LinkedIn Groups; One of the Most Underutilized Features of LinkedIn
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Millions of professionals all over the world are now on LinkedIn (or at least have an account). One of the best features of this dynamic, fluid venue is the Group feature. Too many LinkedIn users do not appreciate the power of LinkedIn groups in reaching the right people for the right reasons.

The basic premise of any LinkedIn feature, for those of you who have read my articles/blogs on LinkedIn is Quality over Quantity. This definitely applies to the Group feature. This tool should also be used to provide or gain information on topics or subjects that are important to you.

Here are some basic criteria to abide by:
  • Research groups via keyword search if you don’t know where to start.
  • Your school Alma Mater often has great resources within the Alumni group(s).
  • Professional associations that you are a member of or are considering membership (great for new graduates or those at the junior/senior level).
  • Groups that are just plain interesting. This provides you with diversity and increases the chances of finding decision makers or leaders with similar interests.
  • Get recommendations from others as to their success and ROI (return on investment) with their group membership.
  • Who is (are) the group owner(s) and/or manager?
I generally recommend starting small, but focused and then increase the number of groups slowly. You can easily view the profiles of members and some of their discussions to evaluation membership. Remember, if there’s no advantage after reasonable time and/or effort, you can simply leave the group.

The quality, again not quantity of your interaction within the group is critical. LinkedIn actually provides you with feedback. On the right side of your computer screen you with see the level of impact you have on your group. It’s a colored line that indicates:
  • Getting Started
  • Finding an audience
  • Making an impact
  • Top contributor
Use these indicators to manage your progress in the discussions and how others perceive you. Group membership is also a great way to select certain people into your LinkedIn network. Both parties already have exposure to each other. Often times the back and forth comments in a group discussion encourage one or both parties to initiate an invitation. Acceptance is also increased because of this, as you are not strangers.

Do not have so many groups that you become “overwhelmed”. This affects your activity and you may miss some great information or opportunities. I generally recommend about 30 groups. But build up to this over time. There’s no rush; this is a marathon not a sprint. Remember, these Groups are visible on your LinkedIn profile. Others have access to your activities, especially your own network plus those in their network. LinkedIn is also monitoring your activity! The “cyber lords” are mindful of your trends and patterns. This is what is used to send you Groups You May be Interested In when you access your home page.

Your group discussion activities also show up on your home page, so limiting the number of groups will help you control the quantity of information.

Remember that LinkedIn is not Facebook; it is for professional use only. Some of the discussions can involve passion and emotion on certain subjects. Do not come across as angry, depressed or pathetic. Too many people have access to this! If you start a discussion, links to information are always good and provide you with added credibility.

Contribute wisely, with purpose and sharing ideas/techniques as your primary goal. Get to the attention of the right people for the right reasons. You’ll be able to interact with and gather meaningful information from some very accomplished professionals. Use it to your advantage.