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Is LinkedIn The New Snapchat?

Is LinkedIn The New Snapchat?

Snapchat was first released in 2012 and quickly hit 10 million active users just after a year of launching. Instagram then introduced stories in 2016, and Facebook stories came after in 2017.

It seems like LinkedIn is trying to go down the same pathway, as they have confirmed they are working on a new “Stories” feature – similar to that of Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook.

But as LinkedIn is a B2B social network, will this be well-received?

What we have noticed over the years is that there is an entire generation now that is comfortable speaking in front of a camera in real-time as a way of sharing updates – which is probably why LinkedIn is wanting to implement this new feature.

Sharing written Facebook “statuses” seems like a lifetime ago. It’s all about Stories now!

So why are Stories gaining so much traction?

We’ve found that the more comfortable people get with a social media platform, the more uncomfortable they get with the content they share. Why? Because people will start to feel a need to impress their followers with exciting content to keep them engaged, and thus become more conscious of what they post.

Stories are a fun, light, casual way to share updates WITHOUT the worry of it having to be perfect or attached to your profile forever.

Will LinkedIn stories work for me and my business?

On one hand, LinkedIn Stories could be the perfect strategy to boost engagement across professionals. They also present the perfect opportunity to share real-time and live work events, career tips & tricks and start a laidback conversation with other professionals.

On the other hand, it is possible that the B2B or professional content on LinkedIn can be washed down by this casual tone!

Here is a snapshot of what LinkedIn stories could look like.

If you are striving to build a personal brand, this could be perfect for you. But you may need to consider that this is another marketing activity you need to fully adopt to see true results and value.

Whether LinkedIn stories can work for you or not really depends on your type of business and level of commitment. In terms of whether we think it can replace Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook – we can’t foresee this happening. And that’s simply because each platform has it’s own demographic, culture, creativity style and tone!

We always advise our clients: Don’t try to do everything! Choose a few platforms that aligns with your brand and perfect those. 

Remember, you can only do so much with limited time and resources. Be strategic with the platforms you use, and create content wisely so that you can leverage the most from each post.

If you’re still on the edge about whether or not you think you should be jumping onto the LinkedIn Stories feature, give us a shout and we’ll let you know!

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