LinkedIn has emerged as a pivotal platform for professional engagement, with 134.5 million users logging in daily and nearly half actively participating each month.
Among its newest features, LinkedIn Short Form Videos are capturing attention and are poised to revolutionize professional interactions on the platform.
These concise videos are quickly becoming essential viewing, but what makes them so compelling? How are they quietly reshaping professional landscapes?
At Vidico, we understand the power of concise, impactful content. Let’s uncover the impact of short-form videos on LinkedIn and learn why they are an indispensable tool for modern professionals.
Content
Does LinkedIn Have Short Form Videos?
Yes, LinkedIn is testing short-form videos. The company confirmed that this feature will allow users to create and share videos directly, providing a dynamic way to engage with their network, share insights, and showcase professional expertise.
While LinkedIn allows videos up to 10 minutes long, it aims for concise, professionally relevant article content that adds value for viewers, ideally under 40-60 seconds to maintain engagement.
Bite-sized videos on LinkedIn can be particularly effective for personal branding and thought leaders in the business community.
Purpose & Benefits
Enhancing User Engagement
Short videos are designed to quickly capture and retain viewers’ attention, boost user engagement, and increase content discoverability.
These videos encourage more frequent interactions such as likes, comments, and shares, unlike long-form content.
Increasing Content Diversity
By incorporating videos, LinkedIn diversifies the types of content users can create and consume, making the platform more appealing and versatile. This feature helps professionals to stand out and stay ahead of the curve.
Adapting to Popular Social Media Trends
With TikTok’s rise in short videos, LinkedIn provides users with this content so they can quickly scroll to remain competitive and relevant in the future.
Key Features
Vertical Video Format on Bite-Sized Videos
Vertical video clips fill the screen more effectively because they reflect the natural way most people hold their phones.
LinkedIn is testing a new avenue that offers a full-screen experience without adjusting the device orientation.
Auto-Playing Video Content
Video clips on LinkedIn are set to auto-play silently as users scroll through their news feeds.
This new feature helps to grab attention quickly and can significantly increase the likelihood of engagement by drawing audiences into the content before they actively decide to click.
Dedicated Video Tab in the App
To facilitate easier access to video content, LinkedIn includes a dedicated video tab in its app’s navigation bar (formerly My Network Tab)
This new video tab aggregates video content in one place, making it straightforward for users to find and consume video posts without searching through mixed content types.
Interaction Options
LinkedIn video clips come equipped with standard social media interaction tools—like, comment, share, and view full post caption using ‘See More’ on the new feed.
These features foster community interaction and discussion, as LinkedIn aims to engage users directly with short-form video content, especially for smaller businesses.
Comparisons to Other Platforms
Similarities to TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts
LinkedIn’s short-form videos share several features with platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, including a vertical short-form video format optimized for mobile viewing, brief content durations to capture quick attention, and auto-play functionality.
These streaming services utilize algorithm-driven content delivery to personalize feeds based on user behavior and interactions and provide users with interactive tools like likes, comments, and shares to foster community engagement.
Differences in Target Audience & Content Style
LinkedIn’s short-form videos are distinctly professional. The platform’s primary audience consists of industry leaders, small businesses, creators, strategy directors, and companies, which influences the tone and type of content shared.
LinkedIn’s content is tailored for professional development, industry insights, networking, and business promotion.
They are more likely to include career growth, job searches, articles, company news and stories, professional creators, tutorials, and thought leadership content [2].
User Experience & Feedback
Initial User Reactions & Beta Testing Feedback
Garret Caudle, CEO of Influent, recently shared his experience with LinkedIn’s beta testing of a TikTok-style video feed.
He noted, “This is a VERY cool feature that feels like it’s going to quickly become a major part of the platform.”
Unlike YouTube Shorts, these video clips, lasting one minute or less, are derived from existing LinkedIn posts without a designated separate area for viewing.
Anticipated Impact on Professional Networking
The introduction of a short-form video feed on LinkedIn is poised to enhance professional networking significantly. The dedicated feed will increase user visibility and promote broader, more meaningful professional connections.
They can foster better collaboration and more valuable opportunities by offering a more targeted networking approach in the TikTok-like feed through personalized short-form video content.
FAQs
What video format is best for LinkedIn?
The best video format for LinkedIn is typically short, vertical videos optimized for mobile viewing.
Early observations suggest that these videos should ideally be concise, with a duration of no more than a few minutes [1].
Do short videos loop on LinkedIn?
Short videos on LinkedIn do not automatically loop. Once a video finishes playing, it stops.
This design choice keeps the LinkedIn experience professional and straightforward, encouraging viewers to engage with content in the feed actively.
Key Takeaways
LinkedIn’s new short-form videos mark a significant evolution in professional networking, merging current social media trends with the platform’s unique professional focus.
As they are conducting a limited beta test on the iOS mobile app, this new feature enriches user interaction by enabling quick, engaging communication of insights, news, and branding in an accessible format.
Is it a good move or not? Let us know in the comments.
References:
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2024/03/19/short-form-video-content-capturing-attention-in-the-digital-age/
- https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2489-linkedin.html
