If you’ve recently visited LinkedIn groups, you may have noticed a few changes to the interface. You can read LinkedIn’s blog about it here.
So why have LinkedIn made the changes?
The redesign is part of LinkedIn’s ongoing effort to make their site more user-friendly. It’s also in recognition of the major role that groups play for LinkedIn users:
- There are over 2 million groups
- Hundreds of discussions are added every minute
- 8000 new groups are created each week
- The average user is a member of 7 groups.
- Those who participate in group discussions have four times as many profile views as those who are not part of groups (Mashable)
So what are the changes?
- Group admins can now customise the group’s image at the top of the page
- It’s easier to determine who has commented on a Group post or follow a conversation in the comments thread
- When posting to a group, you can easily choose between a discussion, job or promotion
- It’s easy to access stats and info about your group
(by clicking on the “I” button at the top of the group page)
So how can you take advantage of the new LinkedIn groups?
The latest changes will no doubt attract more businesses to join LinkedIn groups. And the more active you are on LinkedIn groups, the more likely it is that people will view your profile. So what are the next steps you should take?
- Find a group where your clients are likely to go e.g. If you’re an accountant in London and you work in the property sector, use LinkedIn’s search engine to find property related groups. Here are some ideas. Although you can join up to 50 groups, only join a few groups, they are easier to monitor.
- Think of a topical subject that your clients will be interested in e.g. house prices, skyscrapers ruining the London skyline etc…It’s doesn’t have to be directly related to your business, but it has to be a discussion that will attract engagement.
- When people reply to your discussion, respond with an insight that demonstrates your expertise.
- If group members view your profile (or if you see a profile that is of interest), take the opportunity to connect with them. When connecting with them, you can enter an optional message. Suggest having a telephone conversation or meeting, or even ask them a questions about their business. (We can advise you on how to convert contacts into clients).
Remember that LinkedIn has the highest visitor to lead conversion rate of any social media platform (Hubspot). If you miss out on group discussions, you’re missing out on potential business!
