Join Related Groups On Linked In

Linkedin.com has a great many levels, one of which is “Groups.” Groups can be predicated on a particular business vertical such as mobile, or very granular such as Word Of Mouth Marketing. There are all kinds of professional sectors that have groups. We encourage you to join one closest to your discipline and participate. This way you can understand the etiquette, time commitment and interest level.

Groups have a great deal of value:

• They serve to reinforce the understanding of your industry.
• They allow you to ask and answer questions among peers having the same challenges.
• They galvanize your credibility, especially those that own or admin large Linkedin groups.
• They keep you current on trends.
• They allow you to network and seek out potential talent for your business.
• They allow you to focus your questions around conversations already taking place; thus more defined answers are rendered.

Additionally, companies can construct groups for conversation. These groups can be closed or open, depending on the type of content that is usually communicated. So take some time to think about the sensitivity of a forum prior to construction. Should you administer a group, there are levels of security that you can control. You can also monitor who you accept as a member to your group. Remember a group is only as good as the engagement that is created within it.

It’s better to be open about constructive criticism rather than pretend that your business is error free. Reach, share, exchange and communicate. In some cases, it’s even good to reward active participants. This can be done in a number of ways – from gift cars to administrative posts within the group. Different people are motivated by different things, so ask and see what motivates your group – you’ll soon see they’ll actively participate.

Lastly, remember the cardinal rule of social media “don’t set it and forget it.” You must staff a person to monitor, aggregate and participate within the group. Otherwise you could be doing more harm than good if your group lacks clear direction and a sense of ownership.