If I have to attend one more stale networking event with lukewarm coffee and forced elevator pitches, I might just pack it all in and become a sheep farmer. For years, as a digital marketer and SEO, I've preached the gospel of connection. But somewhere along the line, "connecting" became synonymous with collecting LinkedIn contacts you never speak to and scrolling through endless feeds of people's highlight reels.
It’s a strange paradox, isn't it? We're more connected than ever, yet a lot of us, especially in the creative and remote work spheres, feel more isolated. I’ve worked from coffee shops in three different countries in the last year, surrounded by people, yet fundamentally alone. You’re all there, typing away on your MacBooks, probably working on something cool. But the social barrier feels like a ten-foot wall.
So when I heard about a platform called Presence, my curiosity was piqued. The pitch? Connecting you with local people who actually share your interests and background. Not for dating, not for corporate ladder-climbing, but for genuine, human contact. Is it just another app doomed to gather digital dust on our phones, or is it a sign of a much-needed shift?
So, What Exactly Is This Presence Thing?
Let's get this out of the way: Presence is not another swipe-left, swipe-right game. Thank goodness. It bills itself as a platform to discover and connect with folks in your immediate vicinity—think digital nomads, artists, developers, musicians—who are part of its growing network of over 20,000 creative minds.
Imagine it less like a massive, noisy stadium (ahem, Facebook) and more like a curated, digital town square. It’s designed to be the bridge between seeing other interesting people out in the wild and actually, you know, talking to them. It uses your interests, your skills, and your location to help you find your tribe, whether your tribe is into experimental film, React development, or just finding the best espresso in town.
The Features That Actually Matter
Any new platform can talk a big game. But what's actually under the hood? I poked around, and a few things stood out to me as genuinely interesting, not just marketing fluff.
AI That's More of a Helpful Nudge
The term "AI-powered" gets thrown around so much it’s almost lost all meaning. Here, though, it seems to have a clear purpose. Presence uses its AI to give you suggestions for meaningful contacts. It’s not just “Hey, this person is also in Brooklyn.” It’s more like, “Hey, this person is 500 feet away, also works in SEO, and listed ‘dystopian sci-fi’ as an interest.” That’s a conversation starter. It’s like a good bartender who knows everyone at the bar and can make the right introductions.
Hyper-Local and In Real-Time
This is the feature that got me. The real-time distance display. It tells you exactly how far away other users are. Now, I know what you’re thinking—a little creepy? But the platform has privacy controls, like going completely invisible with a tap. The upside is huge. You could be sitting in that coffee shop, fire up the app, and discover that a potential collaborator for your next project is literally at the next table. It removes the guesswork and the social awkwardness of a cold approach.
Building Your Own Digital Clubhouse
Beyond one-on-one connections, Presence gives you tools to create and manage your own communities. This is smart. It turns the app from a simple discovery tool into a proper hub. You could start a group for “Freelance Writers in Austin” or “Indie Game Devs of Portland.” It fosters repeat engagement and turns fleeting connections into something more lasting. This is where the real magic of community building happens.
My Experience Trying to Find My People
Theory is great, but I had to see it for myself. I downloaded Presence and set up a profile. A word to the wise: be detailed. The platform's effectiveness hinges on what you give it. I linked my socials, listed my skills (SEO, content strategy, CPC), and threw in my interests—from bouldering and brewing beer to a slightly unhealthy obsession with vintage synthesizers. Dont judge.
At first, the map felt a little sparse. I'm in a moderately sized city, not a huge tech hub like San Francisco. But then I started playing with the search. I looked for “content strategy,” and a few profiles popped up within a two-mile radius. One was a UX designer who also listed ‘70s funk music as an interest. Okay, Presence, you have my attention.
It felt less like I was being ‘matched’ and more like the app was just quietly pointing out people I’d probably get along with anyway if we happened to meet.
Visit Presence
I didn't immediately message anyone. For me, it was more of a background tool. I left it running while I worked from a new co-working space. Seeing those little dots on the map, representing other creatives buzzing around me, was oddly comforting. It made the city feel a little less anonymous.
The Good, The Bad, and The Potential
No tool is perfect, especially not a new one. After a week of using it, here’s my honest take.
What's to Love
The focus on shared interests is a breath of fresh air. It’s a genuine attempt to facilitate local connections based on substance. The AI suggestions, when they hit, feel incredibly insightful. And the privacy features show a level of thoughtfulness that I appreciate. The potential here is massive. Imagine moving to a new city and being able to instantly tap into the local creative scene. That's a powerful idea.
The Potential Pitfalls
Let's be real. Presence faces the classic chicken-and-egg problem that every social platform has. Its only as good as the number of active users in your area. If you’re in a major metropolitan area, you'll probably have a great experience. If you’re in a smaller town, it might feel like a ghost town. The platform’s success is entirely dependent on us, the users, to populate it and keep it active. It's a community garden—the founders can provide the soil and seeds, but we have to do the watering.
What's the Damage to My Wallet?
This is often the first question people ask, right? As of my writing this, I couldn't find a pricing page. The app is free to download and use. This is a huge plus, as it lowers the barrier to entry and encourages community growth. My guess is they're in a growth phase, focusing on building that user base before thinking about monetization. Maybe they'll introduce premium features down the line, a model we see with platforms like Meetup. For now, it costs you nothing to check it out, which makes it an easy recommendation.
Who Should Be Downloading Presence Right Now?
While anyone could technically use it, I think Presence really shines for a few specific groups:
- Digital Nomads and Frequent Travelers: This is a no-brainer. Landing in a new city and instantly having a tool to find like-minded people is invaluable.
- Freelance Creatives: Whether you're a writer, designer, photographer, or developer, finding local collaborators or just people who get the freelance grind is a huge mental and professional boost.
- Students and Recent Grads: When you're new to a city for school or a job, building a social and professional circle from scratch is daunting. This could be a fantastic starting point.
- Hobbyists of All Kinds: Looking for a chess partner, a fellow urban sketcher, or someone to jam with? This is way more targeted than posting on a generic Facebook group. It's a step up from the broad strokes of LinkedIn but more focused than a general social app.
The Final Verdict: Is It Worth Your Time?
Yes. With a small caveat.
Presence is a beautifully designed, well-intentioned platform that’s trying to solve a real problem. It’s a tool I wish I’d had a decade ago. It’s tapping directly into the growing desire for niche communities and real-world interactions. My advice is to download it, fill out your profile thoughtfully, and see who’s around. Be a part of the solution to the empty-room problem.
Will it replace all other forms of networking? Of course not. But it’s a fantastic, modern addition to the toolkit. It's a bet on the idea that the best connections aren't found in a rolodex, but over a shared cup of coffee with someone who just gets it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Presence a dating app?
- Nope. It’s designed specifically for platonic and professional connections based on shared interests and skills. The whole vibe is about community and collaboration, not romance.
- How does the AI actually work to suggest people?
- It analyzes the information you provide in your profile—like your listed interests, skills, and background—and cross-references it with other users in your immediate area to find people with the most overlap.
- Is the Presence app free to use?
- As of now, yes. The app is free to download and all its current features appear to be free, which is great for encouraging new users to sign up and build the community.
- Is Presence available and useful everywhere?
- It's available to download globally, but its usefulness really depends on user density. It will be most effective in larger cities or areas with a high concentration of creatives and tech professionals. In a smaller town, you might have to be one of the pioneers!
- How does Presence handle my privacy and location data?
- It's built with privacy in mind. The standout feature is the ability to go “invisible” with a single tap, which hides your profile and location from other users whenever you want. You are in control of when you are discoverable.
Conclusion
In a world saturated with digital noise, tools that foster genuine, localized connection feel less like a novelty and more like a necessity. Presence is a thoughtful step in that direction. It's not about adding more connections; it's about finding the right ones, the ones that are just around the corner. Give it a try. The worst that can happen is you discover nothing new. The best that can happen? You find your next collaborator, business partner, or just a new friend to grab a coffee with. And in my book, that's a risk worth taking.
Reference and Sources
- Meetup - A platform for finding and building local communities.
- LinkedIn - The leading professional networking site.
- Forbes Article on Niche Social Platforms - Discussion on the trend toward more focused online communities.
