The Best Professional Networking Sites For eLearning And HR Tech Leaders To Grow Their Brand

What Are Professional Networking Sites?

It’s no news that professional networking is pivotal when you are trying to grow your business from zero. eLearning and HR tech leaders should focus on creating a strong presence on the best professional networking sites that bring them closer to their industry. This way, you get to know your competitors and potential partners and how they remain successful in the field. Not to mention, you create a strong brand image, attracting top talent and new clientele. For example, HR tech marketing depends on fostering deep trust in order to bring in new B2B buyers. The goal is to increase your thought leadership and become a magnet for your customers. Initially, they may visit your profile and website to receive information. Later on, when they are ready, they may also purchase your solution.

The more you get to know your audience and their preferences, the better demand generation campaigns you’ll create. Websites for professionals allow you to participate in relevant events, introducing yourself to wide audiences and increasing your chances of gaining new contacts. Keep in mind that you don’t always have to attend these events in person—many of them happen online.

In This Guide You Will Find…

5 Benefits Of The Best Professional Networking Sites

1. Business Growth

Platforms for business networking are among the top growth hacking strategies you can implement. Boosting your eLearning or HR brand and reaching targeted audiences requires credibility and a strong reputation. When potential clients know who you are and what you bring to the table, they are more likely to do business with you. Professional networking allows you to share insights and valuable content that showcase your brand’s capabilities and results. For example, creating and publishing case study articles and videos is exactly the social proof you need. Additionally, you may collaborate with relevant and trusted influential figures who can help you boost your reach and generate leads.

Another effective tactic is to explain your company’s or personal journey’s starting point. How did you build your brand and its audience so far? What challenges did you first encounter, and how did you overcome them? People want to connect with brands on a deeper level, and when they can relate to a story, they are more likely to convert. That’s why buying leads is not the lead generation technique you want to invest time and money in.

2. Job Opportunities

The question is, who is getting job opportunities from networking websites? Well, let’s start with marketers and sales pros. Their goal is to build their company’s brand image to attract top talent. You want to appear as a company with high values and deep knowledge in your industry so the best professionals come to you. Thought leaders and business leaders can leverage the best professional networking sites to not only grow their following but also generate new leads that turn into partnerships.

3. Industry Connections

The B2B and SaaS worlds require strong business relationships, as your target audience is other brands needing your solutions. Joining professional networks has a double effect. First, you can enforce your lead generation techniques and appeal to your potential buyers. Second, you can see what your competitors are doing and implement the same tactics. Therefore, you identify trends and risks, preparing your brand for the future. One tactic new brands follow on platforms like LinkedIn is commenting under larger companies’ posts to generate interest.

4. Thought Leadership

For any SaaS lead generation strategy to be successful, eLearning and HR clients must see you as an industry expert. Business networking websites allow you to showcase your knowledge and expertise in your field and highlight why customers should choose your brand. Whether you are an independent contractor or a company leader, use the power these platforms offer you to maximize visibility and get new clients. Additionally, you may encourage referrals by offering incentives like discounts and free trials.

5. Networking Events

The best professional networking sites keep you updated regarding upcoming industry events, webinars, conferences, workshops, courses, and livestreams. Therefore, you can attend them to expand your network and engage with potential clients and collaborators. You should also leverage the benefits of webinar marketing by organizing your very own events. Don’t limit yourself to long-form articles. Arrange an event where you’ll discuss topics your audience would love to hear.

6 Proven Ways You Can Use These Sites

1. To Offer Value And Build Trust

Professional networking platforms are the best place to showcase your expertise, share tips, and become a valuable source of information to your audience. You want people to view you as a leading authority in the field and come to you whenever they have an issue or question. For example, if you have a Quora account, your followers may ask a burning question, waiting anxiously for your viewpoint. This way, you build trust, a necessary component for lead generation. However, trust isn’t built overnight. You need to show genuine interest in people’s troubles and answer in the most insightful way. That is particularly important for HR tech buyers who value high-quality services and empathy. You need to show true altruism and engage with each person or company in unique and personalized ways.

2. To Engage Frequently

Among the top eLearning marketing strategies to generate leads is engaging with your audience. Answering their comments under your posts is only a starting point. You need to go way beyond that to build a strong follower base. For instance, you can send them personalized messages congratulating them on their professional milestones and commenting on their achievements. Read people’s posts and offer them answers when they appear to encounter challenges. You have to be a relatable and approachable figure. For example, Christopher Pappas built a vast audience of eLearning professionals after investing years in community management, sharing his expertise on Instructional Design, eLearning, and digital marketing. This is why people trust his word and respect his viewpoints.

3. To Collaborate And Partner Up

The best professional networking sites allow you to link up with the most targeted and relevant industry figures and peers. Yet, not everyone is your competitor that you need to outdo. Sometimes you can carve a symbiotic path to success. You may offer a service that is complemented by another brand’s solution. Partnering up and boosting each other’s business, you generate new leads by leveraging both networks. For example, you might be searching for payroll leads while another HR tech brand may be looking for customers for their time-tracking software. Your audiences might be searching for both solutions. Even if you don’t offer both services, you can still promote your collaborator’s brand while they do the same for you.

4. To Utilize Events

Back in the day, professionals would attend conferences and various other networking events in person. Digital domination has changed this need. Now, online networking tools allow you to attend and organize your own events to engage with your current followers and get introduced to new ones. Whether you are organizing your own webinar or attending a conference as a speaker, you should do your best to showcase your expertise. Your industry-specific audience must see you as a thought leader who has deep and personal knowledge of the information you’re sharing. Try to be relatable and stay open to questions at the end of the event. This way, you might understand who can be a potential customer and then contact them personally to arrange a meeting.

HR tech marketers and eLearning experts should leverage press releases when promoting online events. They offer an extra push so more people than your current audience can attend your event.

5. To Follow Up

Most successful B2B lead generation strategies include this step. Why, though? Let’s say you used various lead magnet ideas on a few professional networking sites, and people clicked on them. It doesn’t matter whether it was for a webinar registration or for your media kit. You can also follow up after a live event where you gathered various new contacts. Send relevant and personalized messages that move the needle closer to a potential purchase. For instance, you may have had a conversation with an eLearning course creator about the challenge of engagement. Explain how your LMS improves retention and engagement rates by implementing interactive media and gamification elements to keep learners on their toes. Ensure your follow-up messages are timely. You don’t want to be too late for the party.

6. To Generate Leads

Everything we mentioned in the previous points helps tremendously with lead generation. However, let’s dive a bit deeper. Business networking websites, including social media platforms, are ideal to show who you are and what you stand for. Starting with your profile, you should add your contact information and your website link. Also, add a CTA button to encourage targeted leads to take action. If people can’t understand how to contact you, they will abandon the effort. Some of the best professional networking sites allow you to upload clickable content. Make sure to make that valuable and high-quality. At the end of the day, you want more website visitors to increase your traffic. Therefore, your landing pages must be pristine and easy to navigate. They should be an accurate extension of your CTA button, showing the key features of your solution.

Moreover, professional networking apps make it easy to create SaaS display ads and expand your reach beyond your current connections. We’ll explore these networking sites in a bit, but, for now, let’s say that almost all of them offer advertising opportunities. But why would anyone give you their contact information? That’s because you offer them something they can’t say no to. Discount codes and gated content like eBooks, guides, and demos instantly improve your chances of getting leads.

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The Best Professional Networking Sites For eLearning And HR Tech Pros

1. LinkedIn

The largest social networking site focusing on business professionals is LinkedIn, with over 1 billion users in 200 countries. It is designed for professionals and companies to highlight their accomplishments, celebrate their victories, and build their online presence. A simple account can help you push your career to new levels and generate new leads through constant engagement. While personal profiles are a wonderful start, they’re not the only opportunity you have with LinkedIn. You can start your own group, where like-minded professionals and potential clients can join and interact with one another. You also have to engage with people in your groups, provide valuable content, and generate clicks.

eLearning Industry has created various groups that benefit people with different interests around the vast industry of eLearning. Apart from eLearning Industry’s main group, you can also join Rapid eLearning. eLearning Companies is catered more to brands in the field looking to promote their accomplishments and services. Lastly, Freelance in Instructional Design and E-Learning Industry is dedicated to IDs in the digital learning field.

2. Reddit

Reddit isn’t like your usual social media platform. It’s also a business networking website with personal profiles that allow you to engage with like-minded people, express your viewpoints and expertise, and ask for feedback. While Reddit allows you to run ads for your business, it’s not the place to start boasting about your brand and promoting it to people’s faces. You have to offer value in your answers. Users don’t want to feel like you are selling them your product but that you are offering genuine advice. If you feel like someone is a perfect customer candidate, you may send them a private message. Be gentle with this approach, though, as not everyone likes this type of communication.

3. Eventbrite

This professional network service focuses on industry events held near you or digitally. Any type of business can register to keep up with relevant events and advertise their own. You can join any conference, webinar, workshop, or course you want and engage with people who have the potential to turn into high-quality business leads. The good thing is that you can filter events based on your industry and area. You can find many free events, but a generous number of them are paid. Depending on the event and your budget, you should seriously consider whether you want to participate. If your chances of finding leads are high, do it. Talking about events, you may also create banner ads to promote your own happenings so industry-related people join the conversation.

4. Meetup

Meetup isn’t really a business networking website. You can’t actually post valuable content and engage with other users. However, you can stay informed regarding networking events in your area. Plus, you can publish your own event to attract more participants. To find relevant events, you can use queries like “networking,” “professional,” and “meet and greet.” Or you can mention your industry to be even more specific. This platform is also great for workshops, providing development opportunities. For instance, you can join a workshop on elevator pitch examples that help you close deals.

5. Gust

This is not only a networking website but also a place where SaaS startups can find investors and organize their businesses the right way. You can set up your detailed profile, explaining your industry, company details, and mission. If you are now starting, you use Gust to estimate how much your venture is worth and which investors to target. If, on the other hand, you want an extra push, you may use the platform to accelerate business growth. In both cases, you may need to raise extra funding. It’s quite easy to start your fundraiser and appeal to the best suitors.

6. Facebook Groups

Facebook groups are undoubtedly among the best professional networking sites and very similar to LinkedIn groups. You can join any group that matches your interests for free and post your thoughts and questions. It’s an easy way to connect with like-minded individuals who might become your customers. To find the most relevant groups, you can type your industry or interest. For example, if eLearning is your field, groups like Facebook for e-Learning and eLearning Industry may suit you. Instructional Designer is another great space for anyone working in this niche. You can message people privately, but it’s preferred to hold public discussions that everyone can see and comment on.

Tips To Help You Choose The Best Networking Sites

The first step is to decide your goals. If expanding your network and generating new leads are your two main objectives, platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook groups are two of your top options. However, if you want to secure funding for your eLearning or HR startup, Gust is your perfect spot. Apart from these two that operate globally, there are other smaller networking sites that are not available everywhere. So, check whether they are operating in your location. Additionally, check each platform’s features. For example, Eventbrite isn’t enough on its own when you want to start implementing your SaaS growth strategies. It is solely focused on events, while you may also need to add more contacts to your email list and engage actively with everyone.

Lastly, most of the best professional networking sites are free to join and use. Nevertheless, some of them offer upgraded versions with many more features. Explore whether the paid version would benefit your company’s growth. For example, LinkedIn Premium is ideal for small businesses trying to expand their networks, find new leads, and view company insights (who viewed your profile, etc.).

Key Takeaway

We can’t be the first ones to tell you that online communities are good places to network with other professionals. Whether you are trying to achieve personal or business growth, websites for professionals are here to make networking easier and more effective. When you buy B2B leads, you may instantly have contacts to send emails to, but you lack a personal relationship. People don’t know who you are and why you can be of value. On the other hand, when you grow your network organically, you showcase thought leadership and are invited to attend relevant events. Also, you attract event participants who can’t wait for your input. Content marketing for HR tech is necessary to secure people’s trust.

Platforms like LinkedIn, Reddit, Facebook groups, and Meetup offer you industry-specific professional networking opportunities that can turn into partnerships. And these partnerships may bring you even more clients. However, to do all that, you must engage with your audience daily and follow up after your initial communication. Don’t take it for granted that someone will search for you after an event. You have to remember what you talked about and explain why you can be valuable to them.