Before we dive into the how of posting a video on LinkedIn, let's talk about the why. This isn't just about mixing up your content; it's a strategic play to grab attention, build your authority, and seriously boost your engagement.
Why Video on LinkedIn Is a Must-Do
Video isn't just another content type on LinkedIn—it's the one the platform actively favors. The algorithm gives preferential treatment to native video, meaning content you upload directly to LinkedIn, not just a link to YouTube or Vimeo. Right out of the gate, you're getting a built-in advantage.
For anyone in the B2B space, from marketers to founders, this translates into real, measurable results. A great video can do things a text post simply can't:
- Showcase Your Company Culture: Give potential hires and clients a genuine peek behind the curtain.
- Establish Thought Leadership: Share your expertise and industry insights in a format that’s far more personal and engaging.
- Generate High-Quality Leads: Demonstrate your product or service in action, making the value proposition instantly clear.
This infographic breaks down how video directly fuels your growth on the platform, from getting the algorithm on your side to sparking actual business conversations.
You can see how it creates a domino effect: better reach leads to stronger authority, which in turn drives the kind of business opportunities you're looking for.
On top of the algorithm boost, video just connects with people better. It’s the ultimate medium for storytelling and making a lasting impression. Think about it: video posts can pull in up to 3 times more engagement than other types of content.
This is especially true for B2B audiences. Buyers actually remember 95% of a message they see in a video, compared to a mere 10% when they read it in text. That's a massive difference.
Remember, every video you post is an opportunity to strengthen your professional brand. It’s a direct line to your network that allows you to communicate with authenticity and impact, turning passive scrollers into engaged followers.
Understanding the impact of corporate videography on business can really drive home why investing in this format is such a smart move on a professional platform like LinkedIn.
Getting Your Video Live: Desktop vs. Mobile
Alright, you've got your video ready to go. Now for the easy part: getting it uploaded. The process for posting a video on LinkedIn is pretty direct, and you can do it from your computer or your phone.
I find the desktop experience gives you a bit more breathing room. It’s perfect when you want to really nail the description and double-check all the details before hitting that post button.
Posting from Your Computer
First, head over to your LinkedIn homepage. You’ll see the "Start a post" box right at the top of your feed—this is where the magic happens.
Click into that box, and a new window will pop up. From there, find the little media icon (it usually looks like a picture or video camera) and select "Add media." This will let you browse your computer for the video file you want to upload.
Once it's loaded, you'll see a preview and a few critical options. Don't rush past these!
- Custom Thumbnail: You can pick a frame from the video or, even better, upload a custom image. This is your video's first impression, so make it a good one.
- Subtitles: Got an SRT file? Upload it here. Since most people on LinkedIn watch videos with the sound off, captions are non-negotiable.
- Alt-Text: This is a simple description of your video for screen readers. It's a small step that makes your content accessible to everyone.
The last thing to check is your audience. Just above the "Post" button, you can change the visibility from "Anyone" to a more specific group if you need to.
My Two Cents: Seriously, don't skip the accessibility features. Adding alt-text and captions isn't just a box to check—it’s how you reach a wider audience and show you care about inclusive communication. It can make a huge difference in your video's performance.
Sharing from the LinkedIn Mobile App
Need to post something on the fly? The mobile app is your best friend. It’s perfect for sharing timely content, like a quick clip from an event or a behind-the-scenes look at your office.
Just open the app and tap the "Post" button right in the middle of the bottom navigation bar. Choose the video icon, which will pull up your phone's camera roll. Pick your video and hit "Next."
The mobile editor gives you all the core tools you need. You can write your post, tag people and companies with the "@" symbol, and add your hashtags. You can also tweak the visibility settings here. When everything looks good, just tap "Post" in the top corner, and you're live.
It's all designed to be quick and painless, so you can get valuable content in front of your network in just a few taps.
Getting Your LinkedIn Video Specs Right
Before your video can stop the scroll on LinkedIn, it has to play by the rules. Getting the technical specs right isn't just about avoiding an "upload failed" error—it's about making sure your video looks crisp, professional, and performs flawlessly for the algorithm.
Think about it: a pixelated or awkwardly cropped video instantly cheapens your message and hurts your credibility. LinkedIn has these guidelines for a reason. They ensure a smooth, high-quality experience for everyone, and sticking to them is the first, non-negotiable step to getting your video seen.
The Must-Know Technical Details
Let's get straight to the numbers. If you bake these specs into your editing process from the start, you'll save yourself a world of frustration.
- File Size: Your video needs to be between 75 KB and 5 GB.
- Video Length: It has to be at least 3 seconds long, but you can go up to 10 minutes for a standard feed post.
- File Format: Stick with MP4. It's the most reliable format for the platform.
- Frame Rate: Anywhere from 10 to 60 frames per second (fps) is acceptable.
This table is your quick cheat sheet for getting the core specs right every time you upload.
LinkedIn Native Video Specifications At-a-Glance
| Specification | Requirement | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| File Size | 75 KB to 5 GB | Export at a high bitrate (like 8-10 Mbps for 1080p) to balance quality and file size. |
| Duration | 3 seconds to 10 minutes | For feed posts, aim for under 60 seconds. Save longer content for deep-dive topics. |
| File Format | MP4 (recommended) | Use the H.264 video codec for the best compatibility and compression. |
| Frame Rate | 10 to 60 fps | 24 or 30 fps is standard for most content. Use 60 fps only for slow-motion effects. |
| Resolution | 256x144 to 4096x2304 | 1080x1080 (square) or 1080x1920 (vertical) are your best bets for mobile viewing. |
Having these specs handy will make your workflow so much smoother. For a deeper look at every possible spec, check out our comprehensive guide on LinkedIn post specs.
Smart Tweaks for Better Engagement
Getting the technical side right is one thing, but optimizing for how people actually watch videos on LinkedIn is another. The platform is seeing video creation grow at twice the rate of any other format, so competition is fierce.
What works? Shorter is almost always better. Data consistently shows that videos under 15 seconds pull in much higher engagement. People are scrolling fast, and you have to earn their attention immediately.
Here's the single most important tip: Add subtitles. LinkedIn videos autoplay on mute, so captions are your only tool for grabbing attention in the first few seconds. A huge portion of your audience will watch without sound, and without subtitles, your message is completely lost.
Finally, think about your video's shape. A traditional landscape (16:9) video looks tiny on a phone. By using a square (1:1) or vertical (9:16) format, you take up significantly more screen real estate, making your content more immersive and much harder to just scroll past.
Writing a Post That Makes People Watch
You can have the most brilliant video in the world, but it'll get scrolled past if the text around it is weak. Your post copy is the hook. It’s what stops someone mid-scroll and convinces them to give your video even a few seconds of their time.
Think of it this way: your first couple of lines are everything. LinkedIn will chop off the rest with a "see more" link, so you have to make that initial snippet count. Start with a question, a bold claim, or a relatable problem your video solves. Your only job is to create enough curiosity to earn that click.
Crafting a Scannable and Engaging Post
Once you've hooked them, you have to make the rest of the post easy to digest. Huge walls of text are an instant turn-off on a busy feed.
- Short Paragraphs are Your Friend: Keep them to just a sentence or two. That white space is crucial for readability.
- Use Bullet Points: If you're listing features, steps, or takeaways, bullets make the information scannable and clear.
- Tag People and Companies: When it makes sense, use the "@" symbol to tag relevant people or companies. It brings them into the conversation and can seriously expand your reach.
This isn't just about looks; it's about making your message stick. When the key points are easy to spot, they reinforce what the viewer is about to see in the video. For a deeper dive into this, our guide on how to post on LinkedIn has you covered.
Your post's job is to frame the conversation. It should provide just enough context to make viewers interested, then get out of the way and let the video do the heavy lifting. The text sets the stage; the video delivers the story.
Driving Action with Hashtags and CTAs
Alright, you've got them watching. Now what? Don't leave them hanging. Tell them exactly what you want them to do next. A clear call-to-action (CTA) is non-negotiable. Ask a question to spark comments, point them to your website, or tell them to follow your page. Be direct.
Hashtags are how new people find you. I've found that using three to five relevant hashtags is the sweet spot. Try mixing a couple of broad, high-traffic tags (like #Marketing) with a few niche ones that are specific to your topic (#VideoStrategy). This helps the algorithm understand who to show your post to.
Get this part right, and you’ll do more than just get views—you'll start building a real community.
Expanding Your Video's Reach After Posting
Your job isn't over once you click "Post." In fact, what you do in the first hour or two after your LinkedIn video goes live can make all the difference in its long-term success.
This initial window is your chance to signal to the LinkedIn algorithm that your content is valuable and engaging. One of the best ways to do this is by jumping on comments as soon as they appear. Quick replies not only build a real connection with your audience but also tell the algorithm that your post is sparking a conversation, which can seriously boost its reach.
Give Your Content a Push—Organically and With Ads
Beyond comment engagement, you need to be proactive about getting more eyes on your video. A great first step is sharing it in relevant LinkedIn Groups where your ideal audience is already active. This puts your content right in front of professionals who are genuinely interested in your topic.
Don't forget about your biggest advocates: your own team. A quick message encouraging colleagues to share the post can give it a powerful initial kickstart. If you're looking to save time, you can even find tools that help you crosspost automatically across different social platforms.
The goal here is to create a ripple effect. Every single comment, like, and share helps build momentum, keeping your video circulating in the feed for much longer.
When you're ready to put some budget behind your video, LinkedIn Ads offer incredibly precise targeting. This is the perfect move when you need to reach a very specific audience—think C-suite executives in the tech industry or marketing managers in a particular city.
Interestingly, only about 49% of businesses are even running video ads on LinkedIn, and most of them are just focused on brand awareness. This leaves a massive opening for companies that want to use video for lead generation. You can really stand out.
To make sure your videos are working as hard as they can for you, they should be part of a well-thought-out strategic content planning for user acquisition.
A Few Common Questions About LinkedIn Video
Even with the best strategy, you're bound to have some questions when you start posting videos on LinkedIn. I've run into these myself, so let's clear up a few of the most common ones. Getting these details right can make a huge difference in your results.
When Is the Best Time to Post a Video?
This is the million-dollar question, isn't it? While every audience is a bit different, a good rule of thumb is to post during standard business hours, Tuesday through Thursday. I've seen the most traction in the mid-morning (9–11 AM) and early afternoon (1–3 PM) windows.
But here’s the real secret: your own analytics are your best friend. Start with those times, but then dive into your LinkedIn data to see when your specific followers are actually online and engaging. That's where you'll find the gold.
Can I Edit a Video After I Post It?
Unfortunately, no. Once a video is uploaded and published, the file itself is locked in. You can still go back and tweak the post's description, add or remove hashtags, or tag different people, which is helpful.
If you spot a mistake in the video itself, though, your only option is to delete the entire post and start over with the corrected file. It's a pain, which is why a quick double-check before hitting "Post" is always a good idea.
How Long Should My LinkedIn Video Be?
For organic posts that show up in the feed, shorter is almost always better. You're fighting for attention, so aim for under 90 seconds. Honestly, the sweet spot I've found is between 30 and 60 seconds—long enough to provide value, but short enough to hold their interest.
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