You can find LinkedIn Groups you’re already a part of and discover new groups to join by using the  Search bar at the top of your homepage. Note: There may be multiple groups on LinkedIn for each interest, organization, or affiliation.

Finding groups you want to join

You can search for groups by name or keyword, or you can browse groups recommended for you by LinkedIn.

To search for groups by name or keyword:

  1. Enter your keyword or group name in the Search bar at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
  2. Select (group name) Groups from the dropdown.

To browse for groups recommended for you by LinkedIn:

  1. Click the Work icon in the top right of your LinkedIn homepage and select Groups from the menu that appears.
  2. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Search.
    Notes:
    • On the search results page, you can view a list of groups that are relevant to your search. Learn more about searching on LinkedIn. 
    • This feature identifies existing groups on LinkedIn that may interest you. We look for similar attributes between you and other members in groups (attributes such as companies, schools, or industries in common) and present suggestions for groups you may want to join. You’re not obligated to join any group.

If no groups are recommended for you, the reason could be:

  1. You’ve already joined or requested to join all available recommended groups.
  2. All available recommended groups have been removed.
  3. There are currently no recommended groups available for you.
  4. Your profile may be missing information like current or past companies, schools, or industries, which makes it difficult for LinkedIn to recommend a group.

Selecting the right group for you

Click on a group’s name to learn more about it. The information About this group can be found on the group homepage.

Joining a group

You can join a group by:

  1. Clicking Request to join on the group’s homepage.
  2. Responding to an invitation from a group member or manager.

IOS

To search for groups to join:

  1. Tap into the  Search bar.
  2. Type keywords or group names into the search bar and tap Search.
  3. In the search results page, filter the results by tapping Groups on top of the page.
  4. Tap the group name you’re interested in to learn more.
  5. Tap Ask to join.

Android

To search for groups to join:

  1. Tap into the  Search bar.
  2. Type keywords or group names into the search bar and tap Search.
  3. In the search results page, filter the results by tapping Groups on top of the page.
  4. Tap the group name you’re interested in to learn more.
  5. Tap REQUEST TO JOIN.

Note: You may not be able to join a group if you’ve exceeded certain limits. Learn more about general limits for LinkedIn Groups.

Group managers may review your request to join or ask for additional information to make sure you meet their membership criteria. Membership approval is solely up to the group.

The benefits of LinkedIn Groups

Whether you’re the owner of a LinkedIn Group or a member, these networks have many benefits. As our post, LinkedIn for Business: The Ultimate Marketing Guide explains, “Being an active participant in a Group can help you and your business network with other professionals and businesses in your field, especially those outside of your immediate circle of current and present colleagues, classmates, and employers.”

As a business, having an active LinkedIn Group will help you connect with your customers. In building a LinkedIn Group, a brand creates a forum for their customers and audience to connect. This allows companies to reach a targeted audience of industry professionals and establish authentic relationships with these people.  

A LinkedIn Group isn’t a place for businesses to blast advertisements—it’s a channel to share content to those who will find it most valuable. This allows for not only higher engagement, but more quality interactions.

You can greatly boost your brand’s name and online reputation by participating in Groups. Search for Groups relevant to your industry to start engaging with posts and members. Once you have made a name for yourself by engaging with the community, you can start sharing your brand’s content and building credibility.

Sharing relevant content is also a way to drive more visitors and prospects to your website. These individuals are in a LinkedIn Group relevant to your business, which makes them extremely valuable as potential leads.

Our post, LinkedIn for Business: The Ultimate Marketing Guide, sums this up: “Groups can help you gain insight into your target audience. You can join Groups with audience demographics you think may be interested in your brand’s product or service to see what kind of information the participants deem valuable and worthy of sharing.”

Best Practices for Navigating LinkedIn Groups

To get the most out of LinkedIn Groups communities, be a good community member. Consider that your Golden Rule in this ecosystem. Let your work and your insight speak for themselves –– avoiding blatant self-promotion or outright spam.

Other best practices for becoming a valued group member include:

  1. Contribute first – Bring value to the group. This builds trust and offers greater value to you long-term as well. Jumping in with an off-topic post or link to your own content is a great way to get banned or panned [/ignored].
  2. Listen and engage – Unless you’re the Group’s founder and creator, remember that you’re joining an ongoing conversation. Take some time to listen and observe. Pay attention to topics, tone, and who the group recognizes as experts or authorities. Try liking and commenting on a few posts before you spout off some contrarian or opposing views.
  3. Encourage discussion – Ask questions. Then listen and respond, seeking to further the conversation.
  4. Keep it professional – People are on the platform for work, remember? If you wouldn’t say it to a colleague or your boss in person, don’t say it here.
  5. Think before you link – LinkedIn is pretty clear about this. Any URL to commercial sites that try to sell a product or service will be reported and removed, as will those redirecting to inappropriate/spam-like content.
  6. Use a tool – Want to capitalize on the time you spend acclimating yourself to a LinkedIn Group and its particular community? Consider Leadjet. It’s a browser extension that helps salespeople work faster and more efficiently. You can also leverage HubSpot’s integration with LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator to keep track of your LinkedIn prospects.

Best Groups to Join on LinkedIn

Whatever your industry, role, or goal for joining LinkedIn Groups, there’s likely no shortage of curated recommendations for the best Groups.

Start by looking for groups that match your industry and interests by searching for relevant titles, keywords, or phrases.

It’s also helpful to think beyond immediate or explicit professional affiliations. Don’t limit yourself to only joining groups directly related to your industry. Alumni groups are often both particularly active and helpful – especially if you’re trying to break into a new field or build relationships in a new region.

Seek out groups that your ideal customers belong to. Then, be an active, engaged member of the groups you join to maximize the potential for meaningful networking and social selling.

Get started with one or two groups in your industry, and another based on where you went to school or personal interests.

Think of them as digital versions of groups and spaces you’d consider visiting offline, too. Begin observing the conversations, looking for ways to contribute, and assessing how you might fit into the Group’s community.