Richard: Are you able to communicate with the group in its entirety? Do you just make a post the entire group will see?

Lynda: Let’s say you are part of a group and you post a blog or an article, or you start a discussion. It depends on the settings. Some of my groups, I want an email every day. Some of the groups, I just want a digest once a week. Some of them, I do not want to get email regularly because it gets overwhelming. You can get a lot of email.

I have a core of important groups. The more important groups, I want to get an email every day. Every day, I see the new discussions that come in on that group. Then, when I feel I want to add something or ask a question, I just jump in.

I click on that link of that discussion and I add a comment, a question or whatever. You get an update when somebody answers or responds to your discussion or comment.

This way, if you have a good discussion going a whole bunch of people might jump in. They are all potential contacts for you. Anyone responding to your question or part of the discussion is a natural lead. You can view their profile and see if you are interested. Then send them an invitation to connect with you. That is how you build your connections.

Richard: I get a feeling groups are better used without you standing there with a megaphone, yelling out what you want people to know. Instead, have a helpful conversation with someone. Then, the group overhearing what you have to say becomes interested in you because what you said was so intelligent, useful or helpful.

Lynda: Absolutely. In fact, if you are tooting your own horn, often they put you in the promotions section. It depends on the group leader. A lot of groups do not like if you talk about your own services. They get really mad. However, if you offer helpful information, people love you.

Richard: Let’s brainstorm a few ways you can interact with a group without appearing promotional or spammy. One way you talk about is answering questions the group has.

Another way is taking a poll or survey on some topic you think is actually relevant and not self-serving, within that group’s interest.

Another one, like you said, is perhaps posting an article that you have written or a blog post that is not promotional; but just informative.

Lynda: Yes, you have to be careful with that.

If you have a WordPress site, which I have and recommend, you can link it up. Then when you post a new blog post, it goes automatically into the groups you want. You will link up to your LinkedIn profile, and it says “post to groups.” You type in the groups you want, and it will automatically add it. This works brilliantly most of the time.

Occasionally, in some groups they say they do not like that. They ask you not to do it. I think it is a bit crazy if it’s a blog post with good information. Some people still think it’s promotional. You have to be careful and see if the leader of that particular group likes it or not.

Richard: Also, frequency is a consideration. If you are doing a blog post every two weeks, I can see it going below the radar. If you are doing one every day or every two days, maybe frequency will affect it.

Lynda: It could. I do one, once a week. As I said, some groups are very happy to have it. Other groups are not. To be honest, the way I get a lot of business is by people reading my blog posts. At the end of the blog post, I have an offer to go to my website and get my free report. I do not sell anything. That brings a lot of people to my website.

You can also use other people’s articles. You may see an article in the newspaper that you think has relevance to your group. It does not have to be your article. Nobody will ever complain about that. Then you can say, “What do you think about this? What are your views on this topic?”

Richard: You can editorialize it yourself as well. Then say, “What do you think?”

Lynda: Yes, exactly.

Richard: Are there other ways to interact with a group that can be helpful to you?

Lynda: Those are the main ways: posting and answering questions, starting discussions and starting polls; bringing value to the group really. Bringing your expertise and value without trying to sell is really the key. Anyway you can do that is going to be appreciated.

Richard: As the owner of a group or if you start one, do you have powers that you would not have as just a member?

Lynda: Yes, you do because you can reach out and invite people to your group. You can proactively go out, find people and invite them. You can start discussions, and nobody can tell you not to put your own blog post up there. You can put your own stuff, as much as you want there, provided the group is interested.

It is more of a connection because you can interact with people. Say, “Hey, thanks for joining my group. What’s going on in your world right now? What challenges are you facing? We can discuss it.” It is just like having a party at your house, rather than at someone else’s house. When it is your house, you control it.