Comet Branding - Branding | PR | Social Media

A Needed Win: LinkedIn Empowers Group Moderators & Members

What I have always really enjoyed about LinkedIn is the ability to learn more about the professional side and background of my connections and their connections. I’ve also enjoyed being able to discuss issues related to my industry, my alma maters, and other interests. As a PR/social media consultant, the challenge of growing and maintaining a community online is constant.

Lately, I have been getting very frustrated and ready to delete all of my LinkedIn groups due to the majority of salesy discussion posts clogging my inbox. Even my alumni groups have fallen victim to these off-topic posts.

Being a past group moderator myself, I understand the struggle of not wanting to dissuade people from participating by shaking your finger at them like a disappointed parent while still being secretly pleased—at first—that people are posting anything at all.

I handled this struggle in the past by reaching out to the individual posting off-topic with a gentle reminder of the group’s purpose hoping they would get the hint. I’d also post a discussion reminding members of the posting guidelines.

Unfortunately, these tactics couldn’t dissuade people from posting irrelevant discussions causing me, like many of you, to leave these groups.

Just as I was ready to write a blog about the failings of LinkedIn groups, I got an email from LinkedIn, “New ways to help you moderate groups on LinkedIn: Fighting spam in your groups?”

Group moderators can now flag inappropriate postings? Awesome. Group members now able to flag something as inappropriate with a set number of flags automatically deleting the post? Even better! Thank you LinkedIn!

Let’s hope that group moderators and members utilize these tools and bring LinkedIn back to its rightful place in the world of social networking.

Now that I’m ready to join some new LinkedIn groups, I’d appreciate your recommendations. What groups have you found to be most valuable in the areas of PR/social media and professional development?

Tags: Branding in Social Media, Emily Lenard, LinkedIn, PR, professional networking, social media in public relations