Using LinkedIn Groups to Connect With Your Employers and Job Seekers

LinkedIn is a powerful online business networking tool that can connect you to literally thousands of professionals. It can also be a great way for you to provide information, answer questions and update employers and job seekers with the LinkedIn's "Groups" option.

With LinkedIn Groups, you could set up industry-based groups of employers or job seeker groups as a sort of "job club." You could also link together employers and job seekers--perhaps setting up an industry or occupational group that job seekers could join to ask questions about the industry or a career area. Through your Group, you can send links to articles and other resources and announcements about events. You can also provide customized news and members of your group  can  ask and answer questions and share their own links and resources. 

Features of LinkedIn Groups include:

• Group home page: A private space for your members on LinkedIn.
• Discussion forums: Simple discussion spaces for you and your members. (You can turn discussions off in your management control panel if you like)
• Enhanced roster: Searchable list of group members.
• Digest emails: Daily or weekly digests of new discussion topics, which your members may choose to receive. 
• RSS News Feeds--Managers can  create customs news feeds by adding an RSS feed, an Atom feed, or just a Web site URL.

Anyone can start a LinkedIn Group. You just need to have a free LinkedIn account.Check out the LinkedIn Superguide if you're new to LinkedIn and need to get yourself set up.

Once you're on LinkedIn, here are some resources to get you started creating and managing your LinkedIn Groups:

• LinkedIn Learning Center on Groups
• Dummies.com Guide to Creating a LinkedIn Group
• Create a Custom News Feed for Your Linked In Group
• How to Create a Successful LinkedIn Group
• 5 Tips for Creating, Promoting and Managing a LinkedIn Group
• Top 10 Tips on How to Manage a LinkedIn Group
• Best Practices for LinkedIn Group Management
• 6 Ways to Improve LinkedIn Groups
• LinkedIn Subgroups and How You Can Use Them

Has anyone started a LinkedIn Group? What experiences have you had running your group? What advice do you have for people thinking about starting a group? Drop us a note in comments.