How to Use LinkedIn Groups to Build Connections

I keep hearing questions on whether users should be spending their time in taking part in LinkedIn Groups. The answer to these questions is quite simple. Yet, I saw so much contradictory information out there that I decided to come up with a post of my own. In short, the answer is yes! You need to spend time in LinkedIn groups. And here’s why.

LinkedIn Groups are meeting rooms and forums where people who share the same interests are allowed to hold conversations and post comments revolving around topics that they wish to talk about. Participating in one or more of these groups allows you to establish yourself as an expert on a particular subject and gives you the base to grow meaningful relationships with other people who share the same interests. In fact, a number of these people might be your colleagues who’re looking to build networks of their own and you can also find potential customers who are using these groups to find solutions to their problems. This allows you with the opportunity to not only share and expand your knowledge, but also develop meaningful relationships that allow you to do more business.

So before you rush off to join a LinkedIn Group, make sure that you understand how to use LinkedIn Groups to build connections. Here we put the complete guidelines for you:

Tip # 1 – Identify the Group

The first and foremost thing that you need to do is to identify a group that suits your interests and makes you join. You should ideally narrow down your selections to 3 – 5 groups that match your interests and then choose something that suits your requirements as well. Ideally, you would not want to join a group that has a huge membership base, but you would not want to join a near empty group either. Ideally, your group should have anything between 300 – 1500 members as this helps to maximize your visibility in the group. It also helps you to visit the groups 2 – 3 times every week and identify the best opportunities to make an appearance. Some of the tips that you should remember while identifying suitable groups include –

-  Always select groups that suit your expertise
-  Make sure that the group has a decent amount of member activity
-  Make sure that the group is popular
-  Before joining, ensure that you can positively contribute to the group.

Tip # 2 – Target the popular discussions

Simply, the most popular discussion is the one that has the maximum amount of visibility. The topics that get the most visibility usually have the most actively engaged members featuring in the discussion. In fact, this is another reason to weight into these discussions. If you’re still not clear where to look for the most popular discussions, simply check out the top of the group discussion page. The most popular discussions always rank at the very top. It always helps you to offer meaningful insights and thought provoking questions that lead to additional comments. And if your comments or inputs end up adding some value to the discussion, you can expect other group members to sit up and take notice.

Tip # 3 – Create your own discussions

Sometimes waiting for others to create discussions and topics is not enough. You should start your own discussions in the group as well. However, being random doesn’t help. You should always act in a strategic manner when starting a discussion. Ideally, refrain from starting your own discussions until you have participated in a few of the top discussions. Moreover, you should also take in the contributions made by other members and understand their objectives and concerns. Understanding what other members care about can do wonders to your own discussions. It also helps you to study prior discussions. Understand what topics work well with members. Remember, the goal of starting your own discussion is to ensure that you get as much engagement as possible. And if you’re truly engaging members within the group, you shall soon find yourself listed as the “Top Influencer” in the group. And this can do wonders for your overall brand as well as your visibility.

Tip # 4 – Be effective in your follow ups

One of the biggest problems with LinkedIn Groups is that it can be very difficult to stay updated with what’s happening on the group unless you keep visiting your top groups on a regular basis. Therefore, when you’re participating in active conversations, you need to make sure that you regularly check the groups for updates. It is important to ensure that you don’t allow too much of time to pass before responding to an open conversation. One of the biggest secrets of effective communication in groups is to ensure that you show your commitment to other group members.

Tip # 5 – Don’t overdo it

One of the biggest lessons that you can learn once you use LinkedIn Groups regularly is that you need to focus and minimize your exposure. Remember, it is important to contribute, but it is equally important to come across as an individual who offers meaningful contributions. If you begin to come across as a person who simply craves for attention, other group members are likely to shy away from you.

Tip#6–Always respect the rules of the Group

Each group has its own set of rules and guidelines and it is important for each and every member to ensure that they follow the rules. As a group member, make sure that you do not violate the guidelines as your membership could get terminated. Generally, the larger the group is, the stricter the guidelines. You can always find the group rules on the right hand corner of your screen once you enter the group dashboard. Make sure that you go through these rules and understand what is expected from you.

Tip # 7 – Create your own group

If you’re willing and able to make the commitment, you could create your own group. But before you do this, remember, creating a group is like growing a plant. You will have to nurture it or else it will simply wither off and die. Once you create your own group, you need to control various aspects of the group. As the founder, it is your job to drive discussions and ensure that the group caters to a well defined niche only.

Final Tips

- Make sure that you check into your groups 2 – 3 times every week.
- The Top Influencer status can do wonders to your brand and your reputation.
-  Don’t end up joining more than 2 – 3 groups.
-  Don’t expect immediate results.

So what strategies are you using for LinkedIn Groups? Think we missed out on something? Know of any other way to build connections using LinkedIn groups? We would definitely love to hear from you.