LinkedIn groups has always been something with more potential than actual value. Sure, anyone can create a group so that a profile has a snazzy badge on it, but what does a LinkedIn group really offer beyond that 60-by-30-pixel seal of honor? Not much.

That’s about to change. Here’s an email from LinkedIn to group managers, sent yesterday:

First, thank you for managing your group on LinkedIn. We sincerely appreciate the time and effort you devote to your members, and we know they value it. Together you have made Groups one of the top features on LinkedIn.

This Friday, we will be adding several much-requested features to your group:

>>>Discussion forums: Simple discussion spaces for you and your members. (You can turn discussions off in your management control panel if you like.)>>>Enhanced roster: Searchable list of group members.

>>>Digest emails: Daily or weekly digests of new discussion topics which your members may choose to receive. (We will be turning digests on for all current group members soon, and prompting them to set to their own preference.)

>>>Group home page: A private space for your members on LinkedIn.

We’re confident that these new features will spur communication, promote collaboration, and make your group more valuable to you and your members. We hope you can come by LinkedIn on Friday morning to check out the new functionality and get a group discussion going by posting a welcome message.

Sincerely,
The LinkedIn Groups Team

Now LinkedIn needs to teach group managers how to manage forums … how to keep discussions on topic … how to deal with trolls … how to create home pages …

The good news is that smart, focused business discussions can be a great thing when done well. The bad news is that a lot of junk discussions are going to take place. Ultimately, groups will be as valuable as the efforts of those who manage them and participate in them.

I’m confident, though, that this is going to be a great move for LinkedIn in the grand scheme of things. Let the conversations begin!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 8:35 am and is filed under Internet Stuff, Social Media.