Linkedin Discussion Groups : how to stimulate deeper longer conversations

Questions lie at the heart of finding insights.

Over the past month I have asked several questions on Linkedin discussion groups and noticed something interesting.  I think the 80:20 rule seems to be playing out.  It looks like 20% of discussion generate 80% of the posts.

Before I began posting I looked at the types of discussion subjects that generated the most posts, and used this as a guide to crafting my own questions.   On one discussion (Insight Interest Group) [You will need to join to see ]  I asked :

What would you say are the characteristics of an “actionable” insight statement?

Articulating the essence of an insight is a key step to getting it acted upon inside an organisation.

And there are many alternative ways to express the meaning you are trying to capture.

What kind of criteria list might be used in assessing and judging a statement that will give it the best chance of being acted upon by people in the business.

Are there any idea structuring statements templates, that can be used to help capture and then compare statements?

Who should be responsible for judging the quality of the insight statements anyway?

Is a statement enough…what other aspects are needed to increase success rates?

We are now 14.05.09 over 200 posts long and still going strong.  This compares to comments in the 20′s for most of my other posts (though even this is pretty good imo)

Its  “success”, I thin,  is because it draws people in and creates an expectation that they will learn something.

This made me think if I could create any guidelines for getting a conversation going…and keeping it going on Linkedin Groups.

These are my thoughts :

1. Stop before you post and plan : what do you want to happen.  Veiled/clumsy sales pitches have very low comments.
2. Research your audience : think what might be on their minds in their work  and make the post relevant and encouraging. You will know you have hit the spot when someone says “Great question, post, subject”.
3. Provide context for the posting : help them understand why you are interested in the subject. Explain where you are coming from, what is making you post, why its important to raise.
4. Avoid general and closed questions : I think these create a “cant be bothered” response. People will not look if they expect not to find something…if your posting promises interesting content they will be curious and look and maybe even contribute.
5. Nurture your post : Monitor responses and feedback your own inputs and explain how content has made you think…give more than an opinion.  Show interest in your post and how people are responding to it.
6. Think people in the dialogue as a “mini-community” :  use their names in responses, encourage, ask extra questions, shape add and respond.
7. Plan for the next Discussion : look for ways to create a new post to begin a new subject, based on areas and subjects that run tangentially to the posts subject. this also gives opportunities to cross post between subjects.
8. Summarise : when you see some consensus or ideas make and post a short summary ” Looking at this thread,  I can see 5 main points/themes 1….2.   etc.  This helps newcomers to see where you are up to,  provides an overview, and creates impetus for new contributions.  People get a second wind.
9. Avoid obscure and tricksy phrases and terms : this limits your audience and puts them off. as its just too hard to think what it means!

Do let me know if this help extend the comments on posts you make on LinkedIn