Are you now or has your LinkedIn account ever been in ‘moderation mode?’ If so, a lesson learned. Yet, one time can be enough to throw your event promotions off schedule.

You, your company/organization has an event coming up and you can’t contain the excitement to start spreading the news. You put in the research, the planning, the time and much brain power it takes to plan an event and you want the world to know. You deserve for the world to know. BUT, LinkedIn wants you to ‘spread the news’ under their terms and rightfully so. Terms being “do it without being spammy or too invasive.” Although it is important to have your intentions in the right place (and I know you do) sharing the news can be done without the restrictive penalties that you could suffer post – posting. With some extra effort and keeping track of where and when you post to LinkedIn groups your true intentions will not be seen as ‘for your own benefit’ and no real value to others. Although your event when reaching the right people IS value and getting the word out early, often and consistently is imperative.

Stay out of LinkedIn Group posting Jail

THE MOST IMPORTANT is #1 ↓

#1 Post the event under the PROMOTIONS TAB. If you just drop your news into the discussion thread be prepared for another member of the group to ‘flag’ it and/or the manager of the group to do the same. This is where your posting privileges get SWAM’ed.

Keeping Track

#2 Create a spreadsheet: 2 columns. 1) Name of group 2) This is where you mark an X that you have already posted there. It doesn’t take much time (Hint: alt + tab allows you to flip back and forth between screens). With a fast mark of an X next to the column of the group allows you to reference quickly. Sure, you can go into each group, check your most recent activity and see from there if you’ve posted your event. But, the spreadsheet method (for me that is) is more efficient and a great tracking system. See the simple sample at bottom of a post.

Spread The News Over Time

#3 Don’t promote the same event (again, under the promotions tab) to all of your groups on the same day. It’s simply too much for your connections to see coming through your feed in one day. Spread it out. You have your spreadsheet in place. Choose several groups at a time over a course of time leading up to the event.

Vary Site Links

#4 Add image variety: You will notice if you use the same link from the site where the event details are stored the same image appears. When possible, choose difference page links; hence, in most cases a different image with appear with your update.

Don’t Dump and Go

#5 Lastly, enjoy the ability to enter a number of relevant groups and post your event update! However, by all means, spend a moment in the group to like an interesting article, a comment and/or share other members update. The group manager will notice if you just pop in, dump your event news and leave.

Just a few ideas that have worked for me when promoting a clients upcoming event. Okay, so now the event is in the eyes of group members. Now what!

Next!

Moving away from a blatant posting of the event to adding additional value and benefits related to the event– the benefit of why people should attend the event.

This is where casual, genuine posting can occur within the discussion area of the LinkedIn Groups that relates to your organization, company etc. W/O discussing the event.

General Posting To Bring In Leads

Pull the great content (blog post, recent Ezine, industry stats, guest articles) and link from the site where the event details are hosted. Use this content as the lead to generate traffic to the site; therefore, to the event.

Don’t Be Salesy – Be Genuine

Here’s an example post update that’s genuine but with a twist to bring your event to the eyes of the reader who chooses to click the link:

A colleague wrote a great article published in our most recent Ezine about 3 Ways To Give Your Services For Free Without Jeopardizing Your Bottom Line. Here’s the link and while you’re there you may want to check out other articles from industry experts in our like professions as well. Let me know if you would like to contribute to our next quarterly Ezine. Would love to hear from you!

Hope this article has been helpful when promoting your next event within LinkedIn Groups. This is just the tip of the iceberg but it will spread your event news when correctly targeted groups are chosen.

Need help narrowing down the groups on LinkedIn or promoting your upcoming event? Let me know! There is nearly 2.1M groups on LinkedIn just waiting for members, discussion and great content. Remember, promote early and consistently! Staying on top of mind of your target audience.

Carla Deter is the founder of Socially Your Virtual Assistant/Consultant, located in the Washington, DC area. Her ‘solutions not services’ include supporting small business owners, entrepreneurs, associations, attorneys, realtors, busy executives with events promotions and more. Recently she was quoted by The Consultant Network based in London, England about 10 Ways You Can Get More from Your LinkedIn profile. Carla is a LinkedIn Profile/Resume Writer for DC-based company, LinkedIn Profile Services LLC. Carla can be found on LinkedIn and Twitter: @fxvacarlad as well as contacted at carla@sociallyyourvirtualassistant.com.

Groups	Promotions Tab
APMP Chesapeake ChapterAPMP Nor’easters	x
APMP NY Metro [Subgroup]	x
APMP	x
APMP – Greater Midwest Chapter (GMC)	x
Florida APMP Chapter	x
APMP Pacific Northwest Chapter	x
Business Development, Proposal Management & Writing	x
Bid and Proposal Management Professionals	x
Proposal Management Professionals	x
Proposal, Capture and Business Development Professionals	x
Proposal Writers Group	x
Business Development Forums	x
Government Market Master	x
GovCon Network	x
GovLoop	x
GovEvents	x
NCMA Tysons	x