📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Even LinkedIn Has Stories Now Like Instagram, but more...professional.

By Karissa Bell

entrepreneur daily

This story originally appeared on Engadget

LinkedIn via engadget

LinkedIn is the latest platform to embrace the disappearing Stories format. The professional-networking site unveiled its latest redesign that makes the company's months-long experiment with LinkedIn Stories official. Beginning today, the company is rolling out the feature to all its users in the U.S. and Canada, with plans to push it out to everyone in the next few weeks.

LinkedIn's version of Stories is a lot like what you'd find on Instagram or Snapchat. Take a photo, decorate it with text or a GIF and upload to your profile for all your professional connections to see for 24 hours (you can change up your privacy settings to control who can view your Story). And, in case you need an extra reminder that the feature exists, LinkedIn will place all your connections' Stories at the top of your main feed.

That might sound like the last feature you'd want or need on LinkedIn, but the company says there are some benefits to consider. Liz Li, LinkedIn's senior director of product, says that early tests of the feature have shown that some people are more willing to post when they know it will disappear after 24 hours, rather than live on their LinkedIn profile forever. "Members in the past have found sharing on LinkedIn to be intimidating," Li told Engadget. "We're hoping it'll spark more conversations from people who just don't really share content on LinkedIn."

Related: 6 Tips on How to Use Instagram Reels to Grow Your Brand

Li also notes that Stories can help coworkers feel connected at a time when many people are still working from home and may otherwise feel disconnected from colleagues. That said, she says the intention is to keep things professional. Stories will feature a rotating "question of the day" that's supposed to help keep folks on track.

"You're not meant to share the same things that you would on other networks," Li says. "That doesn't mean you can't share a picture of your dog … but the goal is to keep it keep the conversations in the same vein that you would have right in your workplace."

Besides Stories, the redesign comes with some other updates. The site's search features have been overhauled to include new filtering options and the ability to find online courses and other LinkedIn content from the main search tool. Messaging is also getting another Facebook-like feature with emoji reactions, as well as the ability to start a video call directly from chat. Video calling, which will roll out in October, supports Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack and BlueJeans (which is owned by Engadget's parent company, Verizon).

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Devices

Get This Powerful Refurbished Lenovo Mini Desktop for Just $180 Through April 30

Get more for your money and breeze through business tasks with a robust A-grade refurbished mini desktop.

Side Hustle

3 Secrets to Starting a Small Business Side Hustle That Gives Your Day Job a Run for Its Money, According to People Who Did Just That — and Made Millions

Almost anyone can start a side hustle — but only those ready to level up can use it to out-earn their 9-5s.

Business News

Elon Musk Reveals His Tactics for Building Successful Companies, Including Sleeping Under His Desk and 'Working Every Waking Hour'

Musk shared the secrets on a podcast with Nicolai Tangen, CEO of the $1.6 trillion Norges Bank.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Ring Camera Owners Will Receive $5.6 Million in Payments After FTC-Amazon Settlement. Here's How Many Customers Are Eligible — And How They'll Get the Cash.

The payouts are a result of a June 2023 settlement with Amazon over privacy violation allegations against the camera company.

Business News

Jeff Bezos and Amazon Execs Used An Encrypted Messaging App to Talk About 'Sensitive Business Matters,' FTC Alleges

The FTC's filing claims Bezos and other execs used a disappearing message feature even after Amazon knew it was being investigated.