easier to handle (and the results much more satisfactory).
You can simply pick one app from the list and sign up. Take as much time as you can afford to fully test it and then move on to the next. (Just be sure to take notes on what you liked about each app.)
Once you have done this with the entire list, you can decide which of the apps you feel work best for you. In a perfect world, you would have time to use all of them, but that would be unrealistic unless you dedicated a large portion of your schedule to this process.
The app that Ali Scarlett recommends is Lunchclub. And, it’s less of an app and more of a website (though, you can click “Add to Homepage” from your phone’s browser to make it into an app — their website is very mobile friendly). But, he mentions that he’s seen the most benefit from that app so far (hence, why he’s working with the Lunchclub team to make it better).
Final Thoughts
Not every single app we have suggested here is likely to be your cup of coffee, but you can definitely find a few that will be ideal for your needs. (Yes, I said “a few,” as in more than one — which is why I would advise that you at least take a look at as many of them as you can.)
Many entrepreneurs that engage in business networking practices are able to achieve the best return on their efforts thanks to these apps. Not taking the time to test them could cost you some great opportunities for your business goals.
Technology is an inevitable part of our lives and the more we learn to use it, the easier it will be for us to achieve our goals as modern-day business professionals. The coming years are going to be very demanding and we need to be ready to make the most of it by incorporating technology.
Using apps for the purpose of business networking isn’t always a helpful strategy. Such as, in a case where you have a very specific target contact you want to connect with and they don’t use any form of social media (or, they have the accounts set up, but they don’t use them, which is just as worthless).
This is the reason why we have many guides on what you can do in cases where social media isn’t an option for you.
And, make no mistake, social media is not dead. If it were, we wouldn’t have put together this guide. Even better, this list of apps that are not as popular are your best bet for building your network when you can’t rely on any of the “big dogs.”
Business networking apps are going to be extremely useful for business networking purposes. It’s only a matter of making sure that you are giving them the required time to learn which ones are a good fit for your preferred networking style and current goals.
0 Comments