LinkedIn Groups - Strategy Tips

Now that LinkedIn has developed their group capabilities, they are very easy to use and get benefit from quickly. Following is are three tips that will help you maximize the benefits of joining  groups.

First, note that you can join up to fifty groups. This is beneficial because LinkedIn has limited the number of groups you can join so now people are much more selective as to the groups they choose to join. With this in mind, go the left navigational bar and click on the word “groups” to get to the page that offers a search box (on the right of the page) to search out relevant groups.

Next, choose a variety of groups so that you are not joining groups where the same people have joined from your other groups. I usually recommend to my clients they choose groups in their local community.  For instance, the Chicago LinkedIn Group is very vibrant and has thousands of members. Then join a group in your area of expertise. So, say for example, you are in marketing, you should look at joining groups focused on marketing, marketing and sales or some variation of marketing. You can also then consider joining groups that are alumni groups from your college or post-graduate schools if you attended one.

Third, once you have been accepted into a group make a point of saying hello to the group members and either offer a good piece of advice or information–perhaps from a recent article you read or you might start out by asking a relevant question to your group such as, “What is one thing you have found is working in marketing in this challenging economy?”

This last suggestion goes a long way to meet great new connections you can form relationships with and more likely than not, these will be people who are more pro-active networkers. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be in a group in the first place. For more tips, stay tuned.

Melissa Giovagnoli
Keynote speaker on the subject of new media and social networks
www.networlding.com