Alignable vs LinkedIn: Which Should You Choose For Content Marketing?
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Growing your audience as a LinkedIn content creator can feel overwhelming, especially as you consider all the platforms available to help you grow your following. Should you focus on LinkedIn, where you already have a presence? Or should you branch out to a site like Alignable that caters to my business? This article helps you answer these questions and decide which platform to prioritize for content marketing.
Bluecast's AI content tool for LinkedIn makes it easier to achieve your goals on LinkedIn, whether growing your audience or writing smarter to reduce stress.
Alignable vs. LinkedIn At A Glance
If you're trying to decide between Alignable and LinkedIn, the key difference is who you're networking with and why.
Alignable is built for small businesses looking to connect locally, form partnerships, and generate word-of-mouth referrals. It’s like a digital chamber of commerce where local businesses support one another. It’s great if you own a brick-and-mortar store, a service-based business, or a community-focused company that thrives on personal connections.
Building a Strong Professional Brand on LinkedIn: Best Practices for Businesses and Individuals
LinkedIn is a global professional network where businesses and individuals connect across industries. It’s designed for career growth, industry networking, and B2B marketing, making it a better choice for companies that want to expand beyond their local area, build a professional brand, or generate leads at scale.
Alignable vs. LinkedIn: Choosing the Right Platform for Your Business Networking Goals
Regarding networking style, Alignable is more personal and relationship-driven, while LinkedIn offers a mix of:
- Content-driven networking
- Job opportunities
- Targeted outreach tools
Alignable limits free users to 10 new monthly connections, while LinkedIn allows more freedom to engage with professionals worldwide.
Alignable could be a great fit if you’re a small business owner focused on local networking and referrals. LinkedIn is the way to go if you aim for industry-wide recognition, professional development, or B2B lead generation.
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What Is Alignable?
This platform’s intention isn’t to sell anything, it’s to connect with other small businesses in your area and support each other. It’s described as a small business referral network; it connects business communities and increases word of mouth for your business. Sound familiar?
It’s a lot like LinkedIn but with no customers to market to, only small businesses. Alignable is designed for small businesses, so you need not waste your time if you’re an enterprise-level company.
Maximizing Your Networking Potential on Alignable: Free vs. Paid Strategies
The goal is to connect with other small businesses in your area. The free version allows you to make only 10 monthly connections with the 500 closest businesses in your networking radius.
You’ll have to upgrade to one of the paid versions to increase your networking radius and the number of connections you can make. The other objective is to give and receive referrals.
Navigating Alignable’s Referral System: How to Build Meaningful Business Connections
So, you’ll spend time writing referrals for all the businesses you connect with to keep your fingers crossed to see if they return the favor. There’s also a Business Advice Forum where companies can ask and answer specific or general questions about small businesses. In summary, the platform is used to connect small businesses.
Still, you are limited to only 10 per month, and most (all) companies would benefit from networking with businesses outside the closest 500 in their location.
Is Alignable Worth the Investment? Breaking Down Free vs. Paid Features
Unless you pay for premium features, Alignable’s free features are similar to other more popular platforms. Three paid plans incrementally increase your connection radius, allowing you to see information about who is visiting your page and getting you promoted in the algorithm. You can even pay to get a verified badge, making you more visible to everyone in the community but making the app less valuable unless you pay for visibility.
The cost is low, ranging from approximately $200 to $1,000 annually. That said, there are some worthwhile free features. The community calendar can help you share events and promotions in your area. You can also send direct messages to your connections and create a group chat of up to 20 businesses. These two features would be great if everyone in the community cooperated to promote each other.
What is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform for career development, business networking, and industry engagement. Unlike social media sites like Facebook or Instagram, which focus on personal connections and entertainment, LinkedIn is about professional growth, making it the go-to platform for job seekers, businesses, and industry experts.
At its core, LinkedIn acts as your online professional portfolio—a place to showcase your skills, experience, and achievements. But it goes far beyond being just a digital resume. The platform offers a dynamic space to connect with colleagues, engage with industry leaders, and discover new career opportunities. One of LinkedIn’s key strengths is its networking potential.
Building Thought Leadership on LinkedIn
You can expand your professional circle by connecting with people in your industry, joining related groups, and participating in discussions that keep you informed about the latest trends. Suppose you’re looking to establish yourself as a thought leader. In that case, LinkedIn allows you to publish articles, share insights, and engage in meaningful conversations that position you as an expert in your field.
LinkedIn is an invaluable tool for businesses and marketers. Advanced search filters allow you to identify and connect with key decision-makers in your target industry. The platform also supports content marketing, allowing businesses to share industry insights, case studies, and white papers to build trust with potential clients.
If lead generation is a priority, LinkedIn’s advertising tools, InMail messaging, and advanced targeting options help businesses reach specific demographics precisely, increasing the chances of connecting with the right audience.
Unlocking Career Growth on LinkedIn
Beyond networking and marketing, LinkedIn is a powerful resource for career growth. Many companies post job openings exclusively on the platform, making it a prime spot for job seekers to find new opportunities. With LinkedIn Premium, users gain access to additional features like advanced search filters, InMail messaging, and LinkedIn Learning courses, which provide valuable insights and training for career advancement.
Whether you’re looking to grow your professional brand, explore new business opportunities, or stay informed about your industry, LinkedIn provides the tools to help you achieve your career goals.
How Bluecast’s AI Transforms LinkedIn Content Strategy for B2B Growth
Bluecast empowers B2B professionals to amplify their LinkedIn presence through AI-powered content creation and management, helping them grow their audience and drive revenue without the typical content creation bottlenecks.
Whether you're repurposing existing content from various formats or crafting original posts that match successful writing styles, Bluecast's AI content tool for LinkedIn streamlines the entire process from ideation to scheduling.
Perfect for marketers, founders, and agencies looking to maintain a consistent, engaging LinkedIn presence that delivers business results. Get started with a 7-day free trial today; no credit card required.
Alignable vs LinkedIn: What Are The Key Differences
Alignable and LinkedIn serve different purposes.
- Alignable is a social network that connects local business owners to help them build trust and collaborate to grow their companies.
- LinkedIn caters to professionals and businesses of all sizes, offering a broader global networking experience. It’s an excellent platform for B2B companies, corporate professionals, job seekers, and industry leaders looking to establish professional credibility, expand their reach, and generate new business opportunities.
Scope of Networking Opportunities
Alignable focuses on local collaboration and referral-based networking. The platform encourages business owners to connect with nearby peers through features like Smart Connect, which facilitates virtual meetings and business matchmaking. This makes it easier for small businesses to form strong, long-term relationships within their communities.
LinkedIn provides a broader range of networking features, including:
- LinkedIn Groups
- LinkedIn InMail
- Content-sharing capabilities
LinkedIn is a valuable tool for career growth, offering job listings, LinkedIn Learning, and company insights to help professionals build their brands and stay informed on industry trends. It also allows professionals to connect with:
- Colleagues
- Potential clients
- Industry leaders worldwide
Advertising & Promotional Tools
LinkedIn offers comprehensive advertising options, including Sponsored Content, Sponsored InMail, and highly targeted ad campaigns. Businesses can fine-tune their outreach by targeting audiences based on job title, industry, location, and company size.
With robust analytics, LinkedIn ads provide measurable results, making them ideal for companies looking to generate high-quality leads and scale their marketing efforts.
Harnessing the Power of Organic Marketing on Alignable: Building Trust Through Community Engagement
Alignable, by contrast, focuses more on organic marketing and word-of-mouth growth. While it does offer some paid promotional options, its primary strength lies in helping businesses build trust through referrals and community engagement.
Instead of relying on ad campaigns, businesses gain visibility by participating in discussions, making direct connections, and leveraging their local reputation.
Who is Each Platform For?
Alignable is best suited for small businesses and local service providers that rely on community engagement and referrals. It’s particularly effective for companies that operate within a specific geographic area, such as local retailers, service providers, and tradespeople. The platform is about creating trusted partnerships where businesses help each other grow through networking and recommendations.
LinkedIn caters to professionals and businesses of all sizes, offering a broader global networking experience. It’s an excellent platform for B2B companies, corporate professionals, job seekers, and industry leaders looking to establish professional credibility, expand their reach, and generate new business opportunities.
User Engagement
LinkedIn has a more extensive user base and a more established presence in the professional networking space. It attracts diverse professionals, including:
- Job seekers
- Recruiters
- Industry experts
- Thought leaders
Being more niche-oriented, Alignable specifically targets local business owners and entrepreneurs interested in networking and collaborating within their local communities.
B2B Lead Generation and Sales Funnel
Alignable and LinkedIn support B2B lead generation but take different approaches.
Alignable is best for businesses that thrive on personal relationships and local connections. Its referral-based model makes it an excellent tool for building trust and credibility over time. Businesses that offer location-based services or rely on networking for customer acquisition will find Alignable particularly useful at the top of the sales funnel, where trust and community engagement are key.
Leveraging LinkedIn for Data-Driven Lead Generation and Sales Growth
LinkedIn, in contrast, is a data-driven platform for lead generation. With tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator and LinkedIn Analytics, businesses can more effectively target decision-makers, nurture leads, and track engagement. LinkedIn supports firms throughout the entire sales funnel, from initial outreach to lead conversion, making it ideal for companies looking to expand their market reach beyond local communities.
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Which Platform Should You Choose For Content Marketing?
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Alignable and LinkedIn are both useful for businesses, but they serve very different purposes.
- Alignable is a social network for local businesses. It helps small businesses connect with other local companies to build relationships that can lead to referrals.
- LinkedIn is a professional network that allows users to connect with industry peers and find job opportunities. As a result, Alignable is best for small businesses focused on local networking, while LinkedIn is better for large-scale professional networking.
Alignable vs LinkedIn: Who uses the platform?
Alignable is geared toward small businesses. Its user base consists of local business owners and their employees.
- Alignable is an excellent option if you’re a local business looking to network with other nearby companies.
- LinkedIn has a broader user base of over 900 million members.
While it’s popular among job seekers and recruiters, most LinkedIn users seek to network and gain visibility within their industry. LinkedIn is your best bet if you’re a small business looking to connect with professionals in your field, even if they’re thousands of miles away.
Alignable vs LinkedIn: What are the costs?
- Alignable is free to use but offers paid subscriptions that unlock additional features. That said, most small businesses will find the free plan sufficient to start connecting with local businesses.
- LinkedIn also offers a free plan, but its premium subscriptions can get pricey. These plans are designed for different use cases, including job searching, recruiting, sales, and professional networking.
Alignable is a budget-friendly option if you’re a small business looking to grow your local network.
Alignable vs LinkedIn: What are the features?
Alignable is designed to help small business owners build meaningful connections within their local communities. Its primary focus is fostering local networking and partnerships that drive referrals.
Businesses can engage on Alignable through various networking opportunities, including:
- Creating a business profile to establish a presence.
- Participating in discussions by asking and answering industry-related questions.
- Sending direct messages to connect with other local businesses.
- Joining and engaging in local groups to expand networking opportunities.
- Posting updates and sharing photos to increase visibility.
- Forming publicly visible connections with other companies.
- Creating and responding to business referrals to enhance credibility.
To further promote businesses locally, Alignable also offers tools such as:
- Posting and promoting events to drive local engagement.
- Creating business listings to improve local search engine visibility (SEO).
- Sharing content on social media to extend reach.
- Running targeted ads to attract local customers.
Maximizing LinkedIn for Professional Growth
LinkedIn provides a broader suite of features tailored to professionals and businesses seeking industry-wide recognition. While it includes networking tools, LinkedIn also emphasizes career development, thought leadership, and B2B growth.
Key features include:
- Creating a professional profile or business page to highlight expertise.
- Connecting with other professionals to build an industry network.
- Joining industry-specific groups to stay informed and engaged.
- Sharing posts and articles to establish authority and thought leadership.
- Searching for jobs and business leads to exploring new opportunities.
- Posting job openings and sourcing talent for recruitment.
- Creating and responding to business referrals to foster professional relationships.
- Running targeted advertising campaigns to reach specific audiences.
While LinkedIn also offers tools to enhance SEO, its primary focus is expanding professional visibility within an industry rather than a local market.
Which Platform is Right for You?
- Alignable is ideal if you’re a small business looking to connect with local companies and drive referrals.
- If your goal is to build industry credibility, attract business opportunities, and engage in professional development, LinkedIn provides the tools to help you succeed.
By understanding each platform’s strengths, businesses can make informed decisions about where to invest their networking and marketing efforts.
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If you want to grow your business, look no further than LinkedIn. The platform is chock-full of decision-makers and professionals from nearly every industry, making it the perfect place for B2B marketing. LinkedIn members have an average household income of $75,000, and 45% of users earn $100,000 or more.
The platform has over 950 million members, and 60% use LinkedIn to find products and services. With statistics like these, you can easily see why LinkedIn is the go-to platform for B2B businesses. And with Bluecast, you can unlock LinkedIn's full potential with AI-powered content creation and management tools.