Curious about how to elevate your video marketing strategy on LinkedIn? For marketing and business professionals aiming to harness LinkedIn’s evolving video capabilities, it’s essential to know how to approach video content effectively. Video content isn’t just a passing trend; it’s an integral part of fostering deeper audience engagement and broadening your reach on a professional network known for its unique algorithm. Here’s a breakdown of key insights, tips, and strategies and takeaways from LinkedIn’s recent “Ask Us Anything: Answering Your Video FAQs” session.
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LinkedIn Has a Video Tab
If you’re in the U.S. or North America and using the LinkedIn mobile app, finding your video tab has been simplified. Navigate to the bottom of your screen to locate this feature, allowing for better access and a smoother content-sharing experience. This is a new opportunity to be discovered, with LinkedIn offering more surfaces to showcase video content.
Choose the Best Video Orientation
Always aim for vertical video over horizontal. Why? Vertical videos better align with how users naturally hold their devices, providing a more seamless viewing experience. This format helps to occupy more screen space and commands better attention as users scroll through their feeds.
Optimal Posting Frequency
The ideal number of video posts varies depending on your followers and content type. Start by experimenting with one to three posts per week, maintaining consistency without overextending yourself. Schedule your videos in advance to optimize timing and prevent content fatigue.
Sweet Spot for Video Length
Keep your videos between 15 seconds and two minutes. The golden range falls between 60 to 90 seconds, striking a balance between comprehensive storytelling and concise content delivery. For tutorials, it’s fine to go longer, but always prioritize brevity without compromising clarity.
From Concept to Creation: Storytelling Tips
Every strong video starts with compelling storytelling. Structure your videos with a hook, a main narrative, and an applicable takeaway:
- The Hook: Capture attention in the first three seconds. For example, start with, “Yesterday, I encountered something surprising at work…”
- Core Story: Keep the body informative yet engaging.
- Conclusion with Application: End with how your insights can be applied by your audience. Make sure your video always tells a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Avoid Self-Promotion
The key to genuine engagement is creating videos that are helpful rather than promotional. Share industry insights, career tips, or educational content that adds value. Always include a take-away message that your viewers can benefit from. If your content solely focuses on your achievements without contributing useful knowledge, it will be perceived as self-serving.
Increase Video Views
Leverage your video analytics to see what resonates with your audience. Evaluate engagements and impressions for each video and adapt your content strategy based on those metrics. Respond to comments thoughtfully and initiate discussions to foster community interaction. Remember: engage directly with your audience strengthens connections and increases reach.
Essential Considerations in Video Creation
- Pre-production: Identify your target audience and tailor your video’s message accordingly. Outline a shot list and choose between direct-to-camera or B-roll content.
- Filming: Clean your camera lens and be mindful of your filming environment and lighting.
- Post-production: Ensure your video is polished with clear audio and visuals.
- Captions: Many users browse in mute mode, so auto captions are vital. This step is often overlooked but can drastically improve your video’s accessibility and engagement.
Sharing Content from Other Platforms?
You can repurpose videos from other platforms, but context is crucial. Ensure videos are relevant and align with your content strategy. Remove any watermarks to make the video feel native to LinkedIn.
What Not to Do
- Avoid skipping auto-captions and ensure your video lasts at least 15 seconds.
- Don’t add music without proper licensing
- Steer clear of hashtags that appear spammy. Instead, use hashtags purposefully to enhance discoverability.
- Lastly, refrain from adding irrelevant text
- Always contextualize your video with meaningful captions.
Pro Tip: Boost Engagement
Include a 50-word caption summarizing the essence of your video. This approach not only provides clarity but also entices users to watch.
LinkedIn Challenge for Your Video Posting Strategy
- Try filming a “Day in the Life” video or share career tips relevant to your role. This kind of relatable, human-centered content can drive higher engagement and bolster your personal brand.
- Consider creating a “How do you take a break time” and film what you’re doing.
Common Questions for Posting Videos on LinkedIn
Popular Video Editing Tools
- CapCut: This tool was highlighted by many marketers as a reliable, free video editor that’s easy to use and offers a range of editing capabilities. CapCut is great for quick edits, adding text overlays, and refining video quality, making it a go-to for many professionals looking for a simple yet effective editing solution.
- InShot: Suggested for those new to video editing or looking for a user-friendly interface, InShot is ideal for trimming videos, adding music, and incorporating visual effects. This app’s intuitive design makes it a favorite for marketers needing fast edits.
- iMovie: A classic choice for those on Apple devices, iMovie offers robust editing features and is a great step up for more detailed editing without needing advanced expertise.
- Teleprompter Apps: For marketers scripting their videos, teleprompter apps like BigVu and Riverside.FM were recommended to help with reading from a script while maintaining eye contact with the camera. This approach ensures seamless delivery and professional presentation.
LinkedIn Tips and Suggestions for Posting Videos
- Audio Quality Matters: We can’t stress the importance of audio consistency enough. Investing in an affordable external microphone can significantly improve sound quality and reduce background noise, which enhances viewer experience.
- Batch Filming and Scheduling: Filming multiple videos at once and posting them weekly is an efficient way to maintain consistency. This batch production approach ensures that content remains fresh and reduces the weekly pressure of recording new material.
- Auto-Captions and Text Overlays: Captions are crucial for engagement, especially for users who scroll with the sound off. Using built-in tools or editing apps to add clear, readable captions can boost video views and retention rates.
- Lighting and Clean Shots: It’s important to use good lighting and clear visuals. Filming with natural light or using a basic ring light can enhance video quality. Additionally, cleaning your camera lens before recording is a simple yet effective tip for sharper footage. There’s nothing like getting to your editor and finding your video isn’t up to par and you need to shoot again or use the footage you have.
- Native Video Uploads: Avoid sharing links from platforms like YouTube. Instead, upload videos directly to LinkedIn for better algorithmic treatment. Native content is prioritized and shown more frequently to your connections.
- Consistency and Timing: What is the right posting frequency? Consistency is more important than volume. Experimenting with weekly or bi-weekly videos to match your workflow can help find the balance between quality and quantity.
- Engaging Headlines: Capture attention through compelling and impactful headlines.
- Post Scheduling: Schedule posts to maintain consistency and ensure a steady content flow.
Specific Challenges and Solutions When Posting Video to LinkedIn
- Engagement Strategies: Simply liking comments isn’t enough; replying thoughtfully and initiating further conversation can drive higher engagement. This interaction signals to LinkedIn’s algorithm that your content is resonating with viewers.
- Avoid Overusing Hashtags: While hashtags are not dead, use them thoughtfully and avoid spammy tags that don’t contribute value. One or two relevant hashtags that align with the topic of your video can aid discoverability without overwhelming your post (Find useful hashtags on our Hashtag Link Generator.)
- Avoid Algorithm Pitfalls: Another practical tip is to avoid starting videos with a fade-in from black or white, as this may lead to a blank-looking thumbnail. Instead, ensure your opening frame is visually compelling to attract attention.
These tips provide a comprehensive guide for marketing and business professionals aiming to enhance their LinkedIn video content. Integrating these strategies can improve content quality, boost engagement, and maximize the impact of video marketing efforts on LinkedIn. Utilize these insights and adjust your video strategy to suit your audience’s needs.
Remember: experimentation, consistency, and thoughtful engagement are your keys to a successful LinkedIn video strategy.
Happy posting!