LinkedIn began rolling out its new native video via mobile app July 13th, what does that mean for you? LinkedIn users will finally be able to record up to 10 minutes of their own native video directly to the newsfeed, an option available on all other social platforms making LinkedIn the last to implement this technology.
We have had the ability to upload a You Tube link into our “Share a post” section previously, however, this native video option simply allows one less step in the process of creating video in real time.
LinkedIn started testing the feature with a small number of users in the U.S. which is how they typically release new features. The feature will roll-out to all users worldwide over the next few weeks or months. As with other social platforms, videos will play automatically with the sound off when they appear in people’s feeds and users can disable videos from playing automatically in their account settings.
Check your mobile app, LinkedIn will add a video camera icon next to the regular camera icon in the status update box.(See image above) Currently the app is set-up only to upload video from your camera roll that was recorded (not live streaming as you can do in Facebook) but this could certainly change so once you get the option, keep testing.
Bonus LinkedIn Analytics
According to Marketing Land who reported on this new feature, “LinkedIn will give people information about their viewers like the companies where they work and their job titles. LinkedIn will not share a complete list of all viewers’ employer names and job titles, but a selection of the top ones, according to the spokesperson. That information might not mean much to a YouTube creator or someone filming their five-year-old on Facebook, but it’s a significant carrot for the business crowd LinkedIn caters to, particularly if it turns out that LinkedIn users like watching videos as much as users of seemingly every other social network.”
Video – IncorporateContent Strategy
Since the native video has come out on other social platforms, many have tried to incorporate it into their content strategy. I caution you to be sure any video marketing is congruent with your over all strategy. I have seen a bit of the wild west in video marketing with people believing anything goes, but a confusing video can derail a brand quickly.
A video is a powerful medium as it allows us to get more personal and present. We can pull back the curtains and let people into our business while building on our brand.
When incorporating video into your overall plan consider this;
• Our brand is ____________
• The tone of our video’s should be ______________
• We will publish our video’s on ________day _______number of times per week
Tips for Video Marketing Success
1. Create good content first – take the time to plan out what you’re doing before executing
2. Focus on quality visuals and sound
3. Include a catchy title and description to entice people to listen to you! If people simply scroll by the video has provided you no value
3. If you are posting on LinkedIn first, share it on other social platforms.
4. Engage with everyone who comments on your video
5. Pay attention to the analytics and produce more of what’s working
Video Ads
There are been no announcements at this time about LinkedIn incorporating video into their advertising program, but I would not discount the idea. It has been working so well for Facebook in term for boosting and adding Facebook live content in advertising campaigns that I would not be surprised that LinkedIn will follow suit. But at the pace LinkedIn typically rolls out new features, that could be later rather than sooner.
