Yes, you can use a video for your LinkedIn banner. LinkedIn allows banner images and videos up to 4MB in size and in MP4 or MOV formats. Using a video banner can help make your profile stand out and showcase your brand or company in a more dynamic way compared to a static image.
Benefits of Using a LinkedIn Video Banner
Here are some of the key benefits of using a video for your LinkedIn banner:
- More eye-catching – Video banners attract more attention than static images.
- Conveys more information – You can showcase your products, services, company culture, etc. in a video.
- Drives engagement – Videos are more likely to get people curious and click on your profile than plain images.
- Professional polish – A high-quality video gives an air of authority and modernity to your profile.
- Branding capabilities – Videos allow you to stylize and add motion to your branding in a way images can’t.
- Memorable impression – Viewers are more likely to remember a moving video banner than a photo.
So if you want your LinkedIn presence to stand out and engage your professional network, a video banner can be a powerful upgrade over a static photo. Just keep the video professional looking and relevant to your brand.
Video Banner Specifications
LinkedIn has the following requirements for video banners:
- File size – Less than 4MB
- Dimensions – 646 x 220 pixels is ideal
- Format – MP4 or MOV
- Length – 4 seconds or shorter recommended
- Aspect ratio – 16:9
- Audio – Optional, but must be royalty free
It’s best to keep the video short and crisp at 4-6 seconds long so it can loop seamlessly. The small banner dimensions also mean you can’t pack too much content in. Focus on a simple, professional animated intro for your brand or company.
Creating a LinkedIn Video Banner
You have a few options for actually creating a LinkedIn-ready video banner:
Use Ready-Made Templates
Many design platforms like Animoto, Biteable, Adobe Spark, etc. have pre-made video banner templates you can customize easily with your own text, logos, images, and colors. This is the quickest way to create a polished-looking intro video if you don’t have much experience.
Design Your Own
For full creative control, use video editing software like Adobe Premiere or After Effects to design your video banner from scratch. This takes more skill but allows you to craft a banner to perfectly match your brand identity. Hire a designer if needed.
Convert Existing Promo Videos
If you already have a short promotional video spot for your company, product launch, etc., you may be able to adapt it into a LinkedIn banner format. Just edit it down to 4-6 seconds and adjust the dimensions as needed.
Tips for an Effective LinkedIn Video Banner
Here are some tips to create a compelling, on-brand video banner for LinkedIn:
- Showcase your company logo prominently.
- Use minimal but meaningful text like your tagline.
- Include muted background music for a more professional vibe.
- Match your brand colors and font styling.
- Highlight your products/services briefly.
- Use fast cuts and motion to add dynamism.
- Make sure the video loops seamlessly.
The video should quickly communicate what you do and your brand personality in a professional manner. Be creative but not distracting or over the top.
Uploading Your Video Banner
Uploading your finished banner video to LinkedIn is easy:
- Click on “View profile” on your LinkedIn page.
- Click the pencil “Edit public profile & URL” button.
- Click on the current banner image.
- Select “Upload image or video.”
- Choose your banner video file.
- Crop the frame as needed.
- Click “Save”.
And that’s it! Your dynamic new video banner will now be showcased on your LinkedIn profile.
Video Banner Examples
Here are some examples of effective LinkedIn video banners to inspire you:
Microsoft
Microsoft’s LinkedIn banner displays their iconic logo and tagline dynamically against a blue motion background:
Hootsuite
The Hootsuite video banner combines their owl mascot, logo, and purple/white branding:
Salesforce
Salesforce uses abstract shapes and their logo swirling around in this vibrant video banner:
As you can see, effective banners focus on clean design, sharp branding, and simple messaging.
Potential Drawbacks
While video banners have many benefits, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider as well:
- More effort than images – Videos require more specialized skills and effort to create vs basic images.
- Limited length – The short 4-6 second maximum length limits how much you can communicate.
- Can’t directly link – Unlike regular ads, video banners can’t contain links directly.
- Mobile display – Video banners may not display fully on mobile devices with smaller screens.
- Slow loading – Videos can sometimes load slowly depending on a user’s internet speed.
So while video banners can make a big visual impact, they also have limitations to factor in. Assess your own needs and capabilities when deciding whether to upgrade to a video banner.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn does allow video banners to help profiles stand out and convey brands dynamically. The video must follow specific file size, length, and dimension restrictions to work properly within the banner space. A well-executed video banner can grab attention and leave a memorable impression. But they also have limitations like more effort to create and potential slow loading times to consider. Overall, video banners are a nice optional upgrade if you have the resources and creative capabilities. A strong traditional image banner can still be effective if crafted thoughtfully as well.