Posted by Matt Kersey in Uncategorized
If you read our last post, than you’re probably joined in the right LinkedIn groups already…which is great! LinkedIn groups are a fantastic place to gain influence among your peers and build your professional credibility.
And now you are ready to take it to the next level.
Here are some tips to help you effectively participate within your groups:
Post often
This may seem obvious…but nonetheless it is important. If you want to get noticed you’ll need to get active.
However, it’s important to not OVERDUE it! Posting multiple times a day is not necessary and will likely tick of the group moderators.
Posting into your favorite groups a few times a month is a great place to start.
Post the RIGHT content
Make sure to post content that other group members will find value in. Your goal should be to help others. This is the single most important rule!
In order to determine what type of content to post, consider the audience. What industries are they in? What does their job look like? What type of content will help make their life easier? This is the kind of stuff you should be posting.
Hold back from posting overly promotional content all the time. It’s okay to do it sometimes, but remember that you’re trying to build relationships here. Too many people take the “look at me” approach and others can see it from a mile away. They ain’t fooling anyone!
Post content CORRECTLY
Post your content in the right category. Most groups have a section for “Discussions, Promotions and Jobs,” so post accordingly.
Your posts will have a higher chance of getting approved if you do this (for moderated groups). It’s also a sign of respect and will help you build a rapport with the group manager.
Also, you’re more likely to show up in the group digest if you can find an applicable post for one of the underused categories.
When posting a link, paste the link into the “start a discussion” section and after LinkedIn finds the link, delete it.
To ensure the post will be a clickable link, make sure NOT to use the exact same text 
as the link title. This is important because it creates a physical page for your content allowing you to reference it when needed. And it will also make your posts stand out among the other group member’s posts.
Comment, Like and Share
Spend some time commenting on existing discussions. This will help showcase your expertise within the group, and group managers LOVE it when people take the time to comment on posts.
Popular posts get read the most often and group managers like to promote the group’s popular posts, so gravitate towards commenting on those threads. And when you leave a comment on a post, everyone who has already commented on that post will get an alert. It’s a nice bonus.
“Like” and “Share” other people’s discussions when you genuinely like what they are sharing. It’s no mystery that everyone enjoys a good ego-stroke. Use this to your advantage. It will help lower people’s defenses towards you.
Be responsive
Be grateful when someone leaves a comment on a discussion that you started. Make sure to reply to him or her if the comment warrants a response.
Reply to comments that are a direct question, even if the questions aren’t well thought-out. Always respond to people in a timely manner and be respectful of other people’s opinions.
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Following these simple tips will help you create positive impressions in your LinkedIn groups and build your credibility.
For more information on how to utilize LinkedIn groups to their maximum potential, check out one of our FREE LinkedIn Training Webinars: How to Create a Massive LinkedIn Referral Network with THE Most Influential Players in Your Market.
