How to Use GIFs on LinkedIn

GIFs, also known as Graphics Interchange Formats, are short, looping animations or images. They have become a staple in the world of digital communication. They are visually engaging, making them perfect for capturing attention and expressing emotions or ideas quickly. GIFs can be of a variety of pictures, places, animals, people, and logos.

Why are GIFs popular?

GIFs are easy to consume, which has made them extremely popular on social media platforms. They bridge the gap between static images and videos, delivering messages in a fun, colorful, yet digestible way. They’re like mini videos, that last just a few seconds. 

Why Should I Use GIFs on LinkedIn?

GIFs can boost engagement by making your content more dynamic and entertaining. If you use them in the right way, they can draw attention in fast-moving feeds, increase the likelihood of shares, and help posts stand out. Posts with visuals have higher engagement than posts without any sort of visual. When used thoughtfully, GIFs can add a touch of humor or emotion that humanizes your posts, while still maintaining a professional tone. LinkedIn is a professional platform, but it is a social one as well, so being lighthearted with some GIFs is the perfect way to show off professionalism and also personality. But, be aware of when a GIF may not be the right thing to use when commenting or sharing information.

Types of GIFs to Use on LinkedIn: 

1. Educational GIFs: These can include short how-to demonstrations, quick tips, or previews of tutorials.

2. Celebratory GIFs: You can congratulate team members, celebrate work anniversaries, promotions, or company wins by commenting with a GIF that shows you are happy for your network and their accomplishments!

3. Reaction GIFs: Show excitement, surprise, agreement, etc., in a lighthearted way with a smiley face, an excited person, or a vibrant picture.

Types of GIFs to AVOID on LinkedIn: 

1. Inappropriate Humor or Language: LinkedIn is used by people across industries and cultures. Even lighthearted content should be respectful and inclusive.

2. Excessively Flashy or Distracting GIFs: These can be overwhelming, cause accessibility issues, and make your overall post look unprofessional.

3. Irrelevant Reactions: It may confuse your audience, or dilute your message if the GIF you chose doesn’t align with your content.

4. GIFs That Mock or Shame: Anything that could be interpreted as making fun of others, including: fails, eye-rolls, or judgy/smug faces could make it seem like you are being passive aggressive and mean.

Quick Tip:

Before posting a GIF, ask yourself:

• Would I show this to a hiring manager or CEO?

• Does it enhance or distract from the message I’m sharing?

If the answer isn’t a confident yes, skip it or try a more subtle, professional GIF instead.

Resources for Finding and Creating GIFs

Finding GIFs

• Giphy (https://giphy.com) - One of the largest GIF libraries, with a professional category.

• Tenor (https://tenor.com) - Integrated into many platforms like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Facebook, it's easy to use to search by emotion or keyword.

LinkedIn does not enable GIF creation, but there are platforms you can use to make your own GIFs that LinkedIn will allow you to post.

Creating GIFs

You can use a variety of platforms to make your own GIFs for your LinkedIn, such as

• Canva – User-friendly tool to design and export custom GIFs.

• Photoshop – Offers more advanced options for animating frames.

• Ezgif (https://ezgif.com) – Free online editor to create, resize, and optimize GIFs.

How to post or comment GIFs on LinkedIn

Watch this short video on how to post and/or comment a GIFs on LinkedIn!

Best Practices for using GIFs

Choose wisely – Select GIFs that align with your message, tone, and brand voice.

Keep it professional – Avoid overly silly or pop-culture-heavy GIFs that may not resonate in a professional setting.

Optimize for performance – Aim for GIFs under 5MB with a clean, clear loop that plays smoothly. Any GIF with a size over 5MB is not supported by LinkedIn.

Use sparingly – One well-placed GIF per post is usually enough.

When to use GIFs on LinkedIn

GIFs are fun, but they are not always the best to use. Sometimes, simple comment, repost, or post does the trick even more so than a GIF. These are some examples of when using a GIF is great, but ultimately use your judgement!

• Job Promotion Announcements

• Productivity Tip Posts

• Reacting to Industry News

• Congratulating a Teammate or Colleague

Limitations of GIFs:

• GIFs may not autoplay in posts (you may need to upload as a short video).

• Keep an eye on file size and ensure it's under LinkedIn’s upload limits. LinkedIn does not support any GIF size over 5mb

In Conclusion

GIFs can bring your LinkedIn content to life by making it more engaging, relatable, and memorable. When used thoughtfully, they help convey emotion, celebrate milestones, or simplify complex information—all while staying on brand and building your connections with your network. Give it a try!