It is very simple to contribute in LinkedIn Groups and you don't have to spend a lot of time doing so. Start off with once a week for 30 minutes.

If you follow these tips, they will help you improve your networking skills; and in time you will be meeting lots of new people. If you just sit back and watch other people participate, no one will know that you are a member of that group and will not reach out to you.

Here are some brief pointers to help you:

Step 1
When you first join a new group, observe the group for a few days to see how people interact with each other. Read discussion posts and look at member profiles.

Step 2
Introduce yourself when you first join, or when you muster up the nerve.

Step 3
Post discussion questions; and reply to discussions. It is okay to reply to older posts if the information is still relevant.

Step 4
Share job and business leads, or other useful information (depending on group guidelines). Post jobs in the jobs section.

Step 5
Share relevant articles in the News section. You can share articles, blog posts etc.

Step 6
Try to engage other members in two-way conversations whenever possible. If you are only known for posting messages, you will not have the opportunity to build relationships.

Step 7
You have to make the first step when you join a group and don't give up after just one or two attempts.

Just by following these simple steps, you are on your way to building meaningful relationships in LinkedIn Groups.

It sometimes takes a while, but keep providing value and people will be drawn to you in time.