As active users of the professional social network LinkedIn, you are probably members of various discussion groups. However, if you want to take the greatest advantage of your membership of these groups, it is necessary to know how to behave properly. A recent article on hrcommunication.com compares the rules of behaviour in the LinkedIn Groups to the rules of behaviour at parties. You should be welcome guests who can contribute something. You should have fun, not just stand in the corner or provoke conflicts. And if you don't like a party, you can leave.
Hrcommunication.com recommends the following:
1. Don't bother others
Nobody is interested in repeated advertising statements you try to mask as discussions. It is somewhat better to add a link to your blog or ask a question that can be answered by some of your content. Even this, however, will soon start to annoy others and may cause your expulsion from the group. Instead, try to share somebody else's content and add your own comments.
2. Don't enter too many groups
It is simply not possible to follow discussions in dozens of groups. So choose groups in your field with the most members and most active discussions.
3. Share content in multiple groups
If you have some really interesting information, share it with members of multiple groups. However, it is important to choose the groups well according to their focus and individually edit the titles and questions to be shared in connection with the statement in each group. Rashly publishing the same content everywhere is nothing else but spamming.
4. Search for groups of potential customers
If your main aim at LinkedIn is to search for potential customers and expand your business, don't enter only groups for marketers. Choose groups made up of representatives of your key customer groups. When you find them, spend at least the first phase just listening.
5. Try polls
Ask specific questions being addressed by your company by means of polls in the groups. Voting is easier for readers than writing answers. In most cases, polls create discussions after a certain time or you can start discussions yourself based on the results obtained.
6. Don't discuss everything publicly
If an interesting business opportunity arises for you from a discussion, communicate with the individual group members individually and privately. Don't put commercial offers into publicly accessible discussions.
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