Understanding LinkedIn Stories
LinkedIn is a professional social media network that allows people to connect with other professionals, job hunt, improve their skills, stay in trend with the latest business news, and much more. Invariably, LinkedIn continues to update and adapt its platform to meet and exceed the expectations of its users. One of the more recent features developed by LinkedIn is LinkedIn Stories.
LinkedIn Stories provide a fun, casual way of sharing quick video updates on your professional journey. It offers a new way to stay connected with your connections and followers providing a unique casual touch to a rather formal network.
Exploring the LinkedIn Stories Feature
Introduced in late 2020, LinkedIn launched its version of the stories feature, an upgrade adapted by various other social media platforms, be it Instagram, Facebook, or Snapchat. This feature allows users to upload short videos or photos to their profile, which will be visible to their network for 24 hours before disappearing.
The premise of LinkedIn Stories is simple; you create an image or video up to 20 seconds long that showcases your professional world. It doesn’t always have to be about what you’re working on at the moment, but it should be related to your professional life in some way. If used effectively, LinkedIn stories serve as opportunities to share moments, experiences, opinions, tips that uncovers the ‘people’ behind the professionally crafted LinkedIn profiles.
Moreover, LinkedIn Stories can be particularly effective for businesses. From showcasing behind-the-scenes company culture to highlighting customer testimonials or promoting online events and courses, stories provide a unique and limited-time opportunity to share more dynamic, creative content.
Tips for Effectively Using LinkedIn Stories
While LinkedIn Stories follow a similar style to Story features on other platforms, it is crucial to remember that LinkedIn is a professional networking platform. It is crucial to always ensure content shared is appropriate to a professional setting. Here are some tips to make the most of this engaging feature.
Regular Updates: Since stories disappear after 24 hours, consistent posts can keep you at the forefront of your connections’ minds. It doesn’t need to be an everyday routine, but periodically unveiling updates keeps your network engaged with your professional journey.
Quality Content: Your stories represent your personal brand. Make sure any content you post is clear, focused, and engaging. From text overlays to stickers, LinkedIn offers several tools to make your stories visually compelling.
Valuable Insights: Stories can be a great place to share quick tips, advice, or professional thoughts on recent news. A unique perspective or stand-out piece of advice can set you apart and help cement your reputation as a thought leader in your field.
Reach Out: Finally, make use of LinkedIn’s ‘Question of the Day’ feature or pose your questions to initiate one-on-one conversations with your connections. Personalized interactions can significantly boost your engagement rate and contribute positively to your professional relationships.
LinkedIn Stories is a tool to build your personal or business brand in an informal way. Utilized creatively and intentionally, it can be a powerful networking tool to engage with your connections more meaningfully. Therefore, if chosen to use it, remember to keep it professional yet relatable, offering glimpses into your work world that inspires or intrigues others.