Using a social media platform’s new features is a great way to share content in an interesting way. Have you tried LinkedIn Stories yet? It’s a feature that lets you share images and short videos with your connections on LinkedIn. How do you use LinkedIn Stories, and what are the benefits? Let’s discuss!

 What are LinkedIn Stories?

LinkedIn Stories is a feature on LinkedIn that lets you share photos, images, and video clips for your connections to see. The content remains visible for 24 hours, then disappears.

How to use LinkedIn Stories

To post a story, access LinkedIn using the mobile app. Stories must be posted from the app, so if you don’t already have it, go ahead and download it from your app store. Be sure you’re using the most recent version of the app when you post to your Stories. At the top of the LinkedIn homepage, you’ll see your profile picture with a “+” icon attached to it. Tap the “+” icon. You can upload content that’s saved on your mobile device or capture images and video using the Stories camera. If you want to share content that’s already saved to your device, click the Image icon. If you want to create new content, tap the circle button to take a picture or hold the circle button to record a video. A video can be up to 20 seconds long. You can tap the Camera flip icon to toggle between your device’s camera and forward-facing “selfie” camera. You can also tap the Flash icon to turn the flash on or off.

When you’re happy with the content you’ve captured or chosen, tap the Share story button. Your content will be posted to your story for 24 hours. If you want to add more content to your Story, view the most recent Story post and tap the +New Story button. 

Get Creative

Did you know you can add a variety of elements to your Story post to make it more interesting and engaging? Before tapping the Share story button, consider adding text, stickers, a question, or some other creative element. Tap the Text icon to add text. After you begin typing, you can change the text color and alignment. You can also tag a connection in the post by typing “@” and choosing their name from the dropdown menu. 

To add stickers, tap the Stickers icon. Stickers are a fun way to add colorful and entertaining imagery to your post. This is where you’re also able to add a Question of the Day sticker to respond to that day’s question. You can also use the @mention feature to tag a connection or LinkedIn Page that you follow.

If you want to mute the audio on your video, tap the Volume icon. If you decide you don’t like the content and want to start over, tap the Cancel icon to delete the content.

Benefits of using LinkedIn Stories

Short-form content, video content, and disappearing content have become popular amongst users of numerous social media platforms. Utilizing LinkedIn Stories is a great way to deliver content in the form that people want to see. It also allows your company to show the “human” side of your brand, which people may not otherwise get to see on a regular basis. Using LinkedIn Stories is also a convenient way to share thoughts on important topics, announce updates or share news, encourage dialogue, and help your audience get to better know you and your company.

Ideas for Your LinkedIn Stories

Using LinkedIn Stories is pretty easy and provides a ton of benefits, but what should you post? Think about what your connections want to see and the topics they’re interested in. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Use Stories to ask questions. For example, you could ask your connections what’s most important to them when buying from a company, or what their favorite products are. Asking questions is a great way to gain valuable insight into what your customers want.

Share stories or advice. Did something inspiring happen to you this week that you think other people would enjoy hearing? Did you find a solution to a problem you were struggling with and want to share advice for people who may be dealing with the same issue? Stories are a great place to talk to your connections while helping them to get to know you better.

Show behind-the-scenes content. This gives users a rare glimpse at the aspects of your company they don’t see every day. For example, you could show how your products are made to highlight your high-quality work and offer transparency. You could introduce different members of your team and have them talk about a typical day in their role, or comment on their favorite part about working for your company.

If you’re at an event, give updates in real-time. It’s a great way to let your connections “into your world” and see what you’re up to, as well as raise awareness around the event.

Share news about product launches and collaborations. Using LinkedIn Stories to talk about upcoming products and services is a great way to generate awareness and excitement for your new offerings. You can also talk about your collaborations with other companies or LinkedIn users to keep your audience informed while showcasing your commitment to the community and supporting other businesses.

Tips for Using LinkedIn Stories

Before posting to LinkedIn Stories, consider your goals. How will this post help you reach those goals? Will it generate awareness around a product or service to encourage sales? Will it entertain or inspire your audience to strengthen their positive emotions towards your brand? Will it give your audience helpful advice and position you as a subject matter expert in your field? Using Stories is fun, but don’t forget it’s also a great way to work towards your marketing goals!

When using LinkedIn Stories, be sure to also consider who your connections and target customers are. What are they interested in? What do they want to hear about? Make sure these are the people you’re talking to when you post a story.

Finally, be authentic. Stories are a great way to show who you are and what your company is all about!

Want LinkedIn Help?

Feeling a little overwhelmed? Totally fine! Healthy Dash of Social is here to help with your social media and digital marketing needs. Whether you need content creation, copywriting, social media management, or something else, we’ve got you. Click here to learn more and schedule a free call.