6 ways to get the most out of LinkedIn Groups

If you are on LinkedIn to connect with businesspeople, LinkedIn Groups is where the party is happening. Sometimes you get invited, sometimes everyone is welcome, and sometimes the party gets a little wild. You can even get turned away at the door.

To get the most out of LinkedIn Groups, you need to learn how to be the life of the party—not a wallflower or a party crasher. Here’s how:

1. Don’t be a party crasher

Few things are worse in a group than a member who continually “spams” discussions with his direct advertisements for products or services, or starts discussions with direct-sales tactics, pitching what he’s selling. Linking to a blog and asking a question regarding your own content are both fine, but the quickest way to get kicked out of groups is to constantly pitch your stuff.

Don’t focus solely on sharing your own content. This is a community, after all, so comment on and share other people’s articles in your status updates; it’s a great way to build your network and start conversations.

2. Don’t join too many groups