It’s about time.
A little late to the party, LinkedIn just announced via their official blog that the messaging app now has GIF support (and will slowly be rolled out over the next few weeks):
Giving you more ways to have visual conversations on LinkedIn: https://t.co/vTYCH6jzQB
— LinkedIn (@LinkedIn) April 11, 2018
While GIFs are not appropriate for some professional situations, this will likely be popular with users; especially considering that 70% of Americans use GIFs, emojis, and other visual aids in their communications.
Source: blog.linkedin.com
LinkedIn Teams with Tenor to Intergrate GIFs
LinkedIn has integrated Tenor’s GIF keyboard solution into the messaging app already. Like other social platforms, you can search for GIFs and send them with just a few taps.
Source: blog.linkedin.com
Tenor has done a great job of integrating their service. You can also see a list of trending GIFs on the front page, and you can keep scrolling to find that perfect animated image.
Is LinkedIn the Right Platform for GIFs?
In LinkedIn’s professional environment, it might feel a little weird to use GIFs. And that’s why you should use them sparingly.
LinkedIn reminds us to “make sure to take into consideration if it’s acceptable in your workplace — think about your company’s culture, your professional relationship with the person, and the industry you work in to decide if it makes sense to send a GIF.”
While change might seem weird to some, LinkedIn is proving that they are committed to enhancing the site’s visual experience. Adding rich media options like LinkedIn Video and now GIF support will ultimately allow marketers to get even more creative with their networking efforts.
