OVERVIEW: LinkedIn Multi-Image Posts
In a blog post published this week, professional social network, LinkedIn, unveiled a new post type for its 500 million members, granting the ability for users to share multiple photos within a single update. Initially rolled out to users of the iOS application, with desktop and Android soon to follow, members can select up to nine images to share in a post to followers in their network. According to the blog post’s author, Julie Inouye, the new post type is intended to enable users to share multiple images from conferences or networking events in a single post.
The update comes after the social network unveiled the ability to post images within comments in June and amidst rumors of a native video player coming to the platform. Since LinkedIn surpassed half a billion users in April of this year, the company may now be looking to increase usage by making in-platform content more engaging.
How-to post a multi-image LinkedIn post:
- To post a multi-image update, start by opening the iOS application.
- Within the Home feed, tap the area that reads “share an article, photo or idea” and enter your post text.
- Then select the camera icon to choose up to nine images to feature within the update.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR MARKETERS
It is currently unclear if the ability to post a gallery of images will be extended to company profiles. When the feature is rolled out to desktop users, company page managers should try incorporating the post type. Additionally, until third-party publishing applications, which company pages currently rely on for mobile publishing, incorporate the new post type, brands will not be able to utilize multi-image posts from mobile.
Should the new post type become available for companies and brands, it will be important for marketers to look to their post analytics for insight into performance of the multi-image posts. Because LinkedIn reports on “clicks” as a combination of clicks to view a brand profile, image expand clicks, and actual link clicks, an increase in the total “clicks” metric may not result in an increase in website traffic. As always, it is recommended that marketers test the new post type to determine its priority.
Image via LinkedIn
