With the new layout of LinkedIn Groups, there is also new functionality: “Top Influencers”.
(You see this in Groups/Discussions at the right hand side of the page when you scroll down)
Many people wonder what this is and how it works.
The answer: these are the people who started a Discussion which got lots of answers.
So someone could only start one discussion and then be the top influencer for weeks if people keep commenting on it.
Remark: the counter for the top influencers is set to zero every week. As a consequence everybody has the same chances to be the top influencer of that week.
The reason LinkedIn does this is to support people who bring in good content or topics, rather than people who post a lot.
The question still remains whether this is the best way to go. Me having to write a blog post about this shows that it is not intuitive, what every website should be.
To your success !
Jan
PS: get your free light version and free updates of the book How to REALLY use LinkedIn (or in Dutch: het boek Hoe LinkedIn nu ECHT gebruiken)
The Networking Coachs Opinion 
Thanks for this excellent article! A lot of people seems to be confused about this “new option”. Your article is really helpfull!
Hey Jan,
I agree–if you have to write about it than obviously people are still confused about it. I was confused about it as well. In fact, I understand them showing the top influencer but i still don’t get what that accomplishes. Is it only for bragging rights?
Thanks,
mjmckay.org
@MIMcKay: there is indeed nothing that is accomplished, except for receiving more visibility.
If you have chosen your Groups well (following for example the G.A.I.N. exercise) than you will stay top of mind with potential customers, employers, employees, peers, industry experts and other people that matter to you.
Jan
PS: I stopped using this blog. It continues on http://www.how-to-really-use-linkedin.com/blog/ (there is now also a Dutch version)
PPS: the G.A.I.N. exercise can be downloaded from the “Video & Tools Library” at http://www.how-to-really-use-linkedin.com (free registration!)
“The reason LinkedIn does this is to support people who bring in good content or topics, rather than people who post a lot”….
Well that depends on what one means by “good content”. Linkedin is recognizing those posts which stimulate others to comment – this may or may not be good, useful, pertinent or the ‘best discussion’
Leading business minds in LinkedIn:
http://www.lateralthinkingsolutions.net/blog/linkedin-influencers.php