How to Use Groups to Grow Your LinkedIn Network

How many communities are you actively involved in right now? I bet it's more than one... 👥

Groups are some of the most overlooked—yet powerful—tools for growing your LinkedIn network. 🧰

If you're looking to expand your network, position yourself as an industry expert, or build meaningful relationships, groups offer unique opportunities to connect with other like-minded people authentically. 🤝

Whether you're just starting on LinkedIn or looking to refine your approach, we will discuss practical ways to create your unique game plan for leveraging communities you're already a part of to grow your network on LinkedIn. 📊

The Power of Communities Beyond LinkedIn

LinkedIn isn’t just about nitty-gritty researching ideal prospects based on a LinkedIn search and reaching out cold with a crafty connection request. It’s also about tapping into communities you’re already a member of and bringing those connections to LinkedIn.

Whether you're part of a Slack group, Reddit forum, Facebook group, industry association, or even a local Meetup, these are the places where you can build relationships, share your expertise, and make authentic connections. Then, you can take those interactions a step further by connecting with these people on LinkedIn to solidify those relationships. Easy-peasy!

Let me share a quick story about my colleague, who worked in sales development for a B2B technology startup. They wanted to break into the industry and start booking calls with decision-makers, and they were not yet connected with the leading voices on LinkedIn to reach out to them directly. Instead of cold-connecting with these people one by one through cold outreach and media pitches, they dove into a few Slack groups filled with these B2B tech professionals.

They began engaging in conversations, sharing their insights, and contributing to discussions. Within a few weeks, they had built enough meaningful relationships. When they later connected with some of these people on LinkedIn, it was a natural next step in the relationship rather than a cold reach-out. Eventually, these new connections led to multiple booked demo calls with people who would be interested in their product. And, you know how the rest of that story goes.

This is the power of communities outside of LinkedIn—but it’s crucial to bring those relationships back into LinkedIn for long-term growth.

Explore Communities to Grow Your LinkedIn Network

Here’s the thing: You don’t need to rely solely on LinkedIn groups to grow your network. Some LinkedIn groups are better than others, so keep that in mind when you are determining which communities to actively participate in.

Communities exist everywhere—Slack channels, Discord servers, Facebook groups, Reddit forums, Zoom sessions, and even in-person events. These places are rich with potential connections. But what most people miss is the opportunity to connect with those individuals on LinkedIn, where those relationships can continue to grow professionally.

Instead of relying on cold outreach, you connect with people you’ve already engaged with in another space. The key is to build relationships first and be an active participant inside these communities, then follow up with a LinkedIn connection to take things further.

How to Engage in Your Communities

Once you’ve joined a community—whether it’s a professional group on Slack, a subreddit in your industry, or a Meetup group—effective engagement can help you maximize your time and make meaningful connections. Here’s my three-step approach to ensure your efforts lead to real value and opportunities:

1. Observe the Group Dynamics

Before diving into the conversation, take some time to listen and understand the group dynamics. This phase is crucial for learning what topics resonate with the community, what the members prioritize, and what types of discussions are most active. Pay attention to who the key contributors are, the kind of questions being asked, and the tone of the interactions.

Are people looking for deep insights, practical tips, or networking opportunities? This observation period helps you understand where and how you can contribute without coming across as intrusive or self-promotional.

2. Engage with Group Posts Consistently

Once you feel comfortable with the group’s dynamics, it's time to participate. But don’t just engage for the sake of it—focus on adding value. If you see a conversation that aligns with your expertise, share your thoughts. Answer questions, offer advice, or share relevant articles and resources that others may find useful.

Don’t hesitate to ask insightful questions yourself, as this can spark further dialogue and demonstrate that you’re interested in learning from others as well. The key is to be consistent and authentic—people will start recognizing you as someone who contributes meaningfully, not just promoting yourself or your business.

For example, let’s say you’re in a marketing-focused Slack channel and someone asks about strategies for launching a product on LinkedIn. If you’ve had experience with that, jump in with your approach or lessons learned. Even if your contribution is brief, people will remember the value you provide, which opens doors for further interaction.

3. Connect on LinkedIn

After you’ve engaged with members and built some rapport, take the relationship further by connecting on LinkedIn. When sending a connection request, make sure to reference your interaction in the community to keep it personal and genuine.

For example, you could say something like…

Hi [Name], I enjoyed our conversation in [Community Name] about [Topic]. I think the point you made about [X Topic] was [Your Perspective.] I’d love to connect here on LinkedIn!

This gives context and helps the recipient recall your previous interaction, making the connection feel natural, rather than a cold request.

Additionally, use the follow-up message as an opportunity to expand on your shared interests or goals. For instance, mention a relevant article or resource, or ask a thoughtful question that can deepen the conversation. This shows that you’re interested in building a real connection, not just expanding your network for the sake of numbers.

Quality Over Quantity: Focus on Real Connections

You don’t need to be active in every community or group that crosses your path—quality always trumps quantity. Find a handful of communities that are relevant to your professional goals or areas of expertise, and focus your efforts there. This allows you to engage meaningfully, build stronger relationships, and become a recognized name in those spaces.

By being selective, you can dedicate time to truly understanding the community, offering consistent value, and forming deeper connections. When you do send LinkedIn connection requests, they won’t feel like cold outreach. Instead, you’re building on a foundation of shared experiences and conversations, making it easier to establish trust and open doors for new opportunities.

Real growth happens when your connections already see you as someone they know and respect, which is a direct result of thoughtful and intentional engagement in the communities you’re a part of.

By building relationships in your communities—inside or outside LinkedIn—and then connecting with those people on LinkedIn, you’re creating a powerful network that’s built on trust and real engagement.

Want more tips on building a strong LinkedIn presence? Check out my step-by-step guide on optimizing your LinkedIn profile so you're ready to make the most of LinkedIn!

I’d love to hear from you—what communities have helped you grow your network? Have you ever connected with someone from an external community on LinkedIn? Drop your thoughts in the comments below👇!