One of the most effective ways to network on LinkedIn is to join groups. Of course, joining the groups and using them effectively are two different things. After all, no one wants to waste their valuable time, so getting the most out of LinkedIn Groups depends on your goals and implementation.
Let’s examine some LinkedIn Groups best practices to maximize your experience on the business networking platform.
Set Your Objectives for Joining Groups
The first thing you need to know is why you want to join a group. What’s the point? You may have several goals that require different types of groups. For example, if you are trying to recruit an employee, you should join groups that consist of that type of employee. If you’re trying to network to grow your business, you need to focus on joining groups that are full of people who meet your preferred buyer demographic.
LinkedIn Groups are not social clubs – you have Facebook for that. Members of groups aren’t interested in your side hobbies or your kids or pets. If the group is focused on offline marketing methods – stick to that content.
Join the Right Group(s)
Once you know your goals, find the groups that you need to join to meet your objectives. Don’t join too many groups at once. That’s a common amateur mistake. Keep it simple and join a single group at first. This will let you focus your spare time and attention to become a valuable member of the group.
Engage in the group content regularly. Once you’re well known in one group, you can join additional groups.
Get to Know the Group
Take some time to observe the group. Monitor the group content, shares and get a feel for what posts are creating the highest level of engagement by the group’s members. If people are introducing themselves, go ahead and do that.
Much like Facebook Groups, each group on LinkedIn has a different leader or owners, so the rules will vary. Check the rules and remember them. Abiding by the group rules is imperative if you want to become a noted and valuable member of the group. You might want to check the rules each time you enter a group until you get used to it.
Participate in Discussions
When you’re sure that the group is the right group and that you can reach your objectives there, start participating in discussions. At first, freely answer questions that pop up that you know the answer to, using proof and logic and kindness in your answers. Remember the mission of your business and the personality of your business, and speak like that.
Maintain your business branding discretely. LinkedIn Groups aren’t advertising free-for-alls. If you want that, head over to Craigslist. These groups require finesse and solutions. Get involved, offer real engagement and become part of their community.
Post Your Own Questions
Once people are used to your participation in the group, after a couple of weeks (not before), go ahead and post your own question in the group. However, don’t post questions that you have no intention of engaging with just to get people to click on your links. Post real questions with real intent of listening to the answers.
People on LinkedIn Groups are professionals, so keep that in mind when you’re posting questions. Don’t post clickbait style questions, or you will find yourself disliked and eventually banned from the group. Remember, this is a phenomenal way to build your online reputation and authority, so put serious thought into your interactions on each group.
Share a Conversation Starter
Another way to participate in some groups, when permitted, is to post links to conversation starters. First, write a blog post about the article or issue that you want to discuss. Try to stick with a trending issue namely one that has been in the news lately such as unionization, specific marketing practices, major changes to the Facebook or Google Ad platforms, etc. Keep it relevant, of course.
Ensure you have put links to sources and other information in the post. Then write a blurb giving most of the information so that they don’t have to click on the link, but they can if they want to.
When you get responses, make sure you engage with them in a highly professional way. Remember, people are always watching.
Connect with Other Members
When you get to know people in a group, you’re going to be drawn to some members over others. These are the people you likely have something in common with. Make sure to reach out and connect with them, so they become part of your own network.
Keep Your Profile Up to Date
When people see your discussions and information in a group, they’re naturally going to want to look at your profile. Ensure not only that your personal profile is up-to-date and targeted toward your audience, but also that your company profile is targeted toward your audience and up to date. That way, they won’t be confused when they view your profile.
It’s highly recommended that you ensure your LinkedIn profile is optimized before participating in LinkedIn Groups. You want to present with your best foot forward from day one, after all.
Consider Starting Your Own Group
Another thing you can do is start your own group. If you do that, make sure you plan out what you want the group’s purpose to be. And that purpose must be highly focused. The more targeted and niche specific a LinkedIn Group, the greater the engagement rate by group members.
Your new group should consist of members that want whatever it is that you offer and run with transparency and honesty – always putting your ideal audience first. You’re building your reputation here.
When you know your reasons behind joining a group and have a plan in place, you’ll end up a lot more successful. Remember, every post you make, every discussion you have, and every connection you make, is one more step toward reaching the objectives you set in the beginning. If that’s not happening, reassess your strategy and your tactics.
