Video Format for LinkedIn: An Ultimate Guide for Content Creators

Despite not being as popular as Facebook or Twitter, LinkedIn is still an essential part of many marketing strategies, particularly for B2B marketing.

But what video format for LinkedIn should you use?

In fact, this platform provides flexibility in video formats. Yet, this post will walk you through the specs that produce great performance and engagement to help you maximize your LinkedIn marketing.

What video format does LinkedIn support?

Reasons to Use Videos on LinkedIn

LinkedIn video is a great tool for connecting, engaging, and showcasing professional knowledge. 

In this dynamic environment, LinkedIn video collaboration catalyzes connection, engagement, and the advancement of personal branding and business growth. 

Here are some advantages of using LinkedIn videos:

• Higher Engagement: Videos capture attention quickly and encourage more interaction compared to text or static images, leading to increased likes, comments, and shares.

• Personal Connection: Videos allow you to showcase personality, tone, and body language, creating a more authentic connection with viewers.

• Enhanced Brand Visibility: Video content helps build brand awareness by making your message more memorable and visually appealing, positioning you or your company as an industry leader.

Benefits of LinkedIn videos

• Greater Reach and Visibility: LinkedIn’s algorithm favors video content, meaning your posts have a better chance of reaching a wider audience.

• Increased Conversion Rates: Videos are proven to drive conversions by clearly showcasing the benefits of your products or services, making them more appealing to potential clients.

• Mobile-Friendly: Videos are easily consumable on mobile devices, making it convenient for professionals on the go to engage with your content.

► Read more: YouTube video file format for upload

Types and Video Format for LinkedIn

LinkedIn native videos, LinkedIn embedded videos, etc, are some of the main types of videos to use on this social media platform. 

Following are the details about them. And if you want to learn about LinkedIn video format specs, don’t miss out on this part!

Native videos

Videos that are directly posted to LinkedIn or created right on the platform are all referred to as "native videos." 

It’s worth noting that the vast majority of videos appearing on LinkedIn are native videos. Once posted, native videos are added to the LinkedIn feed. 

The great thing about LinkedIn native videos is that, unlike LinkedIn embed videos, they autoplay in-feed without any sound. This feature is so helpful in grabbing the attention of the viewers. 

LinkedIn native videos

Below are video formats supported by LinkedIn and other specs:

• Supported video formats: MP4, MOV, AVI, WEBM, MKV, WMV, VC1, MPGEG, MPEG2, MPEG1VIDEO, DVVIDEO, QTRLE, TSCC2

• Video file size limit: 5 GB

• Video length minimum: 3 seconds

• Video length maximum: 10 minutes

• Video captions: Optional but recommended

• Video sound: Optional

Embedded videos

LinkedIn embed videos are those shared on LinkedIn as YouTube or Vimeo links.

These days, it is still common practice for a lot of businesses to upload their video content to video-hosting platforms like Vimeo or YouTube and then share the link on social media platforms, including LinkedIn. 

This practice works, but LinkedIn native videos are still considered a more effective strategy.

Embedded videos on LinkedIn

Here are the video format for LinkedIn embedded videos and specs:

• Supported video formats: ASF, AVI, FLV, MPEG-1, MPEG-4, MOV, WKV, WebM, MP4

• Video file size limit: None on LinkedIn; follows source platform's limitations

• Video length minimum: Depends on the source platform

• Video length maximum: Depends on the source platform

• Video captions: Optional, based on the source platform’s settings

• Video sound: Optional

Video ads

As you can guess from the name, LinkedIn video ads are sponsored company videos appearing in the LinkedIn feed. These videos are paid ads that include video. 

Video ad campaigns have great potential for companies and businesses to improve brand awareness, brand consideration, and lead generation by allowing marketers to reach precisely targeted audiences.

► Related: Video formats for Facebook ads

LinkedIn video ads

Check out the recommended video format on LinkedIn for video ads:

• Supported video formats: MP4

• Video file size limit: 200 MB

• Video length minimum: 3 seconds

• Video length maximum: 30 minutes

• Video captions: Recommended

• Video sound: Optional but recommended

Company Page videos

Videos that companies and businesses put on their LinkedIn company pages are LinkedIn videos for Company Page. 

In 2018, Company Page videos were introduced, and since the launch, they have proven to be very effective in building brand awareness and connecting leads.

Company Page videos

Below are LinkedIn video file format and other specs:

• Supported video formats: MP4

• Video file size limit: 5 GB

• Video length minimum: 3 seconds

• Video length maximum: 10 minutes

• Video captions: Optional but recommended

• Video sound: Optional but recommended

Video DM

LinkedIn Video DMs enable users to send direct video messages to profiles via their LinkedIn inbox. 

This is a standard approach for professionals and job seekers to use for pitches and video resumes in order to add a personal touch and stand out from an inbox packed with cold outreach messages.

B2B organizations use LinkedIn Video DMs to promote their products and services to other businesses or individuals.

Video DMs on LinkedIn

Check out the video format LinkedIn for video DMs:

• Supported video formats: MP4, MOV, AVI, WEBM, MKV, WMV, VC1, MPGEG, MPEG2, MPEG1VIDEO, DVVIDEO, QTRLE, TSCC2

• Video file size limit: 75KB min - 5GB max

• Video length minimum: 3 seconds

• Video length maximum: 15 minutes

• Video captions: Optional but recommended

• Video sound: Optional but recommended

Short videos

LinkedIn's short-form video feed lets users create bite-sized videos similar to YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels. 

This creates chances for mobile-friendly vertical videos, allowing businesses and professionals to communicate with their LinkedIn audience swiftly via consumable vertical clips.

Short videos on LinkedIn

Discover the video format for LinkedIn video shorts below:

• Supported video formats: MP4, MOV, AVI, WEBM, MKV, WMV, VC1, MPGEG, MPEG2, MPEG1VIDEO, DVVIDEO, QTRLE, TSCC2

• Video file size limit: 75KB min - 5GB max

• Video length minimum: 2 minutes

• Video length maximum: 20 seconds

• Video captions: Recommended

• Video sound: Optional but recommended

Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn Video

If you want to increase your LinkedIn video reach, you need more than choosing the right video format for LinkedIn. You will need to optimize it for better accessibility and engagement.

Check out some useful tips below:

Use LinkedIn hashtags

Using relevant LinkedIn hashtags will help your video reach more people in feeds and through LinkedIn searches. 

They identify your video content and improve its visibility, resulting in increased views and interaction. 

Researching and adding terms related to your industry and business can increase your organic reach and may result in your content trending on LinkedIn.

Use LinkedIn hashtags for your videos and images

Optimize for mobile viewing

Keep in mind that a large percentage of LinkedIn users access the network via mobile devices. 

Thus, optimize your videos for mobile watching by employing bigger fonts, brief captions, and visually attractive imagery that draws attention even on small screens.

Add CTA

Remember to include clear and compelling CTAs in your videos to direct viewers to take the necessary action. 

CTAs, whether they encourage people to like, comment, share, or visit a website, increase engagement and interaction with your content.

Optimize video length

Optimize video length

Respect your viewers' time by keeping your videos focused and concise. While LinkedIn permits videos up to 10 minutes long, try presenting your message in a shorter period wherever possible to keep viewers engaged.

Try different video formats

For the best result, try several LinkedIn video formats to keep your content fresh and entertaining. 

Diverse forms, such as storytelling narratives, behind-the-scenes glances, interviews, etc, provide diversity and curiosity to your video portfolio.