A new LinkedIn report shows how businesses are changing their approach to measuring marketing success.
The report, based on insights from leaders at Microsoft, ServiceNow, PwC, and other global firms, identifies five key trends reshaping measurement strategies.
1. Revenue-Centric Metrics
Marketers are now focusing more on revenue-related metrics instead of traditional cost-per-lead measures.
Leaders are adopting tools that sync CRM data with campaign engagement. These tools bridge the gap between marketing activity and business outcomes and show how specific efforts drive deals.
Other critical shifts include:
Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) are no longer the primary metric because their conversion rates are inconsistent.
There is a greater emphasis on “sourced pipeline,” which refers to deals generated by marketing, and “influenced pipeline,” which measures the effect of multiple touchpoints in marketing.
ServiceNow’s Vivek Khandelwal noted:
“You can talk about click-through rate, cost per click, and cost per impression all day long, but what eventually matters to the business are the revenue metrics. It’s all about how many customers we’re winning, how many opportunities we’re creating, and the ROI we’re generating on marketing investments.”
Personio’s Alex Venus emphasized:
“Our North Star metric is qualified pipeline, which means an opportunity that your salespeople care about, which should be converting at a rate of 25% or more.”
2. ROI Frameworks for Brand Marketing
CFOs now need proof that brand-building works financially. This means marketers must show how their awareness efforts lead to sales results.
The report reads:
“The emphasis is shifting from the cost of marketing outcomes to the value of those outcomes. For marketers, that means reporting on KPIs that correlate with revenue in a clear and consistent way – at a rate that both sales and finance can believe in.”
To justify brand spend, teams are:
Separating brand and demand budgets to optimize spending.
Running campaigns focused on specific high-value accounts, then tracking deal timelines for correlation.
Balancing engagement (e.g., branded search growth) with pipeline influence.
3. AI-Powered Attribution Models
B2B buying groups are getting larger, often including 6 to 10 members.
As a result, marketers are now using machine learning models instead of outdated last-touch attribution methods.
Julien Harazi, Head of Lead Generation at Cegid, stated in the report:
“As B2B marketers, our world has become a lot more complicated. All of the touchpoints are intertwined and it can be difficult to understand the buyer journey and identify where the value comes from in terms of your marketing.”
Emerging solutions include:
Lifetime value (LTV) analysis by channel/segment
Media Mix Modelling to assess cross-channel synergies
Integration with LinkedIn Sales Navigator for account-level journey mapping
4. Multi-Timeframe Measurements
Leaders now measure performance across three timelines to balance immediate optimizations with long-term growth:
Real-time: Cost-per-qualified lead optimizations
Mid-term: 3–12-week pipeline ROAS
Long-term: LTV-adjusted ROI incorporating brand investments
This approach helps teams avoid over-indexing on short-term gains while undervaluing brand-building.
Sveta Freidman, Global Data & Analytics Lead at Xero, states in the report:
“One of my goals is to build an understanding of lifetime value by channel, segment level and by platform so that we can optimize our approach around the best outcomes for our business.”
5. Unified Real-Time Dashboards
With 73% of marketers citing siloed data as a top challenge, integrated analytics tools are becoming critical.
Solutions gaining momentum include:
LinkedIn Insight Tag for cross-website behavioral tracking
Hybrid metrics balancing brand engagement and demand signals
Predictive AI models identifying untracked revenue influences
What This Means For Marketers
The report highlights the value of measurement for brand growth.
These three priorities stand out for B2B marketers:
Link metrics to revenue.
Use tools like multi-touch attribution and brand lift studies to assess demand and brand impact.
Balance real-time optimizations with long-term customer value analysis.
Success in B2B marketing depends on your ability to translate data into language that resonates with CFOs and business leaders.
Marketing jobs are increasing, and many professionals are satisfied with their roles. However, rapid changes in technology and work environments pose new challenges.
The LinkedIn Marketing Jobs Outlook report offers insights into the changing job market and strategies for career growth.
Here’s all the data from the report that you need to know.
Marketing Jobs Are Rebounding
The report highlights a strong recovery in marketing job opportunities.
Marketing-related job postings on LinkedIn increased by 76% year-over-year.
Industries like technology and financial services, which experienced significant layoffs, are now showing steady growth in hiring.
Job Satisfaction Is High, Retention Remains a Challenge
Despite workplace challenges, job satisfaction among marketers is notably strong. According to the report, 67% of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) are “completely satisfied” with their roles.
However, retaining top talent remains a hurdle, with 55% of marketers considering leaving their current position if a better opportunity arises.
Workplace Change Overwhelms Many Marketers
The fast-paced evolution of the marketing industry is a double-edged sword. While it drives innovation, it also leaves many professionals feeling overwhelmed.
The report notes that 72% of marketers struggle with the rapid evolution of their roles, and 53% worry about falling behind due to technological advancements.
Skill of the Year: Collaborative Problem-Solving
Collaborative problem-solving has been identified as the “Skill of the Year” in marketing.
This ability, which emphasizes teamwork and customer-centric decision-making, saw a 138% growth in demand.
Companies increasingly value marketers who can navigate complex challenges with agility and foster team innovation.
Top Hard Skills for Marketers
Technical expertise remains critical in the marketing field, with demand for specific hard skills surging:
Creative Execution: Demand for this skill has increased by 443% over the past two years.
Artificial Intelligence: Skills in AI grew by 392% during the same period.
Marketing Technology: As platforms and tools evolve, proficiency in marketing technology rose by 351%.
What Does This Mean?
To stay competitive, LinkedIn advises marketers to focus on three key strategies:
Upskilling: With AI reshaping the industry, professionals should prioritize learning new tools and technologies. Courses like “Generative AI for Digital Marketers” are among LinkedIn Learning’s top recommendations.
Agility: Marketers should embrace change and adopt a growth mindset to remain adaptable to evolving consumer behaviors and technological advancements.
Collaboration: Breaking down silos and promoting cross-functional teamwork can drive creative problem-solving.
Conclusion: A Year of Growth and Innovation
LinkedIn’s latest Marketing Jobs Outlook report shows that the industry is changing rapidly.
While there are challenges like workplace stress and technology changes, there are also many growth opportunities.
Marketers can succeed by staying informed, embracing change, and improving their skills.
LinkedIn’s Marketing Jobs Outlook report reveals a rebound in industry job postings, with a 76% increase compared to last year.
The report also identifies the most in-demand marketing roles across regions and experience levels, providing a roadmap for those looking to make career moves.
Whether you’re a seasoned executive or just starting out in the field, understanding these trends can help you position yourself for success.
Report Highlights
Most In-Demand Marketing Roles
According to LinkedIn’s data, these are the marketing positions employers are most actively hiring for now:
North America (NAMER)
Early Career: Social Media Manager
Mid-Career: Marketing Manager
Seasoned: Marketing Director
Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA)
Early Career: Marketing Specialist
Mid-Career: Social Media Manager
Seasoned: Head of Marketing
Asia Pacific (APAC)
Early Career: Digital Marketing Specialist
Mid-Career: Marketing Manager
Seasoned: Marketing Director
Latin America (LATAM)
Early Career: Community Manager
Mid-Career: Marketing Analyst
Seasoned: Promoter
B2B Marketing Jobs See 21% Growth
While the overall marketing job market saw a 76% year-over-year increase, B2B marketing roles grew by 21%.
This suggests that despite the more modest growth compared to the broader industry, opportunities are expanding again in the B2B space after last year’s slump.
Marketers Satisfied (But Open to New Opportunities)
The report found a 91% job satisfaction rate among B2B marketers, especially those in executive positions.
However, 55% said they are either actively job searching or would consider leaving for the right opportunity.
Rapid Change Creates Overwhelm
The marketing field is changing quickly, and 72% of professionals feel overwhelmed by these changes.
More than half worry about falling behind if they don’t keep up.
This shift is due to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), and most professionals expect it to significantly impact their work soon.
The report notes that “to stay ahead of the curve, marketers are embracing continual learning,” with 51%seeking guidance on skills to develop.
Collaborative Problem-Solving: The Skill of the Year
With AI taking on more routine tasks, human-centric skills are more crucial than ever.
LinkedIn named “Collaborative Problem-Solving” the top marketing skill of the year, and it has grown by 138% since 2021.
Key technical skills marketers are growing include Creative Execution (443% increase), Artificial Intelligence (392% increase), and Marketing Technology (351% increase).
What Does This Mean For Marketers?
LinkedIn’s new Marketing Jobs Outlook seems promising, but what should marketers do with these insights?
Here’s the breakdown.
Polish Your Profile (Even if You’re Not Looking)
Most B2B marketers are happy where they are, but over half would jump ship for the right gig.
Keep your resume and LinkedIn fresh in case that dream job pops up.
Embrace the Chaos
Marketing moves fast, and most feel overwhelmed by the constant change.
The solution? Never stop learning. Dive into training on the latest skills and tech to stay caught up.
Balance Tech Savvy With People Skills
You can’t escape AI in marketing now. Get comfy with these tools, but don’t sleep on skills like collaboration and creative problem-solving.
As AI handles the routine stuff, these “human” skills will set you apart.
Target High-Growth Roles
Are you eyeing a career move? Social Media Manager, Marketing Manager, and Director roles are hot in North America.
In EMEA, aim for Marketing Specialist or Head of Marketing jobs.
Stay Flexible
Is your niche growing slower than others? Don’t stress. Remote work means more options across locations.
Plus, your marketing chops likely transfer to other industries—pivot as needed.
Full Report
You can explore LinkedIn’s Fall Marketing Jobs Outlook report for insights, in-demand skills, and career tips.
LinkedIn’s push into video content is showing results, according to new research by marketing expert Caroline Giegerich.
Her analysis, published in Adweek, tests LinkedIn’s claim that video gets five times the engagement of text posts.
She writes:
“Curious to test LinkedIn’s claim that videos receive five times more engagement, I wanted to see if the hype held up. Additionally, with a staggering 84% of marketers utilizing video in their content strategies, I wanted to go deep and understand the real value of the format.”
Key Findings
Giegerich’s 90-day analysis revealed video posts consistently achieved higher reach than written content:
Her lowest-performing video posts garnered nearly triple the impressions of top-performing written posts
Her most successful video reached 774,000 impressions
Her video posts averaged around 250,000 views
Giegerich found the most success with:
Videos under 5 minutes
Direct-to-camera approach
Morning posts between 9-11 AM EST
Additionally, she notes adding personal flair to videos may have aided their performance:
“In terms of the content itself, I keep my videos under 5 minutes and speak directly to the camera about technology in terms everyone can understand to make it accessible.
I also post in the morning between 9 – 11 AM EST. If Gossip Girl covered tech, she’d be me. Over time, I added fun sound effects and captions with Capcut.”
When To Use Text Posts
Giegerich says that video works best to create awareness at the top of the sales funnel. Once people are aware, text posts are more valuable.
She states:
“My written posts dominate the top three spots for engagement, even though my video posts drive significantly more awareness. For example, my top-written post by engagement drove 68 times fewer impressions than my lowest-performing video post.”
Based on her testing, text posts received more targeted distribution to her connections, while videos were recommended to people outside her network.
Giegerich adds:
“One format is more targeted to my network and the other is being heavily fanned by the LinkedIn algorithm to an audience outside of my immediate network.”
Limited Monetization Opportunities
The study highlights LinkedIn’s limited monetization options compared to its competitors:
The current program offers sponsored posts and consulting opportunities.
The creator accelerator program is restricted to only 100 participants, selected in 2022.
The platform lags behind TikTok and Instagram when providing incentives for creators.
What This Means
LinkedIn’s algorithm tends to favor video, but Giegerich’s research highlights that video and text serve different roles.
Video posts excel at broad awareness and can achieve higher impression counts, though their performance is often unpredictable.
In contrast, written posts foster stronger engagement within established networks.
For marketers, Giegerich suggests a balanced approach: use video for visibility and maintain written posts for engagement.
LinkedIn is launching several new features for people who publish newsletters on its platform.
The professional networking site wants to make it easier for creators to grow their newsletter audiences and engage readers.
More People Publishing Newsletters On LinkedIn
The company says the number of LinkedIn members publishing newsletter articles has increased by 59% over the past year.
Engagement on these creator-hosted newsletters is also up 47%.
With this growing interest, LinkedIn is updating its newsletter tools.
A New Way To View & Comment
One of the main changes is an updated reading experience that displays comments alongside the newsletter articles.
This allows readers to view and participate in discussions more easily while consuming the content.
See an example of the new interface below.
Screenshot from: linkedin.com, June 2024.
Design Your Own Cover Images
You can now use Microsoft’s AI-powered Designer tool to create custom cover images for their newsletters.
The integration provides templates, size options, and suggestions to help design visually appealing covers.
More Subscriber Notifications
LinkedIn is improving the notifications sent to newsletter subscribers to drive more readership.
When a new issue is published, subscribers will receive email alerts and in-app messages. LinkedIn will also prompt your followers to subscribe.
Mention Other Profiles In Articles
You can now embed links to other LinkedIn profiles and pages directly into their newsletter articles.
This lets readers click through and learn more about the individuals or companies mentioned.
In the example below, you can see it’s as easy as adding a link.
Screenshot from: linkedin.com, June 2024.
Preview Links Before Publishing
Lastly, LinkedIn allows you to access a staging link that previews the newsletter URL before hitting publish.
This can help you share and distribute their content more effectively.
Why SEJ Cares
As LinkedIn continues to lean into being a publishing platform for creators and thought leaders, updates that enhance the newsletter experience are noteworthy for digital marketers and industry professionals looking to build an audience.
The new tools are part of LinkedIn’s broader effort to court creators publishing original content on its platform amid rising demand for newsletters and knowledge-sharing.
How This Can Help You
If you publish a newsletter on LinkedIn, these new tools can help you design more visually appealing content, grow your subscriber base, interact with your audience through comments, and preview your content before going live.
I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word “networking,” I think of LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform, with more than 1 billion users in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
Like many of you, I’ve turned LinkedIn into my go-to digital Rolodex, connecting with colleagues past and present and keeping my contacts up-to-date.
However, like any social network, LinkedIn has its downsides.
With so many people on LinkedIn, it can sometimes feel a bit impersonal, and content in the feed isn’t always hyper-relevant.
On top of this, I’ve noticed an uptick in spam on the platform, with an influx of unsolicited direct messages from people trying to sell me things.
Now, I’m not about to ditch LinkedIn – and I’m not suggesting you should, either.
But there’s a whole other world out there beyond LinkedIn that’s worth exploring for professional networking.
Let’s dive in.
Who Can Benefit From A Networking Platform?
Just about anyone looking to give their professional life a little boost can benefit from a networking platform – whether you’re a new graduate just starting out, a professional seeking growth, a freelancer or entrepreneur hoping to network, or just anyone looking for a professional community.
For digital marketers specifically, networking sites are a treasure trove of insights, trends, and potential partnerships.
While SEO experts might find them useful for finding new tools, swapping strategies, or staying abreast of algorithm changes, social media pros might use them to connect with like-minded individuals or uncover new content approaches.
Basically, anyone who works online can make use of networking platforms to gain industry knowledge, create meaningful connections, and fuel professional growth.
So, whether you aim to boost your personal brand, seek out collaborations, or look for your next big opportunity, these platforms are your go-to.
Without further ado, here are 12 awesome alternatives to LinkedIn to check out in 2024.
1. Meetup
Screenshot from Meetup.com, March 2024
Meetup is a cool platform that allows you to seek out (or create) local meetups with like-minded folks – and it’s a great platform for anyone looking to blend online connections with real-world interactions.
When you register for Meetup, you’ll select your interests (whether personal and/or professional).
From there, Meetup will notify you of any local meetups you might be interested in, as they are created.
The meetups span a wide variety of topics, from in-depth SEO workshops to social media strategy sessions, not to mention casual networking mixers.
Screenshot from Meetup.com, March 2024
If you don’t see anything that interests you or works with your schedule, you can create your own event. Meetup will notify anyone who has identified your topic as of interest to them.
To be successful, make your Meetup group or event stand out by choosing a catchy title and providing a clear, engaging description that lets people know what to expect and why they might want to join.
Remember, this platform is all about bringing people together, so the more you can offer in terms of learning, networking, or just plain fun, the better.
It’s a great way to bring like-minded people together locally, and a great option if you’re looking to deepen your knowledge, expand your professional network, or just further explore your passions.
2. XING
Screenshot from Xing.com, March 2024
Think of XING as a kind of Europe’s answer to LinkedIn. The professional network, which boasts over 21 million members, offers a unique space for industry professionals to converge and expand their communities.
Currently, XING is particularly beneficial for those looking to work within European markets or with European countries, as it’s much more prominent in Europe than in the U.S. However, it’s used by people in over 200 countries, so don’t discount its power and potential, no matter where you are.
Upon joining XING, you have the ability to tap into a massive professional network. Join group chats with like-minded professionals to network and share ideas; identify relevant seminars, conferences, and tradeshows you may want to attend; or post jobs, search jobs, and research companies.
With over 20,000 recruiters on the platform, it’s particularly powerful for job seekers.
One unique feature XING offers is its culture compass, which offers insights into the work culture of potential employers. This can be super helpful during the job search phase.
To make the most of the platform, make sure your profile is complete and up-to-date with your skills and experience, actively participate in groups and discussions, utilize job alerts, and leverage the Culture Compass.
It is free to use, but similarly to LinkedIn, a paid premium membership unlocks additional features, such as searching for people with specific qualifications or messaging unknown contacts.
3. Bark
Screenshot from Bark.com, March 2024
Bark, which bills itself as “the Amazon of services,” is designed to connect local professionals with potential clients seeking their services.
It offers a network of over 180,000 active suppliers across eight sectors and connects over 4.5 million buyers and sellers annually.
Are you looking for professional assistance?
Bark will reach out to professionals in your area and circle back with estimates. Even more valuable, if you’re looking to find customers for your business, you can set up your own profile and be paired with prospects who are seeking out similar services.
It caters to a broad range of business needs, from accounting to personal training, web design, SEO, house cleaning, and more.
Screenshot from Bark.com, March 2024
It’s free to create a profile and browse leads, but Bark requires you to purchase credits in order to actually contact clients – and the fees vary based on job scale and value.
After you purchase a lead, you can immediately access their contact details.
It’s worth noting that Bark doesn’t vet the professionals on its platform, so be sure to exercise caution and do your due diligence when making connections.
To get the most out of Bark:
Set your lead preferences actively to ensure you only receive notifications for jobs that make sense for your business.
Engage promptly with potential clients once you’ve purchased a lead.
Make sure to maintain a detailed, up-to-date profile.
4. Opportunity
Screenshot from MyOpportunity.com, March 2024
Opportunity is a networking site that prides itself on “professional matchmaking” – or connecting people based on their specific professional needs and criteria. It has millions of members in 190+ countries.
It’s particularly effective for those looking to build networks and business relationships, find job opportunities, generate sales leads, or hire talent.
Users can be notified each time someone in their target market indicates that they need what said user offers. Likewise, they can be notified of relevant employment opportunities, or discover other professionals based on their preferences (e.g., age, gender, interests, etc.)
By creating a profile, you can be directly matched with relevant leads. You can choose from one of five profile types in order to streamline your experience:
Build your network and business relationships.
Find jobs and career opportunities.
Meaningful relationships.
Turbo-charge your sales lead generation.
Hire the best talent out there.
The Basic membership is free and offers many core capabilities. Alternatively, you can upgrade to a PRO membership for $29/month, offering features like unlimited messaging, unlimited search radius, and a stronger AI matching algorithm.
5. Jobcase
Screenshot from Jobcase.com, March 2024
Jobcase describes itself as “an online community dedicated to empowering the world’s workers.”
It’s a pretty unique platform that has been powering over 100 popular job sites since 2009. Because of that, Jobcase has access to a wealth of data about open roles and the companies currently hiring for roles you might be interested in.
So, how does it work?
With Jobcase, you can set up a profile and get access to a huge database of jobs. Plus, you can join groups or peruse the community to participate in discussions. Jobcase boasts over 120 million users, so there are plenty of discussions to join in on!
The site offers community engagement opportunities, as well as tons of resources for job seekers.
To make the most of Jobcase, be sure to actively participate in discussions relevant to your field. Also, seek advice from seasoned experts and regularly update your profile.
6. Community Forums
Screenshot from support.google.com, March 2024
Some of the most valuable, and yet most often overlooked, networking opportunities are in community forums.
They cater to a diverse audience of professionals depending on your niche and the forum itself – and there’s a forum for almost anything!
And these are just a few examples of the countless community forums out there.
These forums are a great way to ask questions and share your experience with others who are seeking input. The forums stay active and are frequented by many knowledgeable people.
To maximize the potential of community forums, go out of your way to contribute with questions or share your own expertise. Engaging in these spaces can deepen your knowledge and expand your network.
Remember, the key is to provide value and interact genuinely with fellow members.
7. X (Twitter)
Believe it or not, some of the best industry networking that I’ve been privileged to stumble upon has come from some really great X (formerly Twitter) communities!
Engaging in industry-specific hashtags, threads, Communities, and Spaces can be a powerful way to network and learn on the platform.
Screenshot from X, March 2024
The especially great thing about these is that they are public, free, active, and can be really supportive.
New members are welcomed, and people are encouraged to share their questions and struggles. Plus, it’s just fun to talk shop with others who get it.
I’ve made a lot of lasting connections on X, which have led to a variety of career opportunities, from speaking at industry events to client referrals and more
Historically, digital marketers could find relevant content on #SEOchat, #SEOtalk, #SEMrushChat, #HootChat, #SproutChat, #socialROI, and #contentwritingchat – just to name a few. It’s also worth looking for Communities and Spaces that center around your areas of interest and expertise.
Stay active, contribute positively, and harness the collaborative spirit of these communities for potential career growth and knowledge exchange.
8. Reddit
Screenshot from Reddit.com, March 2024
Although Reddit has a strong reputation for being the source of many-a-meme, it’s also so much more than that.
Reddit hosts over 10,000 active subreddits – a huge span of micro-communities – including r/PPC for paid search and r/SEO for, you guessed it, SEO.
The subreddits are completely free to join and public to peruse – and by signing up for a free Reddit account, you can engage with existing posts or start your own discussions.
In this way, it’s a powerful tool for staying updated with industry trends and connecting with peers.
Success on Reddit is all about engaging with others. Just make sure you’re providing value and following the rules of each subreddit, as Reddit users can be sticklers about that.
9. Slack
Screenshot from Slack, March 2024
Slack has evolved past its role as a simple workplace communication tool; there are now many Slack communities for networking purposes and beyond.
On the other hand, it can be quite distracting. With the exception of Lunchmeet, almost every other networking community in this list is browser-based.
In case you haven’t heard of it, Slack is a messaging app that brings people together in unique private communities to exchange information.
Each community has a mix of public threads, smaller private channels, and the option to DM anyone else in the community.
So, if you find yourself distracted by instant messages and mobile/desktop notifications, Slack might not be the best place for you.
That said, I’m a fan; I’ve joined some great communities, met great people, and even created working relationships – all through Slack.
Communities on Slack can range widely in focus, allowing for targeted networking and discussions in your field of interest.
If you’re interested in finding a Slack community, a quick Google search for [Insert Topic Here’ + Slack Community] usually turns up several options.
It’s also easy and free to create your own Slack community and invite your friends.
10. Facebook Groups
Screenshot from Facebook.com, March 2024
These days, there are plenty of Facebook groups dedicated to sharing professional knowledge and experiences – some with thousands of active members.
Although Facebook was once considered more of a personal social platform than LinkedIn, it can be a great source for professional networking.
If you’re interested in seeking out a community, you can use Facebook’s search tool to find groups about your topic of interest. You’ll find a mix of large public groups and more intimate private groups.
There are several communities that cater to various aspects of digital marketing from tactical knowledge all the way to running a digital agency.
To make the most of them, spend time actively participating, sharing relevant content, and connecting with other members of the community.
11. Sumry
Screenshot from Sumry.me, March 2024
Sumry is a site that was built to make first impressions easier and bring a more personal side to the job search process. It describes itself as “the human way to get hired.”
It’s a web app that enables you to build innovative, interactive resumes and website portfolios that employers on the site can view.
Sumry allows you to aggregate your certifications, skills, and work experience, as well as testimonials and your full timeline of work experience, and creates a one-page resume and website for you.
What sets Sumry apart is its emphasis on storytelling and crafting a narrative around your personal brand.
For the best results, add depth to your profile with testimonials from former clients or colleagues. Use the platform to build an interesting story about your professional journey rather than just a list of work experiences.
Once you are ready to submit, Sumry makes it easy to apply with one click with a link to your profile and a PDF of your resume.
With the premium version, it also gives users a chance to introduce themselves before submitting an application.
Sumry comes with a 7-day free trial – after that, it’s $79 per year.
12. Gust.com
Screenshot from Gust.com, March 2024
This one is a little more niche and specific.
Gust is a community focused solely on startups; in fact, it claims to be the world’s largest community of entrepreneurs and early-stage investors.
According to its website, Gust boasts a community of over 800,000 founders and the ability to match with 300+ of the world’s top accelerators.
So, what is Gust?
It’s a global SaaS funding platform that powers the sourcing and management of early-stage investments for startups.
It provides entrepreneurs with tools to help them start, operate, and raise money for companies, enabling them to collaborate with both investors and angel investor networks.
To get the most out of Gust as a networking platform, use its capabilities to rate and review companies, find promising startups, or engage with potential investors and partners. Engage with the community, attend office hours, and participate in expert sessions.
Beyond this, make sure to create a strong public profile for your startup, craft a compelling presentation for investors to review, and provide relevant supporting documentation.
You can get going with a START plan for $450/year.
How To Get The Best Out Of Networking Platforms
LinkedIn might be the largest professional networking platform in the world, but it is far from the only one.
There are plenty of other networking platforms out there that exist to help you make meaningful connections – many of them offering unique features like direct connections with founders, niche community engagement opportunities, and tailored job opportunities.
In fact, some of these alternatives may be more useful to you than LinkedIn, given their focus on catering to specific locations or niches.
To get the most out of networking platforms generally, you should:
Seek out platforms that align with your industry, interests, and professional goals.
Make an effort to actively engage and contribute to discussions to build credibility.
Prioritize providing value to others to establish genuine relationships.
Leverage unique platform features to highlight your skills and interests.
Diversifying your networking approach can help you find new opportunities and communities that resonate with your career objectives, and lead you to richer, more fruitful professional relationships.
