linkedinLater this week LinkedIn is launching a long-requested feature for group managers: the ability to create subgroups. Subgroups are like a break-out session at a conference. They enable you to create more focused areas than in the main group. Also, by creating and inviting members into subgroups, you can now send additional weekly Announcement emails to focused audiences.

To create and invite other professionals into a subgroup, visit "your groups" and go to the group's "Manage" tab. Once you've created the subgroup, here are four easy ways to get it going quickly:

  • Set the aims for the subgroup by posting a featured discussion in the subgroup
  • Kindle the conversation by posting a news article with a brief comment every day for the first month of the group
  • Provide an ongoing focus for members' attention by adding 10 RSS feeds related to the focus of the subgroup
  • Drive attention to the subgroup through your comments in the main group and in other groups where you participate

Subgroup will be very useful to create communities within a large community, say for a task-force or a focussed sub-group with a specific task or purpose.