RYLA vs. LinkedIn, Slack, and Meetup
When I set out to create RYLA, my goal was to build a platform that simplifies and enhances how people build relationships and communities.
I noticed a gap in the tools we use for connecting—whether on LinkedIn, Slack, Meetup, or elsewhere. Each platform offers something valuable, but none provides a truly comprehensive solution for creating meaningful connections, hosting events, and fostering active, engaged communities.
So, how is RYLA different? Let’s take a deep dive into the key areas where RYLA stands out: discovery, identity, connections, events, group chat, and cost.
Identity: Representing the Whole You
People often juggle multiple roles: a primary career, a side hustle, creative pursuits, or even second careers.
Most platforms don’t allow for this complexity:
LinkedIn: Profiles are limited to a single, resume-style format. This works for traditional professionals but doesn’t support people with diverse professional identities or multi-career paths.
Slack: Slack was designed for internal teams where everyone already knows each other. Profiles are minimal, and many communities rely on an initial “intro post” to get people acquainted. Unfortunately, these intros often get buried quickly, and the connections they spark rarely last.
Meetup: Profiles lack depth and don’t support customization. The focus is on events, not individual identity.
RYLA takes a different approach. Users can create multiple profile cards tailored to different networks or roles. For example, you might have one profile for your professional industry and another for a creative hobby or side hustle.
Profiles are deeply integrated with the platform, so you can easily engage in chat while viewing detailed information about the people you’re interacting with. This helps provide the context needed to build meaningful relationships, even in diverse communities.
Connections: Going Beyond a Simple Add
Adding someone to your network is just the first step. Maintaining and growing that connection is where the real value lies.
Here’s what simply doesn’t work for building connections on these platforms:
LinkedIn: It’s easy to collect connections, but they’re often forgotten in the shuffle. There’s no way to add personal notes or context, and the platform doesn’t encourage regular, meaningful engagement.
Slack: Direct messages are possible, but Slack doesn’t provide tools to build a long-term connection list or revisit past interactions.
Meetup: Connections are mostly external—people often exchange contact details on other platforms after attending a Meetup event.
RYLA builds meaningful connections. The platform allows you to add notes and pictures to your connections, helping you remember key details and fostering deeper relationships over time.
Whether you meet someone at an event or through a group, RYLA makes it easy to stay connected.
Discovery: Making Meaningful Connections Easier
Discovery is essential to any platform that wants to foster community. It’s not enough to just join a group; the process of finding the right people, topics, and events needs to be seamless.
Here’s how these other platforms compare:
LinkedIn: While LinkedIn offers broad discovery features, the experience can feel cluttered. Posts from people you don’t know, irrelevant updates, and constant sales pitches make it hard to focus on meaningful connections.
Slack: There’s no discovery mechanism built into Slack. Organizers must rely on external marketing (like email or social media) to bring people into their Slack groups. Once there, users often need frequent reminders to click back in, which limits engagement.
Meetup: Event discovery on Meetup can feel overwhelming. With so many unrelated events mixed together, finding what truly aligns with your interests often takes more effort than it should.
RYLA changes the game. With a built-in social layer and network-based discovery, RYLA provides many ways for people to find the right communities organically.
Whether through mutual connections, shared interests, or events, RYLA fosters stronger engagement and reduces reliance on external marketing with organic discovery based on an individual's network.
Events: Integrated and Easy to Use
Events are often the backbone of a community, but how they’re handled varies widely across these platforms:
LinkedIn: Event functionality is limited and often overshadowed by the broader professional networking features.
Slack: Slack doesn’t have a built-in events calendar. Organizers usually post links to external sites, which can make event discovery and participation feel disjointed.
Meetup: Events are a core feature of Meetup, but with a high upfront cost to create events there is often a lack of events to discover.
RYLA integrates events seamlessly. Your events are displayed not just within groups but also on your personal profile card, making it easy to manage and connect. Attendees can see which of their connections are attending, encouraging more organic participation and engagement.
Group Chat: Fostering Ongoing Connection
Most communities thrive on conversation, but many platforms struggle to keep chats engaging over the long term. For instance:
LinkedIn: Group DMs are possible, but the platform prioritizes content designed to capture attention rather than foster genuine discussion.
Slack: Slack channels often feel fragmented, with too many divisions that dilute momentum. Communities stagnate as conversations become scattered.
Meetup: Meetup isn’t designed for ongoing conversation; it’s primarily event-focused.
RYLA offers a fresh approach. Chat happens in one unified space, helping communities maintain momentum and focus.
As groups grow, they can add more channels if needed, but the default experience prioritizes simplicity and engagement.
Cost: Value That Scales
Finally, let’s talk about cost. Running a community shouldn’t break the bank.
LinkedIn: Free to use, but the real cost is your attention. Advanced features require paid subscriptions.
Slack: Free for basic chat, with a 90-day message history limit. Communities often require other solutions to create a complete experience for members.
Meetup: Expensive for organizers, starting at $45/month. New user fees also add optional costs for previously free features for attendees (details here).
RYLA offers flexibility. Organizers can start for free and access many features without paying.
Even paid tiers are designed to maximize value, including free tools to see which of your connections are attending events, fostering better relationship-building.
Ready to Build Your Community?
RYLA is more than a platform—it’s a solution for the challenges community organizers face every day. Whether you’re starting a small group or managing a thriving network, RYLA gives you the tools to foster meaningful connections, host events, and keep your community engaged.
Don’t just take our word for it—try it yourself.
Start your community on RYLA today, and see how it can increase member engagement and retention.
Get started for free at ryla.app
