The technology world has revolutionised the way we meet people, the way we connect with friends, and the way we expand our professional network and business connections today. There are so many different apps out there which can help you with both your professional and personal networking needs. In this article, I will aim to bring you a widdled-down list of apps to help you in both departments. Hopefully, these apps will begin connections and friendships online which we can eventually bring to life in person sometime soon. There seems to be way too many options out there and scrolling through the app store on your phone will take up way too much time. In this piece, I will provide you with six effective professional apps and four fun and inventive personal networking apps, which actually work. Happy networking!
Professional Networking Apps:
1: LinkedIn
It really would not be an article on professional networking without LinkedIn. This professional networking giant has grown even more in popularity over the recent pandemic, as it allows people to do the networking online that they are missing in person by working from home or being furloughed. LinkedIn is a great tool to have in your professional back pocket.
2: Shapr
Shapr is similar to Tinder, in that it has a built-in algorithm which allows you to meet people tailored to your profile and interests. You ‘swipe’ to meet (or not) 15 relevant people to you every day. This app allows you to find professionals near you based on what you are looking to find.
3: Bizzabo
Bizzabo is a conference help app, as it allows virtual introductions and connections to online conference speakers and hosts, as well as fellow attendees. It also allows you to connect outside the app and meet up face-to-face.
4: Bumble Bizz
Bumble (yes, the dating app), but as a professional networking app. Bumble Bizz allows professionals to find like-minded individuals to connect and network with.
5: CityHour
This app is perfect for the spontaneous business professional with a few extra minutes on their hands or without a lunch buddy. CityHour allows connections and meetups almost instantly, whenever you have a spare moment to network. This app is perfect for professionals in a new city, or people who want to turn their downtime into productivity.
6: 1 Million Cups
This app was built for budding business owners and entrepreneurs, as it connects people through monthly meetings for entrepreneurs. The average entrepreneur barely has time to make a cup of coffee in the morning, let alone spend hours on networking. But networking is essential to successful entrepreneurship, so 1 Million Cups decided to help out. Simply search your city and find local events near you!
Personal Networking Apps:
7: Bumble BFF
Bumble (yes, the dating app) has come back as a friendship platform. This app is great for finding people around you in a new area or if you are just looking to expand friendships in your life.
8: Peanut
Peanut was created by its founder Michelle Kennedy as a way to connect with new mums around her when she was feeling lonely, and it has expanded since then! Peanut is great place to find like-minded women to connect with and talk to near you.
9: NextDoor
NextDoor is a place for neighbours to easily communicate, ask for help when they need, and resolve neighbourhood issues easily. It is also helpful for finding likeminded people literally down the road, and for little side-job opportunities such as babysitting.
10: BarkHappy
Dog lovers, this one is for you! This app is location based, and helps you connect with other dog owners and lovers near you. This will help you find like-minded people near you and connect with a community you are already involved in.
The technology that we have available in this modern day and age has made finding people to network and connect with easier than getting out of bed in the morning! However, although these apps will find you the people to connect with, you need to do the grunt work. Send an email, reach out to the people you connect with, and make effort with the people that you connect with on these apps. These apps are a helping hand, not a replacement for actual interaction and effort.
About the Author:
Elizabeth Hines is an online digital marketing executive and article writer for Essay writer and Essay Roo. She enjoys writing about professional networking and business development. She also contributes her work to other online magazines and blogs, such as State of writing.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
