Why do people call LinkedIn groups the heart of LinkedIn? Because people get maximum interaction and a better understanding of each other’s business using these groups. A LinkedIn group has people from different backgrounds of life and a conglomeration of experiences, all under one roof. It is a place where you can get help and also do the same for others, by sharing useful & informative articles.
They work on very simple principles:
- Do others a favor
- Ask others to do a favor to you
- After doing the above, say thanks
This way, one can build a strong foothold on this professional platform and with time build strong connections and increase trust. This helps businesses build an engaged community of their own. Among all other social media marketing platforms, LinkedIn is easier for professionals to discuss on various business related issues as well as help their business for link building. It is advised that one should be well versed with LinkedIn groups for their business to prosper. Hence, using LinkedIn for business, can help you target potential customers belonging not only to their demographic but can target future potential customers from any part of the world.
Here are some Linked best practices to follow:
Create your own group:
Build a community of your own by creating your own group. Though do keep in mind to add people who you think are relevant to the group in any way. To make the group more welcoming, start by initiating personal introductions. This will give you an in depth knowledge about your group members. Who knows, maybe they could be your future clients/prospects. To keep the group members active and engaged, it is important to share worthy content. You can ask questions as moderators, this will keep the members engaged and you can view completely different answers and get an insight into different perspectives.
Join new groups:
When you join a new LinkedIn group, an introduction of you will help members know you much better. It is advised to take time to understand what type of posts the group members share on the groups. This will give you a pretty good idea about the kind of posts you are entitled to share as a group member. Also, you don’t necessarily need to join all groups. Some groups have rules and regulations, so give these a thorough read before requesting to join in.
What to share:
Being a group member, you need to make sure that you share relevant and informative content. But that’s not the end to it, you need to share content that is enticing enough for users to explore it. Be clear in your message being conveyed when you share any article. Some other person might have a different opinion of the topic you share, but that’s ok, opinions vary from person to person. Don’t offend or criticize their opinion, this is a basic etiquette for LinkedIn groups. At the same time, don’t get offended by perspectives that aren’t aligned with yours. Be open to knowledge, ideas and information.
Finding relevant groups:
It makes sense to join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to you or your business. They are a source of information and knowledge as many are experienced professionals while others have just started off on this platform. Remember not to join groups for the mere sake of joining groups. Send a request to groups that are aligned with your interests and can be helpful in sharing information and knowledge.
A pool of knowledge:
You can directly put up your queries using the discussion forum and receive help from well-informed professionals. You can also answer a question where you seem to be an expert in the topic. By answering the questions on LinkedIn groups you can show you presence, expertise and authority in that particular field. Make sure that your answers are relevant, correct and do not sound too authoritative. You can also contribute to the pool of knowledge, by sharing useful links and informative articles.
Promotions on LinkedIn groups:
It is always good to share knowledge and information worth sharing, but keep in mind that the groups are not meant for self-promotions only. When you share posts that are only self-promoting, it creates a negative image in the minds of your group members. LinkedIn groups are not for promotions specifically, they are a place where all professionals usually share useful information. Yes, one can self-promote one’s articles but don’t opt for aggressive promotions.
LinkedIn groups for business:
Showcase your business on LinkedIn by sharing informative articles, blogs and other posts that share valuable knowledge and business tips relevant to your industry. This sort of sharing is recommended, as it will help in the social media promotion of your business and will give others, those who matter, an idea about your business.
To conclude, it is recommended that you join one or more LinkedIn groups and try to be an active group member. But remember, always join a group of your interest and one that is relevant to your profession. Understand LinkedIn best practices for groups to make the most of this platform.
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