Yes, you can search for groups on LinkedIn to find groups that match your interests and connect with other professionals in your industry. LinkedIn has a powerful search function that allows you to search for groups by name, category, location, number of members, and other criteria.
Searching for Groups by Name or Keyword
The simplest way to search for LinkedIn groups is to enter a keyword or phrase into the main search bar at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. For example, you could search for “marketing” or “content marketing” to find relevant groups.
When you search this way, LinkedIn will return results for groups with that keyword in their name or description. You can then browse through the results and join any groups that look interesting to you.
Searching for Groups by Category
Another option is to search for groups based on LinkedIn’s predefined categories. To do this:
- Go to the LinkedIn homepage and click on “Groups” in the top menu bar
- Click on the “Discover” tab
- Select a category from the list on the left, such as “Technology” or “Business Services”
You’ll then see a list of recommended groups within that broader category. You can browse through the results, refining your search further by location, number of members, and how recently the groups have been active.
Using Advanced Search Options
For even more controls over your group search, LinkedIn has an advanced search option. To access it:
- Go to the LinkedIn homepage and click on “Groups” in the top menu bar
- Click on the “Discover” tab
- Click on the “Advanced” link next to the search bar
This will open up additional filters such as location, company, school, number of members, and how recently the groups have been active. You can combine several criteria to drill down to very specific types of groups.
Following Companies to See Their Groups
Many companies have their own LinkedIn groups focused on their products, services, culture, and employees. You can easily find these groups by following specific companies.
To follow a company on LinkedIn:
- Go to the company’s LinkedIn page
- Click the “Follow” button near the top right
Once you follow a company, you’ll see their company page posts in your main LinkedIn feed. This often includes announcements about new company groups you can join.
Getting Group Recommendations
LinkedIn will recommend groups for you to join based on your profile, interests, location, and connections. Here’s how to find them:
- Go to the LinkedIn homepage
- Scroll down to the “Groups you may like” section
- Browse through the recommended groups
- Click “Join” to join any appealing groups
The more active you are on LinkedIn with things like adding skills and volunteering experience to your profile, the better LinkedIn can tailor group recommendations to you.
Searching Within Specific Groups
Once you’ve joined some LinkedIn groups, you can search within those groups to find relevant discussions.
To search within a group:
- Go to the group’s homepage
- Enter a keyword into the search bar near the top of the page
- Hit enter to see discussions, members, and jobs related to that search term
This allows you to quickly find conversations, connections, and opportunities within your niche professional groups.
Connecting With Members Who Share Groups
You can leverage your shared group memberships to connect with relevant professionals on LinkedIn. To see which of your connections are in the same groups:
- Go to the group homepage
- Click on the number of members shown below the group’s banner image
- Scroll through the list of members
Any connections who are also members of the group will be clearly highlighted. You can then connect with those individuals by sending InMail messages or inviting them to connect.
Joining Additional Groups
As you interact with members of your groups, pay attention when they mention being part of another relevant group. You may want to join some of the same groups as thought leaders and professionals you respect.
You can ask your connections for group recommendations to continue expanding your online professional network in niche areas.
Finding Local Groups
LinkedIn has many location-based groups you can join to connect with professionals in your geographic area. To find them:
- Go to the LinkedIn homepage
- Click on “Groups” in the top menu bar
- Select the “Discover” tab
- Enter your city, region, or country in the search bar
You’ll then see a list of local groups. Look for ones related to your profession or industry to meet nearby professionals with similar interests and concerns.
Using Filters to Refine Your Search
As you search for groups on LinkedIn, use the available filters to narrow down the results:
- Membership: Open, closed, or hidden groups
- Category: Industries like technology, media, manufacturing etc.
- Location: Country, postal code, or region
- Relationship: Groups you’ve already joined or been invited to
Filtering by location and category is especially useful for finding the most relevant groups for your professional interests and network.
Searching on Mobile Devices
You can search for LinkedIn groups just as easily from the LinkedIn mobile app. Simply launch the app and tap on the search bar at the top. Enter your desired keyword or category to find matching groups.
You can join groups directly within the app and set up notifications to stay on top of the latest discussions. This allows you to grow and engage with your professional networks from anywhere.
Using Boolean Search Operators
LinkedIn supports Boolean search operators like AND, OR and NOT to refine group searches. Some examples:
- marketing AND content – Returns groups focused on both marketing and content
- engineering NOT software – Returns engineering groups excluding software engineering
- health OR fitness – Returns health and fitness groups
Using Boolean operators helps you precisely target the groups that align with your professional interests and expertise.
Saving Interesting Groups
As you come across intriguing groups through searching, you may not be ready to officially join them. In that case, you can save them to revisit at a later time:
- Click the “Follow” button on the group’s page
- The group will now show up under “Followed groups” on your LinkedIn profile
- You can click through at any time to revisit the group and join
This helps you keep track of appealing groups even if you don’t have time to actively participate in them right away.
Conclusion
LinkedIn provides powerful search capabilities to help you find professional groups aligned with your interests, location, skills, company, and more. Take advantage of keywords, categories, filters, and Boolean operators to narrow in on the most relevant groups to grow your network.
Here are some key tips covered:
- Search by keyword or category to find related groups
- Use advanced filters like location and number of members
- Follow companies to see their group announcements
- Check group recommendations on your homepage
- Search within groups you’ve already joined
- Connect with members you share groups with
- Join local groups to find nearby professionals
- Use Boolean operators like AND and NOT for precise searches
- Save interesting groups to revisit later
Actively searching for and joining relevant LinkedIn groups is a great way to make connections, promote yourself as an industry expert, and stay on top of the latest conversations in your field.