LinkedIn: Which Linkedin Groups are Right for You?

LinkedIn Groups give users the opportunity to connect with other like-minded professionals or companies. Depending on the size of the group, as a member, you may have the ability to connect with hundreds to thousands of these individuals, without the hassle of a mass contact email list— in becoming a member of a group, you are able to send email and invites directly to other members, and can forego the need to acquire their email addresses. This feature which facilitates smooth communication is just one of the benefits of joining LI Groups; whatever your other reasons, the singular most important reason to join up is to increase your visibility in your professional business and interest networks.

No doubt you’ll want to plunge right in to these networking opportunities, but it can be difficult to determine exactly what groups to join. LinkedIn allows you to join a maximum of 50 groups, and you’ll want to be sure the groups you choose sync up with your branding strategy. Here are a few tips on joining up and maintaining your presence in LI groups.

Use Group Search: This is a simple yet effective way of narrowing down your options, and helping you find Groups well-suited to your wants and needs. In the Group Search text box, enter keywords which describe your skill sets and interests; LinkedIn will then immediately list the most popular and active groups that match up to your search, making it quick and easy (and painless!) to find groups right for you.

Exactly which keywords should you use? This question is best answered by identifying your own networking objectives, and asking yourself who you would like to reach and why. Once you identify these, you will be better able to target appropriate groups, join up, and start connecting.

Monitor Membership: Check up on group membership every month, as membership numbers fluctuate – you’ll want to be sure that your membership within a respective group is still in keeping with your particular purposes and networking strategies.  As you increase your visibility on LinkedIn, you may find over time that you no longer need, desire or match up with your previous groups; you may also find that membership has dwindled or altered so as to no longer suit your needs. As your objectives may change, so must your membership. New groups will pop up that will often better suit your networking goals; constant reevaluation of your objectives and consequently, your group membership, will help you maintain an active and relevant LinkedIn presence, and get the most out of your groups.

Post to Twitter

Trackbacks

  1. […] Fundamentally, LinkedIn just is a huge database of profiles with some additional functionality and applications; the real bonus is that key decision makers from any industry or company are on it. Just as at networking events you can’t be a wallflower, the same is true of LinkedIn – you must go out and engage with other professionals. Not sure where to begin? Try joining relevant Groups and participating in discussions that interest you or that you would like to contribute to. Having trouble finding appropriate groups? For some tips, check out my post: Which LinkedIn Groups Are Right For You? […]

Speak Your Mind

*