In this article, I will explain what Alignable is and why you should use it for growing your business. Earlier this week, I sent you an e-mail asking for your vote. Voting ends on August 24th, so I appreciate your vote…literally takes about 10 seconds if you already have an account set up. If you don’t have an account, read on and I explain the benefits of Alignable and how to set up your account, and it’s really easy and does not take much time. Best part, you will be able to get more commercial leads and business from other business owners in your service area.
I use LinkedIn, Facebook, and Alignable for my business. Each has a different purpose.
I have been on LinkedIn since 2007 and have used it to network with business owners throughout the world. In fact, I have built several businesses, just with LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great platform for B2B marketing and connecting and if you are consistent and active you can build up a following. Currently, I have over 11,000 followers.
Facebook is a great tool to sell products and services directly to consumers and this is one of the reasons I am active on this platform. I recommend Facebook to my clients because it is a great awareness platform to connect with consumers early on in the sales cycle. For instance, let’s say you want to market mold removal services, you can use Facebook to educate and create awareness and connect. The whole idea is to build trust early on in the sales cycle.
Last year, I set up an Alignable account. I did this because it is a HYPER-LOCAL social media and networking tool. If you are a contractor and want to network and engage with other trades and business owners and not have to do searches on LinkedIn for businesses in your area, Alignable is the best tool for this. Let me explain further…
WHAT IS ALIGNABLE?
Alignable is essentially a version of LinkedIn with a hyper-local focus.
Previously, when you wanted to network with other small and local business owners, you’d have to turn to LinkedIn.
Well, in 2012, Alignable was created and now has over 6.5 million users.
Specifically, Alignable is designed for the local business community to connect and help each other through:
1. Discussions
2. Networking
3. Q&A Forums
4. Messaging
5. Referrals
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ALIGNABLE
Alignable provides an excellent place for contractors to connect and refer business to each other and allows you to:
1. Expand your reach with other local businesses.
2. Create a community for your company to boost traffic.
3. Create promotions showcasing your products or services.
HOW TO SET UP AND USE AN ALIGNABLE ACCOUNT?
Joining Alignable is easy, and it is free. Just sign in on their webpage.
Because the network is aimed at businesses, there are no special steps for you to take to identify yourself as a business account.
After you sign up, you can begin to build your small business network by finding other local businesses and then clicking on the Connect button.
You can even use their messaging options to start a conversation.
Once you’ve built up a network, you’ll see posts by people in it, and even have access to Q&A forums to share advice and your experience in navigating challenges that business owners share.
By collaborating with other business owners, you (and them) can gain insights from each other and boost your brands.
STEPS TO SETTING UP ALIGNABLE
1. Complete your profile (fill out everything), and make sure it looks good.
2. Add suggested contacts from your contact list.
3. Recommend businesses that you or your company have worked with in the past.
4. Ask those businesses to recommend you in return.
5. Connect with other local companies that you may a target audience (or customers) with.
6. Engage in Q&A forums to provide value, position yourself as an authority in your niche, and further your reach.
CONCLUSION
By having a hyper-focused network that works in the same community, you open new possibilities to boost and promote your brand.
No matter what platform your target audience and customers are on, all businesses can benefit significantly from Alignable’s connections, interactive community, and other great resources.
Need any help setting up your Alignable account, or have other questions about how to market your business locally? Schedule a 60 MINUTE complimentary ZOOM digital marketing strategy discussion!