Amplify LinkedIn Impact For Teams & Individuals

LinkedIn has unveiled an exciting feature for Premium Business users: auto-revolving slideshow banners for profile headers. This dynamic update offers a creative way to showcase personality, skills, and achievements, helping users make a lasting impression.What’s New?The slideshow banners allow users to upload up to five images, which rotate automatically, creating a visually engaging experience. The feature aims to enhance profiles by showcasing multiple aspects of a user’s professional journey, branding, or business offerings.Why It MattersThis is particularly beneficial for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and creatives, allowing them to highlight key projects or offerings. Whether you're a real estate agent showcasing listings or a designer sharing your portfolio, the tool is a valuable addition to elevate your LinkedIn presence.LinkedIn explains:“Your LinkedIn cover image is a great tool to visually express who you are, whether it’s your personality, interests, business, or brand. For entrepreneurs and business owners, it’s an excellent opportunity to showcase more about your offering in a compelling way.Today, we’re excited to introduce a new feature for Premium Business subscribers to make this even better: dynamic cover images. You can now select up to five photos to create a rotating slideshow on your Profile.This is designed to help professionals make a stronger first impression, whether you’re a freelancer showcasing your services, a real estate agent highlighting current listings, or a designer spotlighting recent projects.”Key Features of the Slideshow Tool:Dynamic Branding: Turn static headers into eye-catching banners.Enhanced Personalization: Visually express your unique story or services.Improved Visibility: Draw attention to the top of your profile, a prime digital real estate spot.Who Can Use It?Currently, this feature is exclusive to Premium Business subscribers, aligning with LinkedIn’s broader push to provide premium features like AI profile assistance and customizable CTAs. While it’s a paid feature, the added benefits for brand storytelling make it a compelling upgrade.How to Use the Slideshow Banner:Navigate to your LinkedIn profile’s banner section.Select the “Create Slideshow” option.Upload up to five high-quality images.Customize captions and sequence to align with your profile goals.Why Consider Premium?In addition to the slideshow banners, LinkedIn Premium Business subscribers enjoy perks like:AI-powered profile recommendations.Advanced insights into profile views.Customizable buttons for unique call-to-actions.Final ThoughtsWhile the rotating banners might seem like a minor addition, they’re a powerful tool for those looking to stand out in 2025. As the feature rolls out globally over the next few weeks, upgrading to Premium could be worth considering for professionals aiming to amplify their LinkedIn presence.For more details, check out the original LinkedIn post.

LinkedIn is streamlining its event offerings by integrating its Audio Events feature into the broader LinkedIn Live platform.This marks a significant shift, signaling LinkedIn's move to unify live events under a single umbrella while still accommodating audio-only formats through third-party tools.If you're a LinkedIn content creator or marketer, here's everything you need to know about these changes, what they mean for your strategy, and the opportunities they present.Key Changes to LinkedIn Audio Events1. Unified Event Creation:Starting December 2, 2024, users will no longer be able to create native Audio Events directly on LinkedIn.If you’ve scheduled an Audio Event before December 31, 2024, those events will proceed as planned.However, any events planned for after this date must be recreated using LinkedIn Live. The deadline for making these adjustments is December 15, 2024.2. Hosting Requirements:To host an audio-only event through LinkedIn Live, users will need to use third-party streaming tools.These tools will enable the inclusion of a static image in place of video, ensuring compatibility with the video-driven LinkedIn Live format.3. Interaction and Engagement Features:Attendees can continue to engage via real-time comments, maintaining interactive dialogue during events.Speakers must access the third-party tool to participate live, which requires pre-event coordination and invitations.4. Automatic Event Recording:One advantage of LinkedIn Live is the automatic recording of events.Hosts can share these recordings on their profiles or pages, creating opportunities for extended engagement long after the live event concludes.Implications for Marketers and Content CreatorsFor marketers who leverage LinkedIn as a platform for networking and audience engagement, this transition demands a reassessment of strategy. Here's how it might affect your approach:Adapting to a Video-Centric Format:While audio-only options remain, the necessity of integrating a static image shifts the format slightly. Marketers should consider how to enhance their content by adding visual elements that align with their branding.Exploring Multimedia Potential:The shift from a purely audio format to a hybrid model within LinkedIn Live offers opportunities to experiment with combining video, audio, and interactive content for richer audience engagement.Streamlined Event Management:The unified platform simplifies event hosting by consolidating tools and formats. However, the need for third-party streaming software adds a layer of technical coordination that hosts should prepare for.Broader Trends in Social MediaLinkedIn's move away from native audio-only events aligns with a broader trend across social media platforms:Decreasing Popularity of Audio-Only Features:Platforms like Meta have scaled back their audio-focused tools, and Twitter's Spaces has struggled to maintain momentum despite early enthusiasm.Focus on Visual and Multimedia Content:The waning popularity of dedicated audio formats suggests a user preference for platforms that combine multiple content forms, such as video and interactive features. LinkedIn's pivot reflects this trend, offering a more versatile platform that aligns with user expectations for dynamic, multimedia experiences.Opportunities for Creative EngagementAlthough this marks the end of native Audio Events, it introduces new possibilities:Enhanced Interactivity with LinkedIn Live:The ability to combine video and audio creates more engaging events. Marketers can utilize static images, branded visuals, or dynamic slides to support their discussions.Greater Accessibility:With automatic recordings, your events can reach a wider audience beyond the live attendees, extending your content’s shelf life and impact.New Avenues for Experimentation:This shift encourages creators to think outside the box. For instance, consider leveraging LinkedIn Live for hybrid events, such as panel discussions or webinars, to captivate and retain audiences.Next Steps for Event HostsAssess Existing Plans:Review any scheduled Audio Events and migrate them to LinkedIn Live before the December 15, 2024, deadline.Get Familiar with Third-Party Tools:Choose and test third-party streaming tools that align with your needs. Platforms like OBS Studio or StreamYard are common options.Reimagine Your Strategy:Explore ways to blend audio, visuals, and interactivity to elevate your events. Focus on creating compelling visuals that add value without detracting from the core audio experience.Educate Your Audience:Inform your attendees about the new format and how to join or participate in LinkedIn Live events effectively.LinkedIn's integration of Audio Events into LinkedIn Live marks a strategic pivot toward unified, multimedia content experiences.While the transition may pose challenges, it opens doors to greater creative potential and audience engagement.For those who relied heavily on Audio Events, this is your chance to innovate and capitalize on LinkedIn Live’s features to improve organic content campaigns.

Creating impactful LinkedIn posts requires more than just hitting "share." It’s about developing content that resonates with your audience and aligns with your goals.LinkedIn’s own Create Center provides a guidance to help users make the most of their content. This blog highlights their insights with expert tips to help you master the art of LinkedIn posting.The Dos of LinkedIn Posting1. Be Audience-CentricLinkedIn content works best when it provides value. Tailor your posts to address your audience's needs, challenges, and interests. Whether sharing an insight, a resource, or a personal story, ensure the content serves your readers.Example: Share a case study or “behind-the-scenes” journey about a project your audience can learn from.2. Leverage LinkedIn's Content FormatsLinkedIn supports diverse content types that cater to various engagement styles:Text posts: Great for storytelling and sharing lessons.Images and videos: Visuals increase engagement dramatically.Carousels: Ideal for breaking down complex ideas into digestible slides.LinkedIn Articles: Perfect for in-depth insights and thought leadership.Polls: Spark conversations and collect feedback from your audience.Pro Tip: Experiment with multiple formats to see what resonates most with your audience.3. Post Regularly, But Maintain QualityConsistency is key, but quality trumps quantity. Post 2–3 times per week to keep your audience engaged without overwhelming them.How Vulse Can Help: Vulse's Content Theme Planner lets you organize and schedule posts to maintain a steady cadence while ensuring high-quality content creation.4. Spark Two-Way ConversationsLinkedIn is a social platform, so engagement matters. Use questions, calls to action (CTAs), and interactive content to encourage dialogue. Respond to comments and engage with others’ posts to foster community.5. Tell a StoryStories create emotional connections, making your content more memorable. Share professional experiences, team achievements, or challenges you’ve overcome to humanize your brand.The Don’ts of LinkedIn Posting1. Avoid Overly Promotional ContentLinkedIn users value authenticity. Posts that are overly sales-driven can alienate your audience. Instead, focus on building trust by providing value through knowledge sharing.2. Skip Clickbait TacticsSensationalist or misleading headlines may garner attention initially but hurt credibility in the long run. Make your content both engaging and honest.3. Don’t Ignore Visual AppealA post without visuals risks being overlooked. High-quality images, infographics, or videos increase engagement rates significantly.Pro Tip: Use tools like Canva to create professional visuals or explore LinkedIn’s in-platform video creation tools.4. Avoid Generic or Vague PostsPosts that lack focus or provide no clear takeaway won’t leave a lasting impact. Ensure your message is concise, specific, and aligned with your goals.LinkedIn’s Recommendations for Content SuccessLinkedIn's Create Center emphasizes that successful posts have these core qualities:Relevance: Posts should align with trending topics or industry discussions.Authenticity: Share genuine insights, even if they show vulnerability or growth.Credibility: Back up claims with data, real-life examples, or trusted sources.How Vulse Elevates LinkedIn Content StrategyLinkedIn success is easier when you have the right tools. Vulse simplifies and enhances your content creation with:AI-Powered Tone Matching: Ensure your content aligns with your audience’s expectations and brand voice.Content Theme Planner: Organize posts to maintain a consistent and compelling presence.Employee Advocacy Tools: Empower your team to amplify content while building their own professional brands.Detailed Metrics: Gain insights into engagement and audience preferences to refine your strategy.Looking Ahead: Trends Shaping LinkedIn ContentThe future of LinkedIn posting will be shaped by these emerging trends:Personal Branding Growth: Employees are increasingly building their professional identities, aligning them with corporate branding.Interactive and Visual Content: Polls, carousels, and videos will dominate engagement strategies.Data-Driven Strategies: Success will rely on leveraging analytics to craft highly targeted and effective posts.Crafting effective LinkedIn posts is an art that combines strategy, authenticity, and engagement. By focusing on audience value, leveraging LinkedIn’s native tools, and using platforms like Vulse, you can transform your presence into a powerful marketing asset.Start optimizing your LinkedIn strategy today—because great content doesn’t just happen; it’s created.

Employee advocacy is a growing pillar of modern marketing strategies, transforming how businesses connect with audiences, utilizing employees.To share insight on this topic, we interviewed Simone Bonnett, an expert in employee advocacy with a background in design and marketing.In this blog, she shares insights, tips, and trends shaping the future of employee advocacy, focusing on strategies businesses can adopt today.What Is Employee Advocacy, and Why Does It Matter?According to Simone, employee advocacy is “the ability to amplify your business by taking your team along for the journey in such a way that they're excited to cheerlead for it.”This approach not only boosts visibility but fosters a positive workplace culture, making advocacy a win-win for businesses and employees.Today’s consumers value authenticity, and employee advocacy taps into that by showcasing real voices from within the organization. This strategy builds trust, enhances employer branding, and drives organic traffic—all while engaging your team in a meaningful way.Overcoming Employee Advocacy ChallengesImplementing an employee advocacy strategy isn’t without challenges. Simone notes that education about social media—particularly LinkedIn—is often the first stumbling block.“A robust employee training program and collaborative workshops are the key to allaying fears and getting everyone social media literate,” she says.Investing in training ensures that employees feel confident and supported, laying the groundwork for an effective program.How Vulse Simplifies Employee AdvocacyPlatforms play a pivotal role in enabling successful advocacy programs, and Simone highlights Vulse as a standout option.“Vulse is an intuitive and user-friendly way to run an employee advocacy program. The barrier to entry is really low compared to other platforms which require much more training,” she explains.With its easy-to-use interface and emphasis on collaboration, Vulse empowers businesses to launch and sustain impactful advocacy initiatives without extensive onboarding.Metrics That MatterTo gauge the success of an employee advocacy program, Simone advises focusing on metrics such as:Engagement on social media platforms.Organic website traffic driven by shared content.Click-through rates (CTR) to assess content effectiveness.Tracking these indicators helps businesses refine their strategies and demonstrate ROI.The Role of LinkedIn in Advocacy StrategiesSimone emphasizes LinkedIn as the go-to platform for professional networking and advocacy:“LinkedIn is THE professional social media platform. Its tools, like linking your employment to your employer and content recommendation features, make it ideal for employee advocacy.”By leveraging LinkedIn, businesses can align their professional branding with individual employee profiles, creating a seamless advocacy framework.Encouraging Employee ParticipationOne of the biggest misconceptions about employee advocacy is that it’s a simple copy-paste exercise. Simone argues that true advocacy is much more collaborative and rewarding when done right.To encourage participation without it feeling forced:Offer training and emphasize the personal benefits for employees.Use incentives to recognize contributions.Make advocacy collaborative and authentic, ensuring employees feel ownership of their role.Trends Shaping the Future of Employee AdvocacyLooking ahead, Simone predicts several key trends that will shape employee advocacy in the next 5–10 years:Personal Branding: Employees will become more proactive about developing their personal brands, integrating advocacy into their efforts.Organic Social Strategies: Advocacy will become a vital component of any successful organic social media strategy.Authenticity: Companies will increasingly showcase their teams in genuine, authentic ways, strengthening trust and connection with their audience.Simone insights underscore the transformative power of employee advocacy for businesses of all sizes. By prioritizing training, embracing collaborative platforms like Vulse, and measuring the right metrics, businesses can harness advocacy to enhance visibility, drive traffic, and build a thriving workplace culture.As employee advocacy continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the businesses that empower their teams to become authentic brand ambassadors will lead the way in the social media age.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how companies connect with top talent. To dive deeper into this transformation, we spoke with the founder of AiR, an AI-powered recruitment company specializing in tech talent.With over 12 years of experience in tech recruitment across England, Spain, and South Africa, AiR's founder shares how his company leverages AI, LinkedIn, and the powerful features of Vulse to enhance brand visibility and streamline hiring for fintech, e-commerce, and emerging industries.Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey to founding AiR?I’m the Founder of AiR, with more than 12 years in tech recruitment. My career has spanned multiple countries, including England, Spain, and South Africa. Through these experiences, I developed a strong understanding of AI's transformative potential in recruitment. Today, my role involves strategizing business growth while actively meeting our clients' hiring needs as they scale and incorporate AI into their talent processes.What is AiR, and what makes it unique in the recruitment space?AiR is an AI-powered recruitment company that connects top tech talent with leading companies in sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and other emerging industries. By leveraging AI, we streamline the hiring process, reduce bias, and enhance candidate matching quality. As the Founder, I focus on setting the company’s direction, fostering client relationships, and ensuring that our services evolve with the latest advancements in AI. Our aim is to provide efficient and inclusive recruitment solutions, utilizing AI to improve outcomes both for companies and candidates.How does AiR use LinkedIn for recruitment, both as a company and through individual team members?LinkedIn is essential for our business, both for lead generation and identifying potential candidates. Our company page serves as a platform to share our brand story, AI insights, and engage with tech and recruitment communities. Each of our team members is also active on LinkedIn, engaging directly with our target audience, sharing industry insights, and networking with top tech talent. It’s become a vital tool for building our brand presence and fostering meaningful connections within our industry.Why is LinkedIn such an important tool in recruitment?LinkedIn is invaluable for recruitment because it allows us to build a community within targeted industries and develop relationships with both prospective candidates and clients. It’s also a powerful branding platform, helping us promote our mission and engage people outside our network with warm outreach. With LinkedIn, we can create a meaningful presence, which is crucial in today’s digital hiring landscape.What challenges did AiR face with LinkedIn before using Vulse?Our main challenges were consistency and tracking. When building a business, brand voice alignment is crucial, and we wanted our team to be active brand advocates. Vulse’s features have allowed us to centralize our efforts, helping everyone stay consistent in our messaging. The platform’s dashboard has been especially useful, enabling us to monitor post performance across the team and make adjustments as needed. It has streamlined our approach to LinkedIn, supporting our goals for effective brand advocacy.Which Vulse features have proven most valuable to your team?The scheduling tool and analytics have been game-changers. They’ve made it easy for our team to post confidently and consistently, aligning with AiR’s brand voice. The scheduling feature ensures that we stay active on LinkedIn, while the analytics provide insights that help us optimize our presence. These features have been crucial in building a strong, unified brand on LinkedIn and positioning us effectively within the tech recruitment industry.With the help of Vulse, AiR has created a strong, consistent presence on LinkedIn, amplifying its brand and supporting its AI-driven approach to recruitment.By integrating tools like scheduling and analytics, AiR has effectively transformed LinkedIn into a hub for brand advocacy, attracting top tech talent, and staying at the forefront of AI-powered recruitment.

LinkedIn has recently embraced the power of short-form video, introducing a full-screen, vertical video feed designed to enhance user engagement and align with the rising popularity of TikTok-style content.With video consumption on LinkedIn growing rapidly—immersive video views have increased sixfold quarter-over-quarter, and total video viewership is up 36% year-over-year—LinkedIn is encouraging creators to take advantage of this dynamic new format to reach broader audiences.To support professionals and brands in making the most of LinkedIn’s immersive video features, LinkedIn has shared essential tips for successful short-form video content creation.These insights are particularly valuable for SaaS companies and B2B marketers looking to enhance brand visibility and connect with LinkedIn’s professional audience. Here’s what you need to know to maximize your video strategy on LinkedIn:1. Keep it Short, Vertical, and CaptivatingOptimal Length: Videos that are under 2 minutes but longer than 15 seconds perform best on LinkedIn’s platform. This duration holds viewers' attention while still delivering value.Vertical Format: For maximum engagement, shoot videos in a vertical format (9:16 aspect ratio) with a resolution of 1080 x 1920. This immersive style allows users to swipe through content effortlessly, mirroring the TikTok experience.Use Captions: Make sure your videos are accessible to all viewers by including captions, ensuring your message is understood even when sound is muted.2. Focus on Relevant and Shareable ContentContent that Works: LinkedIn videos should offer standalone knowledge, industry insights, or even lighthearted workplace humor, as long as it’s appropriate. Videos with clear audio, a fast-paced rhythm, and a strong hook at the beginning tend to perform well.Encourage Engagement: Videos that prompt viewers to reshare or comment see higher engagement rates. Include a strong call-to-action, encouraging users to interact with the content.Avoid Overly Promotional Content: Stick to providing value and sharing insights rather than direct promotions, which tend to perform poorly on LinkedIn.3. Include a Strong Accompanying PostAdd Context: Complement your video with a thoughtful caption of at least 50 words. Summarize key takeaways, provide context, or share relevant statistics to add depth to the content.Optimize for SEO: Use industry-relevant keywords in the post description to make your video more discoverable on LinkedIn and search engines. Phrases like “LinkedIn video tips,” “short-form video strategy,” and “B2B video marketing” can help your content reach the right audience.4. Technical Requirements for LinkedIn VideosFile Size and Types: LinkedIn supports various file types, including MP4, MOV, and AVI, with a maximum file size of 5GB and a minimum size of 75KB. Make sure your video meets these specifications before uploading.Resolution and Ratios: Stick to a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio to ensure your video looks its best on mobile devices and in the immersive video feed.What to Avoid in LinkedIn Video ContentContent to Skip: Avoid overly promotional material, controversial topics, or content that includes hate speech or misinformation. Videos should always have context and a post copy to support their message.Soundless Videos with Insufficient Context: Videos lacking audio or a clear narrative may fail to resonate with audiences. Include clear visuals or captions to maintain engagement.Key TakeawaysLinkedIn’s new video format offers an excellent opportunity for brands to connect with a younger, more digitally engaged audience. By keeping videos concise, engaging, and professionally relevant, businesses can build stronger connections, boost engagement, and make a lasting impact.This approach is particularly useful for SaaS companies seeking to position themselves as thought leaders in their industry.With these insights, your brand can create LinkedIn videos that not only capture attention but also drive meaningful engagement on the platform. Make the most of LinkedIn’s latest video features and start seeing the impact today.

LinkedIn recently announced an update to its popular “Celebrate an Occasion” posts, designed to streamline the platform and make it easier for users to share their career milestones.The update brings changes to the types of celebration templates LinkedIn offers, allowing users to focus on the most significant professional moments.Here’s everything you need to know about the update, how it affects your LinkedIn posts, and how to save any posts using retired templates.What Has Changed with LinkedIn’s Celebration Posts?LinkedIn’s “Celebrate an Occasion” posts are a popular feature, helping users recognize and share career milestones with their network. As part of the latest update, LinkedIn will continue to offer the most popular celebration templates, including:New Position: Announce new roles or promotions to your network.Work Anniversary: Mark work anniversaries, recognizing years with a company or in a position.Project Launch: Share completed projects to celebrate achievements and collaborations.However, LinkedIn has retired a few of its less-used templates, such as Appreciation, Welcome, and Skill Assessment Badge. The change reflects LinkedIn’s aim to simplify the posting experience and reduce clutter on the platform.Why LinkedIn Retired Some TemplatesThe main reason behind this update is to streamline the user experience on LinkedIn. By retiring less-used templates, LinkedIn encourages more organic, personalized posts that better highlight meaningful professional moments. Users can still share team accomplishments, welcome new colleagues, or showcase skills, but with their own custom posts, images, and videos rather than using pre-set templates.How This Change Impacts LinkedIn UsersLinkedIn has notified users who have previously posted with the soon-to-be-retired templates, informing them that these posts will be removed from their profiles within the next month. If you’re one of these users, here’s what you need to know:Affected Posts: Posts using Appreciation, Welcome, and Skill Assessment Badge templates will be deleted by LinkedIn.Timeline: LinkedIn will be removing these older posts within the next month, so any affected users will need to act quickly if they want to keep copies.How to Save Your LinkedIn Posts Before They’re RemovedIf you’d like to retain any posts using the retired templates, LinkedIn provides a straightforward way to download and save them. Here’s a quick guide on how to preserve these posts:Visit LinkedIn’s Help Center: LinkedIn has instructions available in its Help Center on downloading posts, providing easy steps to follow.Download Your Data: LinkedIn allows users to download data, including posts, which can be a great way to keep a copy of your professional milestones.Be sure to act within the month if you want to keep any of your posts made with the retired templates.Celebrating on LinkedIn: How to Share Your Achievements NowThe recent change doesn’t limit the ways users can celebrate professional achievements; it simply shifts the focus toward more personalized posts. Here’s how to make the most of the updated options:Create Custom Posts: Craft your own message when celebrating new teammates, accomplishments, or company highlights. Share the backstory, goals, or the meaning behind the milestone in your own words.Use Visuals: Adding images or videos to your posts can make celebrations feel more vibrant and engaging.Highlight Key Milestones: LinkedIn still offers templates for popular celebrations, like New Position and Work Anniversary. Use these templates to keep sharing your journey in a way that resonates with your network.Looking Forward: LinkedIn’s Vision for a Refined User ExperienceLinkedIn’s recent update is part of a larger focus on improving the user experience and making the platform feel more authentic. By encouraging custom, user-generated posts, LinkedIn aims to foster genuine connections and more meaningful engagement.Stay tuned for future LinkedIn updates as the platform continues to refine its features and streamline how users connect and share.

LinkedIn has launched “Know-How That Sticks,” a creative campaign designed with VCCP London, specifically aimed at helping Gen Z professionals navigate the start of their careers.This new video-first initiative introduces LinkedIn’s immersive video feature, enabling users to access quick, career-focused content through short-form videos, swiped vertically for easy exploration.With this campaign, LinkedIn offers advice-packed videos that are tailored for young professionals, providing insights on job searching, interviewing, and networking—all essential skills for career growth.Recognizing that many young professionals feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice, LinkedIn aims to address this by connecting them with credible industry experts and mentors.The “Know-How That Sticks” campaign includes three short films featuring influencers like Patrick Quinton-Smith, Shola West, and Heather Elkington. In these films, playful animated stickers serve up humorous, sometimes questionable career advice, mirroring the unsolicited guidance Gen Z often encounters.Each video wraps up with the message: “Get the right know-how, from the right people.”This launch comes as video content on LinkedIn has surged, with the platform seeing a 34% increase in uploads since 2017 and a 40% higher engagement rate compared to text-based posts.LinkedIn’s new immersive video format encourages users to access full-screen videos that provide relatable career insights, making the platform a go-to resource for young professionals seeking guidance.Zara Easton, LinkedIn UK’s Group Head of Brand Marketing, commented, “Our new feature aims to cut through the noise and provide practical, career-focused advice for Gen Z professionals. Through engaging, relevant content from influential voices, we’re empowering young professionals in the fast-paced modern workforce.”The “Know-How That Sticks” series, running across LinkedIn and Meta, positions LinkedIn as a critical platform for career-minded Gen Zers, offering them tools to feel confident and informed in their professional journeys.

LinkedIn is testing a fresh user interface that could streamline the navigation experience by consolidating all in-app navigation options along a single top bar.This design would place all primary shortcuts—notifications, messages, profile access, and search—into one line at the top of the screen, removing the navigation bar from the bottom.What’s Changing in LinkedIn’s UI?LinkedIn’s navigation divides functions between the top and bottom bars. Essential shortcuts like profile, search, inbox, and post composer sit on the top bar, while the bottom banner includes links to the home feed, “My Network” tab, notifications, and job search.The “Video” tab also appears at the bottom for users with access to LinkedIn's video feature.In this experimental layout, LinkedIn merges all these elements into a single top-row interface. This change would free up more screen space, allowing users to scroll through their feeds without interference from a bottom bar. However, some users have observed that the post composer icon is absent in this setup, raising concerns about its placement or potential relocation.Potential Impact on User ExperienceA unified top navigation bar could simplify navigation by making all options readily available in one area. Users would no longer need to shift between top and bottom bars, possibly leading to a more seamless experience.Removing the bottom bar could create a more immersive feed-scrolling experience, aligning LinkedIn’s layout more closely with other social media apps.However, LinkedIn users may need time to adjust to this consolidated navigation. Changes to UI design can sometimes disrupt established user habits, potentially impacting engagement or content creation if users struggle to locate features like the post composer. LinkedIn would unlikely permanently remove the composer function, so the absence of this icon may be a temporary oversight in the testing phase.Will the Update Enhance Engagement?This new design could have mixed effects. On one hand, a streamlined top navigation bar could reduce visual clutter, creating a cleaner user experience. But significant design changes can alter how users interact with an app, especially for a platform like LinkedIn, where professionals rely on familiar functionality to stay connected and engaged.Whilst still in the testing phase, this redesign may not ultimately be rolled out to all users. However, if successful, it could signal a shift toward a more integrated and visually streamlined LinkedIn experience, to optimize engagement by making notifications and messages more accessible.

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking platform, has unveiled its latest AI innovation for recruitment: the Hiring Assistant, an advanced AI-driven agent that promises to streamline and simplify recruitment workflows.This new tool is set to transform how recruiters manage essential but often time-consuming tasks, from drafting job descriptions to sourcing candidates and engaging with them throughout the hiring process.Described as a major milestone in LinkedIn’s AI journey, the Hiring Assistant is built to empower recruiters to focus on the most impactful parts of their role by taking on administrative tasks that traditionally occupy hours of manual effort. LinkedIn has begun rolling out this tool to a select group of clients, including large enterprises like AMD, Canva, Siemens, and Zurich Insurance, with a wider release planned in the coming months.The Hiring Assistant is designed to streamline recruitment by processing brief notes or incomplete drafts to generate comprehensive job descriptions, organize candidate lists, and even identify the most relevant applicants based on specific skill sets. Through advanced algorithms, the assistant focuses on skills over conventional indicators such as location or educational background, promoting a more inclusive approach to recruitment.This latest development reflects LinkedIn’s deepening integration of AI across its ecosystem, drawing on its robust partnership with OpenAI and leveraging Microsoft’s support to expand its suite of AI-powered tools.Over the past year, LinkedIn has rolled out various generative AI features to support learning, marketing, and profile development—each helping users stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.For recruiters specifically, LinkedIn introduced generative AI capabilities as part of Recruiter 2024 last year, which aided in candidate sorting, marking the first step in what has now become a fully-fledged AI hiring assistant.Looking forward, LinkedIn plans to introduce more advanced features for the Hiring Assistant, such as interview scheduling, messaging support, and candidate follow-up, aiming to tackle routine administrative burdens and free up recruiters for strategic relationship-building. This is particularly valuable to LinkedIn’s B2B business, where tools like Talent Solutions have historically driven significant revenue growth, reaching over $7 billion in 2023 alone.How Recruiters Can Leverage Vulse with LinkedIn’s Hiring AssistantWith the potential of LinkedIn’s Hiring Assistant, recruiters have an opportunity to enhance their efficiency, but maximizing visibility and engagement around open roles requires a broader approach.This is where Vulse’s employee advocacy platform can make a critical difference. Vulse enables recruiters to seamlessly distribute branded content, job postings, and industry insights across LinkedIn and other networks, extending their reach and driving engagement.By combining LinkedIn’s AI-driven Hiring Assistant with Vulse’s robust content distribution capabilities, recruiters can attract top talent, boost their employer brand, and focus on strategic decision-making in a highly competitive market.

Vulse is delighted to announce the appointment of Katie Gallagher OBE, Managing Director of Manchester Digital, to our board.With a distinguished career spanning over two decades in the digital and tech sectors, Katie will provide industry insights as Vulse continues its rapid growth.Katie Gallagher, a well-respected leader in the digital industry, has played a pivotal role in advancing Manchester's tech ecosystem through her leadership at Manchester Digital, the largest trade body for digital and tech businesses in the North West.Her commitment to building a vibrant digital economy was recognised with an OBE for services to the digital economy in 2023.Commenting on her appointment, Katie Gallagher OBE said:"I am thrilled to join the board of Vulse, a company that is at the forefront of enhancing how businesses engage with their employees and amplify their voices on LinkedIn.The team at Vulse, led by Rob and Annika, has developed an innovative platform that empowers employees to advocate for their organisations. I look forward to contributing to Vulse's mission and helping the company tobecome the next British unicorn."Annika Sanderson, Co-founder of Vulse, added:"We are incredibly excited to welcome Katie to our board. Her extensive experience in the digital industry and her leadership at Manchester Digital will be invaluable as we continue to grow and evolve.Having a female mentor like Katie, who has such a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the digital sector, will be an incredible asset to Vulse.Her guidance will be instrumental as we work towards our vision of transforming how businesses harness the power of employee advocacy."Katie Gallagher OBE joins dotDigital founder, David Ivy, on our board.

LinkedIn’s recent update to its search engine, introducing semantic search capabilities, is a major advancement in how content is discovered on the platform.By moving beyond simple keyword matching, LinkedIn now uses a broader range of contextual cues to deliver more accurate and relevant search results.This change has significant implications for all LinkedIn users, whether you’re an employer managing a company’s online presence or an employee building your personal brand. Effectively using hashtags on LinkedIn can further enhance content discoverability and audience engagement.What This Means for Users: How to Use LinkedIn HashtagsLinkedIn’s shift to semantic search changes the way users should approach their content strategy and interactions on the platform. Here’s what you need to know:Focus on Creating Value-Driven ContentWhether you’re an employer sharing company updates or an employee posting industry insights, creating content that offers real value is key. LinkedIn’s new search algorithm prioritises content that addresses key topics and questions, rather than just matching specific keywords. This means that posts that provide thoughtful, informative answers to common industry questions are more likely to be discovered.Reevaluate Hashtag UseThe importance of adding and finding relevant hashtags using LinkedIn’s built-in suggestions has increased. While they can still aid discovery, they are no longer essential. Instead of loading your posts with hashtags, concentrate on ensuring your content naturally includes the terms and topics that are most relevant to your audience. If a hashtag fits naturally, use it, but there’s no need to overdo it.Leverage PersonalisationLinkedIn’s updated search engine also incorporates personalisation based on users’ past engagement. This means that the content you share is more likely to be seen by those who have interacted with similar content in the past. For users, this highlights the importance of consistently engaging with content in your field of expertise. Employers and employees alike should encourage sharing content that resonates with their network’s interests and professional needs.Encourage Thought LeadershipEmployers can encourage their teams to share their expertise and insights on LinkedIn, which helps in amplifying the company’s reach while also building the individual’s personal brand. For employees, sharing thoughtful, experience-based content can establish you as a thought leader in your industry, making your profile more attractive to potential employers and collaborators.Diverse Content Is KeyLinkedIn’s improved search capabilities are better at recognising different types of content. Whether you’re sharing articles, videos, infographics, or text posts, having a diverse content mix will help increase your visibility on the platform. Content that addresses various aspects of your industry will likely perform better in searches.Use Analytics To Guide StrategyTools like Vulse can provide valuable insights into what types of content perform best. Whether you’re an employer managing a team’s online activity or an individual looking to boost your LinkedIn presence, use these analytics to refine your strategy. Focus on the topics and content formats that generate the most engagement.Develop a Robust Hashtag StrategyA well-planned hashtag strategy is crucial for enhancing visibility and engagement on LinkedIn. Use a mix of branded hashtags, niche hashtags, and popular hashtags to reach a broader audience while maintaining relevance. Use hashtags sparingly to maintain professionalism. Learn how to use LinkedIn hashtags effectively, including following hashtags to stay updated on relevant topics. Utilise LinkedIn analytics to track the performance of hashtags and refine your strategy. Incorporate relevant hashtags in LinkedIn posts to enhance visibility and engagement. Use the LinkedIn search bar to find industry-relevant hashtags. Leveraging trending hashtags can help connect with relevant audiences and capitalise on emerging topics.Tips for Maximising Engagement with LinkedIn’s Semantic Search and Hashtag StrategyTo make the most of LinkedIn’s new search capabilities, users should consider the following strategies:Prioritise Quality Over QuantityAim to produce content that offers real insights and answers to industry-related questions. Quality content is more likely to be picked up by LinkedIn’s search engine and engaged with by your audience.Stay EngagedRegularly engage with content related to your industry. This not only improves your visibility but also ensures that your content is shown to the right audience based on their past engagement.Stay Updated On LinkedIn FeaturesLinkedIn frequently updates its features and algorithms. Keeping up-to-date with these changes can help you optimise your content strategy and continue to improve your engagement on the platform.What LinkedIn Have SaidXin Yang, AI at LinkedIn spoke about the recent semantic search updates:“Taking a look at our own capabilities, we observed that we had some room for improving our content search results for complex queries. At times, we were either returning no posts since we did not have any posts that contained all of the keywords in a query, or we were returning posts that contained all of the keywords in the query but did not correctly answer the question due to our lack of conceptual understanding of the query.However, our analysis showed that we often did have posts in our search index that could provide a correct answer, even if they didn’t contain all of the keywords in the query. This motivated us to introduce semantic matching capability in our content search engine.Our new content search engine with semantic capability has made it possible to answer complex queries like “how to ask for a raise?”, and improved on-topic rate and long-dwells by more than 10%. We also observed a positive impact on LinkedIn’s sitewide sessions, as members are more likely to engage with the platform when they get better search results.”Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)LinkedIn's new semantic search capability is transforming how content is discovered and engaged with on the platform. By focusing on creating high-quality, valuable content and staying engaged with your network, you can make the most of these changes, enhance your visibility, and drive greater engagement on LinkedIn. Whether you’re an employer looking to amplify your company’s message or an employee building your professional brand, understanding and adapting to these updates is key to success.What is LinkedIn's search algorithm?LinkedIn's search algorithm uses advanced proprietary technology to rank and order search results based on relevance, engagement, and user behaviour. The platform's search now includes semantic matching, meaning it understands the context and intent behind queries, not just the keywords.What is semantic-based search?Semantic search is an advanced search technology that enables search engines to understand the meaning behind words and phrases. Instead of simply matching keywords, semantic search returns content that aligns with the overall intent of the query, leading to more accurate and relevant results.Do hashtags increase visibility on LinkedIn?Hashtags can still play a role in improving visibility on LinkedIn, but their importance has decreased with the platform's new semantic search capabilities. While hashtags can help categorize content, LinkedIn’s algorithm now prioritises the overall context and quality of the content itself.Do hashtags still work on LinkedIn in 2024?Hashtags are still relevant on LinkedIn in 2024, but their impact has evolved. They remain useful for joining broader business conversations, such as those around topics like #leadership, #socialmediamarketing, and #smallbusiness. However, LinkedIn’s improved search algorithms mean that content quality and relevance are now more critical than ever.Why are my hashtags not working on LinkedIn?If your hashtags aren’t working on LinkedIn, ensure your profile or posts aren't set to private, as this can limit visibility. Additionally, verify that the hashtags you’re using aren’t on LinkedIn’s banned list, which includes hashtags associated with inappropriate or harmful content.