LinkedIn Groups: value and best fit into communities
I'm curious about the use and value of LinkedIn Groups. I found this question from a few months back "How do they work? Have you found a benefit?" and I have the same questions: http://www.linkedin.com/answers/using-linkedIn/ULI/38117-937875?searchIdx=1&sik=1182909412660&goback=%2Easr_1_1182909412660
Specifically, I am wondering about
1) What kinds of networks best fit into the LinkedIn Groups model?
2) What value have people drawn from being members of LinkedIn Groups?
3) If the group has a presence on other sites (YahooGroups, Ning, ...) what is the point of a LinkedIn Group?
Good Answers (1)
Terri L M.
Business Strategies Consultant putting small businesses on track for success; speaker, trainer, author.
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Jack:
I signed on to a couple of LinkedIn groups that were more on track'with my own areas of expertise and interests, hoping they would let me get more involved in a smaller, more intimate setting. I have to confess that I have not been as active in them as I planned to be.
I set up 'links' to get Group questions sent to my e-mail address so that I'd be forced to keep up and participate. One of them seems to send out questions and topics of interested on a pretty regular basis, and I respond to about half of them. The other groups, however, either are not active at all, or my 'links' are not working, as I see nothing coming to my Inbox...guess I need to check those out.
I'm signed into some of the LinkedIn groups through YahooGroups. I think it is just a means to an end. I have not seen any mechanism in place within LinkedIN that allows for smaller groups. I'm assuming that since Yahoo has a venue, we're taking advantage of it. I don't really care where or how the Groups are set up. I"m just looking for a way to narrow down this 'network' of nearly 600,000 people that i'm 'connected' to so that I can find a smaller, more manageable group.
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David N.
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1) anyone with a common interest / need to communicate
2) see #1
3) ability to connect / communicate with having work/college connection beforehand
Jack - I actually did not become part of LnkedIn because I wanted to but more because other colleagues of mine kept inviting me. I do not actively use this tool. Although it has on a couple of occassions ended up hooking me up with someone I had lost touch with. Unfortunately, I am now starting to get invites from people who I do NOT know - which is NOT the way the program is supposed to work --- and these people are using the program for obvious broad marketing tool - which is NOT what I think a personal network should necessarily be used for -- people are taking a good concept of 1-on-1 communication through a network of people and turning it into their way to make money off of the network. Not to say I disagree with people making money or using a network to find their next job or leads - just not really my value system when it comes to a 'professional network' based on individual, personal contacts. I'm concerned that it is too easy for people to use my name as a 'contact' or part of someone's linked in network 4-5 times removed and give the impression we are buzom buddies when we may not be. So... the longer I am pulled into this program, the less convinced I am that it is meeting its original goals of being a place to go to post questions, gain the benefit of knowledge from others, etc.
