Access 5 Powerful Features of LinkedIn Groups

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ShoeFitts Marketing explains how to harness and optimize the networking capabilities of LinkedIn Groups.

Portland, OR (PRWEB) April 01, 2014

Retirement plan professionals looking to understand and better utilize the networking prowess of LinkedIn need to harness Groups, according to Sheri Fitts, president of ShoeFitts Marketing. “The LinkedIn Groups tool can help advisors become better informed about products, services, and industries, while also aiding with prospects and networking.”

LinkedIn Groups are basically membership clubs formed by companies, organizations or individuals, and they are used to share information and insight on a specific topic or interest, explains Fitts. For example, she says some useful retirement industry Groups include: 401(k), 401K Sales, 401 TPA Network, and Advisors’ BUZZSTORM.

Membership in Groups can be open to anyone or may require specific credentials and/or approval by the Group creator. By selecting Groups on the pulldown menu to the left of the search bar, LinkedIn users can search for Groups by name or topic.

Granted, Fitts notes, before diving into Groups advisors should first make sure their profile is complete. However, once that is done, the next step is to start understanding and utilizing Groups. To optimize and leverage Groups, retirement plan professionals should consider the following:

1. Enhance networking and prospecting. Looking to make a stronger connection with an existing client or a potential prospect? Research what Groups they are following and join them.

2. Become a thought-leader. “Start making a presence in a Group with thoughtful contributions,” says Fitts. “Just be sure to first study the Group dynamics and the primary contributors, and only make worthwhile comments!”

3. Use Groups with Connection requests. With a shared Group in common, a Connection request shows Groups as one of the options for “How do you know . . .” the person. “Advisors will get a much higher response rate to Connection requests if they are members in the same Group and are an active and thoughtful contributor,” says Fitts.

4. Only join five or six Groups. The attraction of Groups is addicting, and members may want to join them all, however, Fitts says advisors should resist the temptation and try to keep the number to five or six. “Only join a Group if you can actively follow and contribute at least a couple times a week; don’t dabble!”

5. Enhance personal branding. Once comfortable with Groups, advisors can consider creating their own to improve personal or company branding by supplying specific content, conducting surveys, or building a following. “Just understand you need to carefully curate the content and monitor the membership,” notes Fitts.

About ShoeFitts Marketing:

ShoeFitts Marketing is a Portland, Oregon-based company specializing in marketing strategy and social media development for the retirement plan industry. The company’s approach is simple: use the right tool for the right job. ShoeFitts knows how to work within the parameters of the regulated environment from decades of experience working in the financial services marketplace. The company has galvanized industry marketing and social media efforts by developing a cache of premium products and customized training sessions, and using progressive strategies to provide fresh opportunities for clients to establish standout roles in their industry.

For more information, please visit ShoeFitts.com. Like ShoeFitts Marketing on Facebook at facebook.com/ShoeFitts and follow on Twitter @missfitts and on LinkedIn at linkedin/sherifitts.