LinkedIn groups can be a great way to connect with other professionals, share ideas and resources, and grow your network. However, without some basic rules and guidelines, LinkedIn groups can easily become disorganized and even chaotic. Setting some ground rules helps create a positive environment where members can have constructive discussions.
Have Clear Group Goals and Objectives
It’s important for a LinkedIn group to have a clear purpose and goals. Is the group for networking, sharing job opportunities, discussing industry trends, getting advice, promoting events, etc? The description and rules should explain the main goals of the group. This helps set expectations for members and keeps discussions on track.
Require Members to Introduce Themselves
Ask new members to introduce themselves by posting a short bio when they join. This helps members get to know each other on a more personal level. Bios can include where they work, their role, how long they’ve been in the industry, why they joined the group, etc. Some groups have new members introduce themselves before being approved to join.
Establish Posting Guidelines
Set guidelines for what members can post in the group. For example, you may want to limit self-promotional posts, off-topic discussions, job listings, events not related to the group’s purpose, etc. Explain what type of content is allowed such as industry articles, advice requests, polls, career questions, etc. Also include rules for post frequency, length, images, and links.
Require Meaningful Discussion
Don’t allow members to just post standalone links. Require that any shared articles, links, images, or other media are accompanied by a post with the member’s thoughts, opinions, analysis, or questions about the content. This facilitates meaningful discussion rather than just having members dump links.
Encourage Quality Contributions
Reward members who consistently contribute thoughtful posts and resources to the group. For example, feature them in a “Member Spotlight” or make them moderators. This motivates members to share insights that could truly benefit the group rather than quick comments or recycled content just to post something.
Ban Inappropriate Content
Be very clear about banning hate speech, personal attacks, spam, overt self-promotion, illegal activity discussion, confidential/private information sharing, and any other inappropriate content. Outline consequences for violation such as removing posts or banning members.
Appoint Active Moderators
Have moderators who are actively involved in the group and can facilitate discussions, welcome new members, approve posts/members, and enforce rules. Larger groups may need several moderators from different time zones to cover more activity. Make sure moderators exemplify the culture you want in the group.
Send Regular Updates
Keep members engaged by emailing weekly or monthly recaps of popular discussions, resources, events, and other news related to the group. Highlight top contributors and recognize new members. Ask for suggestions on how to improve the group.
Host Live Video Events
Consider hosting live video panel discussions, Q&As, presentations, or informal networking events using LinkedIn’s live video feature. This gives members a chance to interact in real-time and brings the group to life.
Survey Members for Feedback
Check in with members occasionally by sending out surveys asking what they like about the group, what could be improved, what types of content they want to see more of, etc. Use feedback to evolve the group and make sure you are providing value to members.
Promote External Content Sparingly
Avoid letting your group turn into a platform for members to excessively promote their company’s content, events, jobs, etc. Allow some relevant external promotion but keep the focus on community discussions. Be very strict on self-promotion when recruiting members.
Foster a Supportive Culture
Cultivate a group culture that is helpful, constructive and supportive. Make it clear that unprofessional behavior and toxicity will not be tolerated. Lead by example in your own posts and interactions.
Conclusion
Setting clear rules and guidelines is key to maintaining a thriving LinkedIn group that provides value to its members. Stick to the group’s purpose, require meaningful participation, encourage quality discussions, and foster a positive environment. With some preemptive planning and active moderation, your LinkedIn group can be a productive forum for networking and idea exchange within your industry.
| Rule | Description |
|---|---|
| Have Clear Group Goals and Objectives | Explain the group’s purpose and focus areas in the description and rules. |
| Require Member Introductions | Have new members post a short bio when they join. |
| Establish Posting Guidelines | Set rules for allowable post topics, frequency, length, images, links, etc. |
| Require Meaningful Discussion | Don’t allow standalone links – require commentary with any shared content. |
| Encourage Quality Contributions | Recognize and reward members who post great content. |
| Ban Inappropriate Content | Be clear about banning inappropriate content like self-promotion, attacks, etc. |
| Appoint Active Moderators | Have engaged moderators to facilitate discussions and enforce rules. |
| Send Regular Updates | Email weekly/monthly recaps and news to keep members engaged. |
| Host Live Video Events | Use LinkedIn’s live video for real-time events like Q&As and networking. |
| Survey Members for Feedback | Send surveys to get input on improving the group. |
| Promote External Content Sparingly | Limit excessive sharing of members’ company content and events. |
| Foster a Supportive Culture | Cultivate a helpful, friendly, and professional environment. |
Have Clear Group Goals and Objectives
One of the most important rules for running a successful LinkedIn group is to clearly define the goals and objective of the group. The group description and rules should explicitly state what the purpose of the group is. For example, is it primarily for networking and making professional connections? Is it for sharing job opportunities and career advice? Is it for discussing news and trends related to a certain industry or role? Is it for getting advice on specific work challenges? Having a well-defined focus prevents the group from becoming too scattered and unfocused. It also helps set clear expectations for members so they know what type of discussions and posts are appropriate and valued.
Require Members to Introduce Themselves
Asking new members to post a short introduction is a great way to start building connections between members. Introductory posts help members get to know each other on a more personal level beyond just job titles and companies. The intro posts can include information like where the member currently works, what their role is, how long they’ve been in the industry, what led them to join the group, what they hope to gain from the group, and a personal fun fact. Some groups require introductions before a member is approved to join. This allows moderators to vet members and also ensures all members have posted at least once and aren’t just lurking.
Establish Posting Guidelines
LinkedIn group admins should develop clear posting rules and guidelines that all members must abide by. This helps prevent the group feed from becoming cluttered and chaotic. Posting rules usually limit how often members can post to avoid monopolizing the discussions. There are often rules against posting completely off-topic content not relevant to the group’s focus. Many groups prohibit overt self-promotion like sharing job openings from a member’s company or links to their company blog. Rules should also cover whether memes, images, links, and videos are allowed. Having robust posting guidelines makes sure members contribute meaningful, on-topic content that aligns with the group’s goals.
Require Meaningful Discussion
One of the biggest mistakes LinkedIn groups make is allowing members to just dump links without any commentary. This results in people sharing links to try to drive traffic to their site without actually contributing to the discussion. That’s why it’s important to require that any links, articles, images, or videos shared must include a post from the member summarizing the content and their thoughts on it. What value does it provide to the group? This sparks substantive discussion rather than just having members post links without context. The best groups heavily moderate this to ensure high-quality discussions.
Encourage Quality Contributions
You want to motivate members to share great insights, ask thought-provoking questions, and contribute meaningfully to discussions. One way to encourage this is by highlighting top contributors through features like “Member Spotlight” where you recognize members who consistently bring value to the group. You can also appoint active contributors to be moderators or admins so they have an official leadership role. Offering free access to exclusive content and events for top contributors is another way to provide incentives. And simply recognizing quality contributions by liking posts and thanking members publicly goes a long way. Rewarding quality involvement beyond just participation helps improve group discussions.
Ban Inappropriate Content
LinkedIn group rules should clearly define inappropriate content that will lead to warnings or bans. This includes spam posts, illegal or unethical content, hate speech, bullying, and overt discrimination. Politics and religion are sensitive topics that some groups ban unless directly relevant to the group’s focus. Groups must also prohibit sharing of confidential information, private contact info, and explicit adult content. And while external links are allowed, many groups limit direct sales pitches, solicitations, and excessive self-promotion if it doesn’t provide value. Outlining consequences for violating rules such as removing posts or access gives mods authority to enforce guidelines.
Appoint Active Moderators
Actively engaged moderators are crucial for a thriving LinkedIn group. Moderators help facilitate discussions by replying to posts, welcoming new members, approving and removing content, enforcing rules, overseeing member approval, and resolving any issues between members. Groups should have enough moderators from diverse time zones to cover activity at all hours. Moderators should be long-standing group members who embody the culture you want to promote. They should be mature, impartial, helpful, and committed to keeping conversations productive. Empower moderators to shape the group’s discussions and improve the member experience.
Send Regular Updates
One rule of thumb for member engagement is to send regular updates about the LinkedIn group right to members’ inboxes. For example, you can compile and send a weekly or monthly email highlighting recent popular discussions, new members, upcoming events related to the group’s focus, member milestones, and any other news relevant to the target audience. Ask members to submit news items they want included. Regular updates keep the group top of mind for members and gives them incentive to open the LinkedIn app and participate. Make sure members know they can easily mute the updates if desired.
Host Live Video Events
Consider using LinkedIn’s live video broadcasting feature to host events that bring your group members together in real time. You can host Q&A sessions, panel discussions, presentations, networking hours or informal mixers. Live video gives members a chance to have face time beyond just posting written discussions. Events can then be saved and added to the group page for future viewing. Just be sure to promote the events well ahead of time and make sure moderators are there to monitor and facilitate just like an in-person event.
Survey Members for Feedback
Checking in with your members periodically through surveys provides valuable insights into how to improve the group experience. Surveys can ask about what types of content and discussions members find most valuable, what changes they want to see, whether they are getting enough value from the group, etc. You can also poll members on new ideas like events they want to see or partnerships with other related groups. Make sure to share results and follow through on making updates based on the feedback. Keeping a pulse on member sentiment helps evolve the group and ensures it remains member-focused.
Promote External Content Sparingly
While most groups allow at least some promotion of job openings, events, articles, and other external content, it’s important to limit how much of this is shared. You don’t want members to see the group as just a place to spam their company’s content and solicit business. Make sure external promotion aligns closely with the group’s goals and the majority of posts come directly from members. Require that any shared links include insightful commentary, not just a link dump. Strictly moderate members who join just to excessively promote themselves without contributing more broadly.
Foster a Supportive Culture
LinkedIn group members will be much more likely to engage frequently if the group has a culture of being helpful, constructive and friendly. Make it clear in the rules that harassment, bullying, negativity, or unprofessional behavior will not be tolerated. Practice zero tolerance for toxic posts or members. Lead by example in your own posts and interactions by being welcoming, impartial, and supportive. Thank those who help and guide others. A little positivity and praise goes a long way in creating a group environment people look forward to participating in.
Conclusion
Well-defined rules and administration are crucial for maintaining a thriving, engaged LinkedIn group. Clearly communicate expectations for members by explaining the group’s purpose and focus. Require intros from new members, limit self-promotion, encourage meaningful discussions, recognize top contributors, and foster a friendly culture. Appoint moderators to facilitate conversations and enforce guidelines consistently. Check in periodically with members to see how the group can improve. Following these best practices will help your LinkedIn group be a valuable forum for productive networking and exchange of ideas.
