LinkedIn's Strategic Pivot: A Dive into Vertical Video

LinkedIn's latest move to test a vertical video feed signals a strategic pivot into the video-centric world dominated by TikTok and Instagram. By diving into this landscape, LinkedIn aims to stake its claim in the influencer marketing realm that has propelled its competitors to success. Confident in its ability to compete, LinkedIn is strategically reducing its focus on traditional networking in favor of embracing dynamic content consumption habits.

This decision reflects LinkedIn's recognition of evolving content trends and its determination to offer users a more engaging experience. However, the platform must navigate the balance between maintaining its professional identity and embracing the creativity inherent in vertical video formats. Despite challenges, LinkedIn's venture into vertical video holds promise, opening doors for brands, marketers, and creators to explore new avenues for engagement and growth within a professional context.

Quality Over Quantity: A New Era in Social Media

Social media has long been a game of who can post the most, urging us to create non-stop. But, there's a hint of change in the air. While the race to post often hasn't slowed down, we're starting to see signs that lasting, quality content might begin to take center stage:

• TikTok is testing videos up to 15 minutes, allowing creators to dive deeper into their content.

• Instagram is experimenting with longer runtimes for Reels, testing the waters for more engaging content.

• LinkedIn has updated its algorithm to better showcase “evergreen” posts, ones that maintain relevance over time and can continuously engage new audiences.

These changes hint at a broader shift toward quality, reminiscent of what we've learned from YouTube. On YouTube, the expectation for quality has always been higher due to its long-form content nature. Viewers investing time in a longer video expect it to be worth their while, setting a precedent that more social platforms seem to be acknowledging.

This shift in platform strategies brings to mind YouTube's long-standing approach. On YouTube, the expectation for quality has always been higher due to its long-form content nature. Viewers investing time in a longer video expect it to be worth their while, setting a precedent that more social platforms seem to be acknowledging.

Could this be the dawn of a new era in social media, where the focus shifts from how much we post to the impact and longevity of what we post? (I honestly hope so!) How do you see this affecting your content strategy?

LinkedIn's 2023 Surge: Why Engagement and User Activity Are Skyrocketing

LinkedIn is in the midst of a resurgence, and the numbers back it up. A recent poll conducted on the platform itself revealed that a staggering majority of respondents are using LinkedIn "more" or "a lot more" this year. The question is, are you?

Key Points to Consider:

1. Skyrocketing Engagement: LinkedIn isn't just a digital Rolodex anymore. With a 41% year-over-year increase in sharing original content, it's a fertile ground for real estate professionals and local business owners to establish thought leadership.

2. Record Levels of Activity: Microsoft's quarterly reports aren't just numbers; they're a testament to LinkedIn's "record levels" of engagement. This isn't mere small talk; it's a “social network”of ideas and opportunities.

3. The "X" Factor and Beyond: While some argue that LinkedIn's growth is fueled by users migrating from troubled platforms like “X” (formerly Twitter), the way I see it, that's not the whole story. Instagram and Facebook are increasingly becoming content consumption platforms, thanks to their increasingly AI-driven feeds, trying hard to keep up with the pace of TikTok. This shift could be making users yearn for the authentic social interactions that LinkedIn (still) offers.

4. The Instagram Paradox: A LinkedIn poll found Instagram to be the most popular app among a certain audience. This suggests that as Instagram and Facebook evolve to mimic TikTok, they may be losing their essence as social networking platforms, inadvertently making LinkedIn the go-to choice for meaningful connections.

So, are you using LinkedIn more or less this year? And more importantly, why? LinkedIn is not just surviving; it's thriving. And for real estate professionals, local business owners, and entrepreneurs like you, it's a perfect time to get in on the action.

AI-Suggested Content and the Rise of “Anti-Social Networks” - Why LinkedIn is a Worthwhile Alternative!

… And then there was LinkedIn??

Top social media platforms are upping the ante with AI-suggested content, prioritizing it over posts from users' connections or friends. By the end of the year, Mark Zuckerberg stated that 30% of the content on Meta feeds, including Facebook and Instagram, will be AI-suggested content. Consequently, as a creator/business, your capacity to reach your followers organically will be diminished by almost one-third.

And if your posts aren’t being seen with the same frequency and regularity as before, then the risk of being, quote-unquote, “forgotten by your followers,” who may include past/current clients, leads, sphere-of-influence contacts, and so on, escalates.

TikTok, for instance, is more of an “anti-social network” as users are primarily exposed to content produced by strangers, rather than a platform for seeing and interacting with posts from people within your personal and professional networks. Now other social sites are moving in the same direction.

LinkedIn’s algorithm, however, (still) places more emphasis on prioritizing/distributing content that fosters engagement within your community (i.e., your connections) and relevance within specific industries or interests. So, if you’re aiming to strengthen your existing connections and establish your brand within your area, LinkedIn is worth a look.

The Rise of AI-Generated Content on Social Media: What It Means for Content Creators

BIG NEWS → Major social networks are turning to AI-generated content to keep users engaged. LinkedIn, for example, is beginning to use AI-powered “conversation starters” to provoke discussion among its users, while Snap has launched its own chatbot, and Meta is working on AI personas. LinkedIn calls its new feature, “AI-powered conversation starters.”

This move could herald the start of a wider revolution for the web, with companies increasingly using generative AI to create endless spools of content. As social media sites have all the user data they need to train these systems, the potential for AI-generated content is vast.

This could be the start of semiautomated social networks. Up until now, social platforms have relied on user-generated content to fill the feeds.

As a content creator, how do you feel about this new development? Are you ready for a new era of AI-generated content on social media possibly undercutting your efforts to reach YOUR prospective customers on major platforms?