Businesses thrive on referrals and networking. Engaging actively with other businesses is critical for small and micro companies to gain visibility. It helps them establish themselves as a reputable and trustworthy organization. However, in the oversaturated digital realm, it can be challenging for businesses to connect with others like them.
That is exactly what Alignable helps you with. The platform is designed to be a networking site for small businesses to interact with each other. Businesses can put all important information, such as their products/services, logo, events, etc. This helps the platform identify who you are, helping you connect with similar companies.
If you’re a small business not on Alignable, you are missing out on potential opportunities. Here’s everything you need to know about the platform.
Must Read: Why Does Your Company Need Secure Internal Communication?
What is an Alignable Used for?
Alignable is an online network with over 9 million members or registered businesses. Based in the US, it connects business owners in 35,000 local communities. Alignable emerged in 2013 and, since then, has helped innumerable business owners share their expertise, connect with similar companies, and refer customers. The platform is used by local businesses to not only connect but also provide each other with help and value. This is done through mediums like discussions, networking, Q&A forums, messaging, and referrals.
Business owners describe their offerings and choose the tags that best indicate what they do and who they want to work with. They fill out their products and services. By doing so, they clearly define what they do. They also invite certain contacts to join them on Alignable. These are either the contacts already on the platform or those looking for networking opportunities.
As they do this, the technology powering Alignable takes their specific business goals and helps them connect with the most valuable people. Alignable’s AI tools are used by business owners to create a batch of personalized introductions, increasing their chances of amassing new customers.
What is an Alignable Invitation?
The Alignable invitation is an email that someone in your network who had you on their list of contacts gives you. The invitation is to join the platform. You likely received this invitation because the invitee thought you would be a good connection. The invitation will be in a white square box set against an off-white backdrop with Alignable’s logo and name on the right. If you’re not familiar with the platform, it’s easy to dismiss the email as spam.
If, however, you want to invite someone on your contacts to Alignable, visit alignable.com/biz_users/sign_in. Here, type out the email address of the one you’d like to invite. Now, tap the send button to send them an Alignable invitation.
However, to allow the business owner actually to receive the invitation, you’ll need to tap ‘Invite.’ If your contact has a ‘Connect’ button beside their business name, they are already on Alignable, but if there’s an ‘Invite’ button beside their name, they aren’t on the platform yet. If they accept your invitation, they will automatically be connected with you on the platform.
Is Alignable Similar to LinkedIn?
At first glance, Alignable can be confused with LinkedIn. Both of them are geared towards enhancing professional connections. However, one major difference sets them apart. LinkedIn centers around an individual professional, while Alignable is specific to small and micro businesses. In simple words, LinkedIn is for an ‘individual’ brand/professional, while Alignable is for a small business as a ‘whole.’
LinkedIn connects working professionals with others like them. It is also a medium where businesses can hire new employees. This isn’t Alignable’s USP. It acts as a medium for small businesses to connect with other small businesses.
This is the key feature of Alignable. However, it offers much more than that. It’s also a place where business owners can share their expertise, ask questions, and learn from others like them. Many business owners on Alignable have found several strategies to adapt to today’s competitive world compared to other business owners.
Do You Have to Pay for Alignable?
Alignable offers several membership plans. One of them is the Free Membership. However, you cannot fully take advantage of the platform with the Free plan. This is because you get limited connection credits to connect with other small businesses. Other things that are impacted are your access to educational events, Smart Connects, and the Alignable Help Center. You also cannot post in your community group.
There is the Alignable Growth Plan ($29/month), Pro Plan ($49/month), and some legacy plans that aren’t available to new members after 4/2/2024. If you want to expand your networking, attend more events, and build more relationships, it is highly recommended that you become a paid member of the platform.
Importance of Networking for Small Businesses
The more small businesses network, the more they bring themselves on the map. It is critical to business development as well as for drawing support, which is needed at this stage of your venture.
There are various ways in which networking helps small and micro businesses. It is great for disseminating ideas and knowledge. It lets you ask or give feedback, which expands your knowledge and helps you see things from another angle. You learn from other’s mistakes and successes and are better positioned to make informed choices. Networking opens doors of opportunities through requests for your service/product, referrals, and recommendations.
Besides, networking gives you exposure not just to those with whom you interact but also helps you build connections with their network. If they think that someone in their network can benefit from your offerings, they will gladly refer you to them. This, of course, relies foremost upon the impression you made on the referrer. Alignable’s AI tools help you create solid introductions personalized to the person you are connecting with. Thus, your chances of being referred go up.
Alignable, like LinkedIn, also lets businesses endorse each other. The more positive endorsements you have, the more you can build a level of trust for potential customers.
Wrapping Up
Alignable is a great platform for businesses to cement their presence in their fields. However, success isn’t an overnight thing. The same is true for Alignable. To leverage the platform’s benefits, you must take time to understand how it works. Then set aside more time daily to engage with Groups and interact with other business owners. Over time, your efforts will pay off. The right approach will help you gain business from customers and places you could never reach alone.
