Wouldn’t it be great if you could direct a LinkedIn post to a target audience? We get this question all … the … time. And we get it! Posting can feel like a shot in the dark. After all, it’s never guaranteed that your post will get put on your target audience’s feed. This uncertainty can make you want to give up before you even get a following and well before getting a true ROI from leveraging social media.
However, posting on your timeline isn’t the only way to share content on LinkedIn. In fact, there’s a way to post on LinkedIn that will ensure your post reaches the right feeds. Additionally, your post will be added to a feed full of people and posts related to that field or topic. Sounds too good to be true? Not when you are in the correct LinkedIn Group! And today’s article is about how to utilize them for your benefit.
What are LinkedIn Groups?
LinkedIn Groups are dedicated spaces where professionals with shared interests can connect, exchange ideas, and build relationships. These communities span various topics, from AI and technology to finance and fitness. Some groups, like the American Bankers Association (ABA) Group, are organized around specific roles or leadership positions. Others bring together professionals from particular regions, such as areas of the U.S. like the southeast or specific countries in Europe.
LinkedIn Groups come in three main types, each with different visibility and access settings:
1. Public Groups
Public Groups are open to anyone on LinkedIn, making them the most visible and accessible. They appear at the top of search results, and anyone can view posts within the group’s profile. However, you can only post inside a group after you join it. Once you are a member, the group will be listed at the bottom of your LinkedIn profile under Interests.
2. Private Listed Groups
There are two types of private groups. Private Listed Groups also appear in search results and will be added to your Interests after joining. However, unlike Public Groups, posts within Private Listed Groups are only visible to other members, offering more privacy for discussions.
3. Private Unlisted Groups
Private Unlisted Groups, on the other hand, are invite-only and don’t appear in search results or on profiles. Accessible only through a direct link or invitation, they provide the highest level of exclusivity, and, as with other private groups, posts are visible solely to group members.
Tapping into these diverse groups allows you opportunities to network and share valuable insights through posts, which establishes expertise and thought leadership in niche industries and topics.
How can you find LinkedIn Groups?
There are two main ways to find LinkedIn Groups that match your interests:
1. Using LinkedIn’s search bar
Start by typing your topic or interest in LinkedIn’s search bar. After entering your query, select “Groups” to filter the search results and see groups related to your topic. Once you find a group you’d like to join, click the “Join” button! After joining, you’re all set to start engaging and contributing to discussions.
2. Exploring your connections’ interests
Another way to discover groups is by exploring the “Interests” section on your connections’ profiles. Here, you’ll see the Public and Private Listed Groups they’re part of. If you share similar interests, you can join these groups as well and begin connecting with members who are likely to share your professional passions.
Why should you post in LinkedIn Groups?
Posting in LinkedIn Groups can be a powerful way to build connections and establish a credible reputation before diving into sales conversations. Here’s how engaging in groups can strengthen your social media presence:
Build community and engagement
LinkedIn Groups allow you to engage with niche audiences in a more personalized setting. Because groups are often industry-specific, you can build rapport with members who share your professional interests. Regularly posting in and interacting with these groups helps you foster genuine relationships, building trust and credibility over time—essential qualities for a successful sales approach.
Aim to participate in 3-5 groups that align with your target audience’s interests for maximum impact. Engaging across multiple groups expands your network and keeps your presence visible to a broader, relevant audience.
Maximize reach and drive traffic
LinkedIn Groups are a great way to drive targeted traffic to your content. By sharing links to blog posts, webinars, or whitepapers within these groups, you encourage members to explore your resources, increasing both engagement and profile views. Sharing consistently in groups can boost engagement rates by up to 10 times compared to posting solely on your profile.
If you position yourself as a leader by initiating discussions or hosting group-only webinars and events, you’ll generate more interest in your brand. LinkedIn’s algorithm also tends to favor group interactions, making your posts more visible on members’ feeds.
Establish thought leadership
Becoming recognized as a thought leader is easier to achieve in LinkedIn Groups, where your expertise can truly shine. With 92% of B2B buyers engaging with sales professionals identified as thought leaders, establishing credibility in these communities is essential. Regular posting and active engagement show that you’re knowledgeable and committed to your field, making you a go-to resource for group members. This consistent visibility can also attract interest in your profile and brand, leading potential clients to explore your offerings.
Aim to engage in your groups at least twice a week to maintain visibility and reinforce your thought leadership. This can include sharing articles, posing thought-provoking questions, or offering insights by responding to others’ posts.
Do I have to share in multiple places?
Well, yes! Sharing content in multiple places is key to maximizing your reach on LinkedIn! Posting to your profile and inside your groups helps you make the most of each piece of content. By recycling posts strategically, you maintain a consistent presence, reach new audiences, and engage with followers across different spaces. For example, sharing content on your profile builds your personal audience, while posting in groups allows you to tap into an established, targeted audience. Ideally, each post can be shared on your profile and in two relevant groups, creating a “three-post system” that amplifies your visibility and reach.
Avoiding repetition and staying organized
To avoid overwhelming your connections with repetitive posts, it’s helpful to establish a rotation. Without a system, the same content can appear multiple times in someone’s feed. A simple strategy might look like this: share Post 1 on your profile one week, in one group at the beginning of the following week, and in a second group at the end of that week. This schedule allows you to share each post organically without redundancy.
Ready For Social (RFS) makes handling multiple posts across several groups easier. RFS’s autopilot tool integrates with LinkedIn Groups, allowing you to connect your main LinkedIn account and create linked group accounts. You can manage group-specific posting and scheduling seamlessly through these linked accounts, with RFS’s features adapting to your needs.
Leveraging RFS for effortless scheduling
Although specific features, like profile reviews, are available only on your main LinkedIn account, RFS’s post-creation and editing features work entirely on group accounts. This includes access to the RFS Post Listing library, the Own Post editor, the Autopilot posting system, and the scheduling Calendar.
If you manage multiple LinkedIn Group accounts, the Calendar View lets you toggle between accounts, helping you easily plan and edit posts for the week. The calendar allows you to adjust captions, photos, and post times for each scheduled post. With RFS’s Autopilot feature, you can automate engaging content across all your accounts—main and group pages—eliminating the stress of manually juggling multiple pages and schedules.
Start sharing!
LinkedIn Groups are an excellent way to expand your influence within targeted audiences and industries. Since LinkedIn’s algorithm favors group posts, joining the right communities and staying active allows you to drive engagement, build your brand, and attract the attention of key decision-makers.
Ready to get started? Have you joined any groups already, or do you want recommendations on which groups might be right for you? Let us know on LinkedIn.