How to Post a Story on LinkedIn

If you're looking for how to post a Story on LinkedIn, you've probably noticed the feature is no longer where it used to be. LinkedIn removed its Stories feature back in 2021, shifting its focus toward other forms of shareable, engaging content. This guide will walk you through the modern alternatives that have replaced Stories, showing you exactly how to create timely, authentic content that captures attention and builds your professional brand on the platform today.

What Happened to LinkedIn Stories? A Quick Look Back

LinkedIn introduced Stories in 2020 as an experiment, following the success of the ephemeral format on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. The goal was to give professionals a way to share more casual, "in-the-moment" updates - from behind-the-scenes looks at a project to quick thoughts from an industry event. They were vertical, fullscreen photos or videos that disappeared after 24 hours.

However, the feature didn't quite resonate with the LinkedIn audience as the company had hoped. Users found the casual, temporary nature of Stories to be somewhat at odds with the platform's focus on lasting professional achievements and evergreen content. Acknowledging this, LinkedIn retired the feature and doubled down on formats that users were already engaging with, particularly short-form video and other rich media types that have a longer shelf life.

While you can't post a "Story" anymore, the spirit of what Stories aimed to do - create personal, timely, and engaging connections - is more alive than ever on LinkedIn. It just lives in different places now.

The True Successor: Creating and Posting Short-Form Video

Short-form vertical video is now the primary way to create the kind of content Stories were meant for. It’s perfect for sharing quick tips, project updates, or personal reflections in a dynamic format that grabs attention in the feed. LinkedIn's algorithm is also giving significant reach to video content right now, making it a powerful tool for organic growth.

How to Post a Video on the LinkedIn Mobile App

For that "in-the-moment" story feel, posting directly from your phone is the best way to go. Here’s the step-by-step:

1. Open the LinkedIn app and tap the Post button at the bottom center of the navigation bar.
2. In the post creation screen, you’ll see several options. Tap Add a photo or Take a video. To use a pre-recorded clip, select it from your gallery. To record something new, tap "Take a video."
3. Once your video is selected or recorded, you can trim its length, add text overlays, or attach stickers - much like you would with a Story.
4. After editing, tap Next. Now you’re back in the main post composer.
5. Write a compelling caption. This is your chance to add context, ask a question, and include relevant hashtags.
6. Tap Post in the top-right corner, and your video will be shared with your network.

Example: An event marketer at a conference could post a 30-second video clip walking through the buzzing expo hall, with a text overlay saying, "Soaking up all the energy at #SaaStr2024! What a turnout." The caption could ask, "Who else is here? Let's connect!"

Best Practices for Winning with LinkedIn Video

• Keep it Vertical: Most users scroll on their phones. Shoot in a 9:16 aspect ratio (the standard smartphone default) so your video fills the screen.
• Add Captions: Roughly 85% of social media videos are watched without sound. Adding burnt-in captions or using LinkedIn’s auto-captioning feature is non-negotiable for accessibility and engagement.
• Hook Them Fast: You have about 3 seconds to stop someone from scrolling. Start with a question, a bold statement, or eye-catching movement. Don't waste time with a long, branded intro.
• Stay Under 90 Seconds: While LinkedIn allows longer videos, the sweet spot for feed content is typically between 30 and 90 seconds. Keep it short, focused, and valuable.
• Be Authentic, Not Perfect: Just like with Stories, the goal isn't Hollywood-level production. A well-lit video shot on your phone that provides a genuine insight will often perform better than a polished but impersonal corporate video.

Beyond Video: Other Ways to Share Timely, Engaging Updates

Video is powerful, but it’s not the only way to replicate the benefits of Stories. LinkedIn offers several other post formats that excel at sparking conversation and sharing information in a visually appealing way.

1. Share Visually with Carousels (PDF Uploads)

Carousels are one of the best-performing post types on LinkedIn right now. You create them by uploading a PDF document, which LinkedIn then converts into a swipeable, multi-slide presentation right in the feed. They are fantastic for breaking down complex topics, sharing checklists, or showcasing a portfolio of work.

How to post a Carousel:

1. Create a simple presentation with a tool like Canva or Google Slides. Make each slide a self-contained piece of information. Aim for 5-10 slides. Export the file as a PDF.
2. Start a new post on LinkedIn.
3. Click the document icon (it looks like a piece of paper) in the post options.
4. Upload your PDF file.
5. Give your document an informative title. This will appear at the top of the Carousel.
6. Write your post copy, summarizing what the carousel is about and encouraging people to swipe through.
7. Hit Post!

Example: A financial advisor could create a 7-slide carousel titled "5 Common Mistakes New Investors Make." Each slide would detail one mistake with a simple graphic, making a complex topic easy to digest.

2. Spark Instant Conversation with Polls

Polls are the ultimate low-effort, high-engagement post type. They are perfect for gathering audience opinions, doing quick market research, or simply starting a conversation around an industry trend. Because it only takes one tap to participate, Polls often generate more interaction than a standard text post.

How to post a Poll:

1. Start a new post on LinkedIn.
2. Tap on the "..." menu and find the "Create a poll" option with the bar-chart icon.
3. Write your question and fill in the options (up to four).
4. Select the poll duration (from 24 hours up to 2 weeks).
5. Write your post copy to give context to your poll and then click Post.

Example: A software developer could post a poll asking, "Which language are you most excited to learn more about in 2024?" with options like Rust, Go, Python, and TypeScript. Professionals love sharing their expertise and opinions.

3. Tell a Story with Well-Formatted Text Posts

Never underestimate the power of a good text-only post. LinkedIn's feed favors white space and readability, and strategic formatting can turn a simple text update into a compelling piece of micro-storytelling. For the last several years, LinkedIn has become less of a resume repository and more of a publisher of professional creator-generated content.

How to write a viral style LinkedIn post:

• Start with a Strong Hook: Open with a counterintuitive statement, a vulnerable admission, or a bold-faced lesson learned. E.g., "I got fired today. Here's why I'm celebrating..."
• Use Short Paragraphs and One-Sentence Lines: Break up your text to make it easy to scan on mobile devices. Embrace white space and frequent line breaks to build suspense and create a rhythm. The goal is to break large blocks of text into small, staccato pieces that are easy to read.
• Tell a Simple Story: People want to connect with you, the actual professional, not with a press release. Use the classic "Challenge... Action... Resolution" narrative. Share real-life lessons, industry takeaways, successes, and failures. Even everyday wins can attract an audience, just remember not to sanitize everything for LinkedIn. Humans connect with other humans.

Final Thoughts

Although LinkedIn Stories may be a thing of the past, the underlying desire to share authentic, timely professional moments has only grown. By leveraging short-form video, engaging carousels, quick polls, and well-structured text posts, you can build a dynamic presence on the platform that captures attention and fosters meaningful conversation. Focus on providing value and showcasing your human side, and you'll achieve everything Stories promised and more.

Planning and scheduling this diverse mix of content is the tricky part, but consistency wins on every platform. At Postbase, we built our visual calendar to handle today’s content formats from the ground up, with a special focus on short-form video. Since we were tired of tools that felt like they were fighting us, we created a simple way to plan, schedule, and publish everything - videos, carousels, text posts, you name it - across all your accounts without the headache.