LinkedIn joined the “Stories” game recently, following the lead of Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, WhatsApp and Pinterest and is only available on mobile for now. Like other new features, this may soon roll out to all members, whether they use desktop or mobile.
Stories are a high-visibility opportunity to build awareness and promote your brand by sharing content, images, and short videos of professional moments.
According to the LinkedIn Blog:
“We wanted to give you an easy way to share what’s happening in your professional life. As Stories are shared for 24 hours, we see this as a great option for you to use to express professional moments with your LinkedIn network without worrying that the content is permanently attached to your profile.
To post a Story on your profile, open your LinkedIn app and touch the circle with your photo and a plus sign in the upper left corner to open the camera. You can:
• Record the video or take the photo directly through the app
• Upload video (up to 20s) or image
• Add a sticker and / or text
• Mention users with @To create a new Story after posting your first Story, tap the plus icon on the top left or bottom right corner once you go into your previously published Story.”
How to Use LinkedIn Stories
As a viewer of your networks’ Stories, you can share a Story you’ve seen to start a conversation. And it’s easy “to quickly message the author, send a quick reaction, or to seamlessly forward the Story to someone else in your professional community”.
ForbesWomen Senior Contributor Kate Talbot described some of the ways to use Stories for authentic personal branding:
- Highlight personal achievement
- Educate your audience
- Go behind the scenes (to show a less curated side of yourself)
- Give a shoutout to others
And also, to inspire others:
“Emotional storytelling has an incredible impact on bringing you closer to your community. You can do this on LinkedIn Stories by telling a professional story and a lesson you learned from it. That might include how you dealt with a toxic work environment or overcoming a challenge and were able to succeed. Many will have similar experiences, and in doing so, will enjoy hearing camaraderie within the business world. With the ephemeral and authentic nature, LinkedIn Stories allows for a deepened vulnerability that inspires and helps others.”
What to put in your Stories
Job search social media expert Hannah Morgan noted what she’s been seeing in her Stories feed:
- job search advice
- using LinkedIn’s “question of the day”
- sharing testimonials
- promoting upcoming events
- giving thanks to co-workers
- asking about work/life balance
- showing behind the scenes shots
- news
- and more personal stories
But she cautions, don’t use Stories to advertise that you’re job seeking. This is a place to highlight what you have to offer.
“Instead, focus on showcasing what you know, how you are investing your time, what you are learning, or other qualities that would set you apart as someone who is ready to hit the ground running.”
LinkedIn Help offers FAQs for creators of LinkedIn Stories:
- How can I post a Story?
- Who can see or share my Story?
- Can I view and save my own Story?
- Can I edit or delete my Story after it has been posted?
- How can I share my Story with someone?
- Can I view my Story’s insights?
- What is the Question of the Day feature and how can I access it?
- What are the recommended specs for uploading a Story from the camera roll?
And, FAQs for viewers of Stories:
- Whose Stories can I view and how?
- Can I see who has viewed someone else’s Story?
- How can I engage with the creator of a Story I’ve viewed?
- Can I share someone’s Story?
- I found a Story offensive or inappropriate. What should I do?
- Will a creator know that I’ve viewed their Story?
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