You’ve probably heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Well, that’s especially true when it comes to business. The more people you know in your industry, the more referrals and potential clients you have at your fingertips.
But networking can be intimidating, especially if you’re an introvert. And that’s where Alignable‘s Quick Connect comes in. In this post, I’m going to share how Alignable differs from LinkedIn and the benefits of participating in the networking app.
What Is Alignable?
Alignable is a business social app that was launched in 2014 by Eric Groves as a way for you to connect with small business owners and build the relationships that lead to referrals. You might think that Alignable sounds just like LinkedIn, but this is how they differ:
Alignable
- generally for small business networking but also includes entrepreneurs
- cuts your prospecting energy; by setting the location you serve you receive “a business you should meet” alert
- connect with businesses in your neighborhood or your region
- a list of business resources such as email marketing tools, lending tools, social media tools, hiring tools, and much more are available to you
- join groups related to your industry
- advice section for frequently asked questions from the topics you follow (hello content ideas!!)
- leave recommendations on the profiles you love
- LinkedIn is a great networking platform that is geared toward job-seekers and businesses
- LinkedIn allows you to advertise your skills or learn new ones
- many people say this is “where the market is”
- marketing information and resources go straight to your inbox
The best part about Alignable is that it’s not just a one-way street – you can also give referrals to other businesses on the site. So it’s a great way to build relationships with other companies and get the referrals you need to grow your business.
How Can Alignable Benefit Your Business?
I recently participated in a quick connect hosted by Cherri Pedrioli titled “Networking For Introverts,” and it was a lot of fun!
It was speed dating for business! You have one hour to jump into as many zoom break-out rooms as possible and meet potential referral partners. It’s your opportunity to meet new people, chat about their companies, and learn about what they do in three to five minutes. This was the ultimate experience to shift my mind to unlimited opportunities.
You can have the best product or service in the world, but it’s harder to grow your business if you don’t have any connections. If you’re looking to connect with local businesses in your area, Alignable is the perfect platform for you.
How to Use Alignable to Build Relationships
When you join groups on Alignable, you open yourself up to endless opportunities for networking. And by networking, I mean getting referral business from people you meet on the app.
But it’s not all about pitching your products and services. In “Networking for Introverts,” Cherri required that no one make a pitch. The objective is to create a connection with someone before you try to sell your product or service.
Today’s business mindset will urge you to make a sale at all costs and forget that people buy from you because of you and the value you bring. When your clients or audience trust you are the solution to their problem, they will buy.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the money mindset and forget that integrity, respect, and character are values that will align you with the brands and individuals you can build with.
Business Types on Alignable
There are all sorts of businesses on Alignable. There’s an industry for everyone from growth mindset to wedding planners to writers. You could find a business to partner with, or you could find a business to which you can refer clients.
The key is to find the right group for you. For example, you’ll want to join a group of real estate agent referrals if you’re a real estate agent. This way, you can build relationships with other professionals in your industry. And when it comes time to refer a client, you’ll have a network of contacts to rely on.
Tips for Networking on Alignable
When you join a group on Alignable, engage in group discussions to get to know people better. This is a great way to make genuine connections with people – without the pressure to pitch.
When you meet someone new, take the time to get to know them first, this may take more than one interaction. Find out what they do, and see if there’s any chemistry there. If things feel right, then go ahead and pitch your business. But always be prepared for a no.
Just remember, networking is all about give and take. So make sure that you’re giving as much as you’re taking. If you’re only interested in connecting with people for what they can do for you, then it’s likely that people will pick up on that pretty quickly.
Success on Alignable
With over seven million businesses registered on the app, chances are you’ll be able to find someone in your industry – or at least someone who can introduce you to someone in your industry. The rate of your success will depend on how quickly you follow up and take action.
From “Networking For Introverts,” I was able to connect and follow up with three different companies. One of which turned out to be a childhood friend ( see our selfie below the moment it hit us 😝). We hadn’t seen or spoken to in nearly 20 years! This is mind-blowing since over 600 people were in attendance, but what is meant to be shall be!
Final Thoughts
Business networking is an essential tool for growing your business and developing your mindset. It can help you connect with other business owners who may be able to refer business your way, as well as help you build relationships that can lead to long-term partnerships.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together
-Unknown
You can join groups of businesses that are related to your industry, or join groups based on your location. This makes it easy to find companies that you can connect with and build relationships with.
If you’re not already using Alignable, be sure to check it out and start connecting with other businesses today!
Keep the conversation going and let me know in the comments what your favorite platform is to network.