When it comes to settling on a social media platform to begin networking as a pro, there are plenty of different platforms to choose from. It’s commonly accepted that there are a “golden few” platforms that stand above the rest regarding networking on social media.
But while researching the best platforms, we found a rather interesting trend. Namely, social media platforms are popular because they provide us with the necessary tools to connect with users from all around the world. So by that logic, we can use any social media platform for networking so long as it provides the user with this particular ability.
And there are more platforms out there than one can count.
So what exactly are the best social media platforms for networking? We feel you’ll find our selection particularly interesting. So, let’s begin.
7 Best Social Media Platforms
Below is a selection of the best social media platforms for business networking. First, let’s see what they are and why they are so popular.
1. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is arguably one of the best social media platforms for networking due to its broad reach and powerful tools. It’s also widely known that LinkedIn is the leading platform for professionals, but it’s also a great place for non-professionals to network.
LinkedIn’s advanced search capabilities make it easy to find like-minded professionals that you can connect with. Additionally, LinkedIn offers numerous networking opportunities, such as groups, company pages, and job postings.
Additionally, LinkedIn has more than 850+ million users. These facts alone make it the most desirable social media platform for networking.
2. Facebook
Facebook is undoubtedly one of the most popular social media platforms for networking. It has more than 2.7 billion monthly active users, making it an excellent place to make connections.
Though it’s not as advanced as LinkedIn in terms of search capabilities, it still provides plenty of opportunities to network. For example, you can create a Facebook page to showcase yourself or your business, join groups that are relevant to your interests, and even start conversations with other people.
Unfortunately, Facebook has taken a back seat in today’s user-driven social media world. It offers much to professionals who want to network, but it is significantly less desirable than other platforms.
3. Instagram
Instagram is often overlooked, but it is one of the best social media platforms for networking. With more than 1 billion users, it is the perfect place for people to build relationships and find new opportunities.
One thing stands out for Instagram – the massive engagement rate. The engagement rate is a particular reason why many professionals choose Instagram over Facebook to grow their connections and customer base. Due to this, Instagram is one of the best platforms to connect with potential customers, partners, and colleagues.
4. Twitter
Finishing the big four is Twitter. Simply put, Twitter is yet another excellent social media platform for networking.
It is a great place to start conversations, build connections, and promote your brand. The platform also has powerful search capabilities, so finding people who share similar interests is easy. Additionally, users can easily join conversations and groups to expand their reach.
The addition of Twitter Spaces and other mechanics has grown the platform’s reputation in terms of networking. As a result, it’s never been easier to connect with someone on Twitter now.
Although Twitter has lower monthly active users than Facebook and Instagram and lacks the networking capabilities of LinkedIn, it is still one of the best places to build up your digital Rolodex.
5. Meetup
We now go into the realm of lesser-known platforms for professionals to network. And what better platform to start than Meetup? Meetup is an excellent and quite underrated tool for professional networking.
Meetup works by allowing professionals to find and attend local events, meetups, and conferences in their field. So right off the bat, it is a social media app that provides a simple tool for connecting with people in real life instead of connecting virtually through the app.
It works differently from other social media networking platforms but is still an excellent tool for forging professional relationships built on in-person events.
6. TikTok
TikTok is all the rage nowadays. The app has grown massively popular over the past few years, and everyone is using it. And it’s not just kids or teens looking to make funny dance videos and do lip-syncing. Conversely, professionals are using TikTok to expand their reach and network.
TikTok allows users to quickly and easily connect with like-minded professionals. It also has an algorithm that helps users find content that is related to their interests and industry, making it great for networking.
Last but not least, TikTok is fun, and even professionals like to have fun. Therefore, it is one of the better platforms for networking.
7. Medium
Medium isn’t necessarily a social media platform but an online publishing platform. What separates Medium from the rest isn’t the classification of the platform but the fact that professionals use it to publish their content and read what other professionals are saying about their industry.
Medium can provide professionals with quite a lot of benefits. It can keep them up to date with the latest news from their industry, help them discover unique pieces of content to support their work, and even help them network like a pro.
So how does Medium help you network? Well, Medium offers powerful search features that allow users to find content written by professionals in their industry. The user can then subscribe to the content and receive alerts when a new piece of content is published.
With the option to leave comments and connect with authors on other social media platforms, Medium is the most underrated platform to network in 2023.
Conclusion
That concludes this guide on the best social media platforms for networking. As you can see, we’ve added a few platforms that don’t fit the traditional definition of social media platforms but are excellent for connecting with individuals.
So, what do you think of our list? Also, let us know if there are any other platforms we’ve missed out on.
