LinkedIn Groups are a simple and effective way to build important relationships whilst also boosting your online presence. The right LinkedIn Groups can be endlessly positive for your site and business as they can help source new contacts and forge stronger connections with current contacts. There are more than 1.5 million LinkedIn Groups and it can be difficult to determine which ones might be the best for you, so here are some tips on how best to find and utilise LinkedIn Groups.

1 - Search Relevant Groups

Recently LinkedIn have significantly upgraded their search features, making it easier to find relevant groups to become involved in. The enhanced search now allows users to search for relevant discussion topics and Groups within open Groups. To find relevant Groups trying search keywords that relate to you, for example, where you work or the school you attended, as well as words that describe your interests and hobbies. Take the time to reach out to other LinkedIn contacts to ask them about Groups as this gives you an opportunity to reach out and connect with others in your network.

2 – Evaluate Quality

Where LinkedIn Groups are concerned it’s all about quality over quantity. It’s no use being a member or contributing to fifty low quality Groups, rather it is much more worthwhile to participate in five or ten well managed Groups with useful discussions and strong Group rules.

Always make sure the Group managers are engaged, visible, credible and among the top influencers. Look for groups with discussions consisting mostly of questions and dialogue and avoid Groups with an abundance of promotional updates. Remember that the quality of a group isn’t always correlated to the number of members or the activity but rather the quality of the content and credibility of members.

3 - Review ‘Groups You May Like’

The easiest way to find relevant Groups is to review the ‘Groups You May Like’ section on your navigation menu bar. Carefully review these suggestions and make sure to only join the groups that are really relevant to you and your business.

4 – Consider Corporate Sponsored Groups

LinkedIn features a large number of corporate-sponsored Groups in which LinkedIn officially partners with brands, businesses and corporations to assist them in building successful groups.

As long as these groups are relevant to you they are usually a good way to build your online presence and make new connections. Corporate-sponsored Groups are extremely well managed and tend to feature in depth discussions and rich dialogue, as the sponsoring brands and corporations have a vested interest in making the Groups successful.

5 – Follow LinkedIn Best Practices

Overall the best thing to do in order to be successful in LinkedIn Groups is to authentically engage. In order to build your profile and credibility it is necessary to contribute valuable content and insights to Groups and discussions.

Use your time in Groups productively, asking questions and giving thoughtful answers. Don’t try to use Groups to self-promote products or your business, instead share helpful and reputable content.

LinkedIn Groups are a fantastic way to raise your visibility and influence online, as well as a great platform to source new information, connections and content. By thoughtfully participating you can create a strong profile and build valuable relationships online, ultimately benefiting you and your business.

For further information on social media management, contact the U Social Team on 0800 112 3605.

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