“This is not an information age. It’s an age of networked intelligence.” – Don Tapscott
LinkedIn was designed for just this…networking. Connecting with the right people and starting the right conversations can lead to growth in your business and your business connections.
LinkedIn groups are a valuable tool for reaching your target community and connecting with the right people. When utilized the right way, you can generate leads with real potential. Here are four tips for generating leads with LinkedIn Groups.
(1) Join the right groups – LinkedIn groups may vary quite a bit in size and activity, but finding the right ones for you is simple. It really just depends on your goal for joining the group(s). Do your homework, and start by searching key words relevant to your industry or brand. You will find some to be very broad, and some very specific. Some will be small, and some will include thousands of members. Some will be very active, with members posting every day, and some will not. There is not one type of group that surpasses another. In fact, joining groups of a variety of size and specificity can be beneficial. Just be sure to scope out the type and frequency of conversation in each before posting. It is good to join other conversations for a bit before starting your own.
(2) Become an active group member – Simply joining LinkedIn groups is not enough. Once you have found groups that fit you and your brand, it is time to join the conversation. Start by reading through the last days, weeks, or even months of posts. Get a feel for the group’s style and frequency. Next, start engaging by liking and commenting on other posts. Join the conversation a little at a time. Once you have established yourself as an active and valuable member, you can begin to post your own content. Ideally, now that your relationships have been established, members will be eager to hear your information and even share it with their own networks.
(3) Be personal – You’re in a group made up of people. People who want to speak with other people. So post as an individual, not as a brand. Share your opinions and your point of view. Ask questions that spark conversation and create meaningful engagement. “What is your opinion on…?” and “I think…” are better than “Great post!” or “Interesting information!” Having real conversations builds real, useful connections.
(4) Don’t connect too early – Do not start sending out connection requests to anyone and everyone you share a group with. This will more than likely not generate a genuine relationship or future lead. Wait until someone has engaged with something you posted. Then, connect with them and thank them for their like or comment. Depending on the conversation, this could be a potential lead. People want relationships, not additional salespeople. So build a relationship, then connect, and then maintain that connection. Even if it does not lead to a sale, it could be a beneficial connection in the future.
Utilizing these methods will generate one-on-one conversations with people who have expressed a genuine interest in your industry or your brand. You will have more meaningful conversations, more connections, and more potential leads, all within the right community and target audience.
If you are looking to increase revenue through leveraging the power of LinkedIn groups, content marketing or email without ever having to cold call again, I invite you to have a conversation. Whether or not we decide to work together, I am confident our call will be full of insights that will help you grow your business. To make scheduling easy, here is a link to my calendar http://ScheduleaCallwithMark.com, please pick a time that works best for you.
