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LinkedIn Adds GIFs to Messaging

Date published: April 12, 2018
Last updated: April 12, 2018

LinkedIn Embraces Visual Communication

Networking is about to get more expressive. In a recent blog post written by Arpit Dhariwal, the professional platform announced that they have partnered up with video-clip search engine Tenor to bring an extensive GIF library to their messaging platform. Users can now search for GIFs within messaging and send them instantly.

GIFs in LinkedIn messenger are rolling out now and will be available to all users within the next few weeks. This announcement follows LinkedIn’s recent addition of a feature that allows attendees of conferences and other events create videos with location-based filters.

LinkedIn has taken strides to ramp up engagement amongst its growing user base. Marketers especially have been taking advantage of LinkedIn video to communicate with their peers and audiences. Most notably, industry expert Allen Gannett has become a sort of LinkedIn video pioneer. He uses video to conduct interviews, share marketing tips and insights, and vlog.

His reliance on video is a smart marketing move. We have become a visual culture, and in order to stay afloat in a sea of content, we must do whatever we can to stand out.

Separate from video, GIFs have enabled us to inject more personality into our casual conversations and marketing strategies with ease. They promote an image of casualness and help us to engage with our peers and audiences.

GIFs Spread to the Workplace

Multiple social media sites have hopped on the GIF bandwagon and integrated GIF libraries into their platforms (here’s looking at you Twitter.) In short, GIFs have never been more popular and they are a big part of a rapid visual communication evolution.

The trend has started to seep into workplaces as well. Given that your workplace is lax about informal messaging, GIFs are a great way to turn your office space into a more collaborative and less stressful environment.

By adding GIFs to their messaging platform, LinkedIn has shown that they are open to the GIF movement. Their decision represents a further acknowledgment that more and more professionals are using GIFs in peer-to-peer, B2B, and B2C conversations.

Arpit Dhariwal mentioned, “Just 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,” and we agree.

GIFs are beloved in casual conversation but they may be a little more controversial in workplace correspondences. It’s always a good idea to check with your higher ups or consult your organization’s style guide before you start using GIFs in your conversations.

Do you use ever GIFs in a professional setting? Let us know in the comments.

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