LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform used by millions of people around the world. One of LinkedIn’s key features is the ability to connect with other professionals in your industry or location. This allows you to build your network, share content, and potentially find new business opportunities. But can you take your LinkedIn connections a step further and video call people through the platform? Let’s take a closer look at LinkedIn’s video calling capabilities.
Does LinkedIn have video calling?
The short answer is yes, LinkedIn does offer video calling through its platform. However, it is not a native or standalone feature. Instead, LinkedIn integrates with Microsoft Teams to enable video calling.
Here’s how it works:
- Your LinkedIn account must be associated with a Microsoft account that has access to Teams.
- When viewing another user’s profile, you will see a “Video call” button if they have the Teams integration enabled.
- Clicking this button will open a Teams invite to start a video call with that user.
So in summary, while LinkedIn itself does not have built-in video chat, it leverages the video capabilities of Microsoft Teams to provide video calling functionality.
What are the requirements to video call someone on LinkedIn?
To video call another LinkedIn member, there are a few key requirements:
- You must have the LinkedIn mobile app installed on your device.
- The person you are trying to call must also have the mobile app.
- You both need to be logged into the LinkedIn mobile app.
- Your LinkedIn profile must be linked with a Microsoft account that has access to Teams.
- The other member’s profile must also be linked to a Microsoft account with Teams access.
- The “Video call” option will only appear on mobile devices, not the desktop site.
Additionally, both parties have to accept the video call invite for the call to be initiated. If any of these requirements are not met, you won’t have the option to video call someone through LinkedIn.
How to video call on LinkedIn step-by-step
If you meet all the requirements mentioned above, here are the steps to make a video call through LinkedIn:
- Open the LinkedIn app on your mobile device.
- Navigate to the profile of the person you want to call.
- Tap the “Video call” button on their profile.
- This will open the Microsoft Teams app (if installed) or route you through the Teams invite process.
- The person you are trying to call will receive a notification that you want to video call.
- When they accept the invite, the video call will start.
- Chat over video call on Teams!
And that’s it! The process leverages the connection between LinkedIn and Teams to enable seamless video calls without having to leave the LinkedIn app.
Tips for video calling through LinkedIn
Here are some tips to have successful video calls through LinkedIn:
- Only call people you have an existing connection with, don’t spam strangers.
- Make sure you have a clear purpose for the call – a question, shared interest, etc.
- Test your microphone, camera, headset, and internet connection first.
- If scheduling in advance, confirm the day before the call.
- Use proper video call etiquette like maintaining eye contact and muting when not speaking.
- Follow up after the call with any notes, action items, or thanks.
Pros of video calling through LinkedIn
There are a few advantages to using LinkedIn for video calls:
- Easy way to connect visually with your network and build stronger relationships.
- Integrates seamlessly without needing a separate video call app.
- Leverages Teams, which many professionals already use for work video calls.
- Can be initiated right from someone’s profile rather than contacting them elsewhere.
- Allows screen sharing and recording calls through Teams.
Cons of video calling through LinkedIn
There are also some downsides to be aware of with LinkedIn video calls:
- Only available on mobile, not the desktop site.
- Requires the Teams integration and compatible Microsoft account.
- Quality may not be as good as standalone apps like Zoom or Skype.
- Limited call settings and controls compared to other video platforms.
- Privacy concerns of linking work Tools account with social media.
Comparison of LinkedIn video calling and other platforms
How does LinkedIn’s video chat functionality compare to standalone apps like Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, etc? Here’s an overview:
| Platform | Ease of Use | Call Quality | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average – requires mobile app and Teams integration | Average – depends on Teams quality | Basic – lean feature set | |
| Zoom | High – just share meeting link or ID | Very good | Robust – recording, breakouts, etc. |
| Skype | High – simple to start call | Good | Good – chat, screenshare, etc. |
| FaceTime | Very high – built into iPhone | Excellent | Basic |
So while LinkedIn video calling provides a way to connect visually with your network, standalone apps tend to offer better quality and more extensive features.
LinkedIn’s roadmap for enhanced video chat features
LinkedIn has acknowledged that video integration is an area for improvement on the platform. Here are some of the enhanced video capabilities that may be coming to LinkedIn in the future based on product roadmaps and announcements:
- Native video calling within LinkedIn without needing Teams.
- 1:1 and group video call support.
- Video calling on desktop and web to complement mobile.
- HD video quality and performance enhancements.
- Background effects and call settings customization.
- Calendar integration to schedule video meetings.
- Ability to record and save video calls.
Implementing these types of features natively within LinkedIn will help it better compete with leading video conferencing tools. But for now, the Teams integration provides a basic video chat function to connect with your network.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn does offer video calling capabilities, but it is not a native feature. Instead, it piggybacks on the integration with Microsoft Teams to enable 1:1 video chats. There are specific requirements around having the mobile apps, Microsoft accounts, and Teams access to make it work. While the functionality is more limited than standalone video apps, it provides a handy way to conduct visual calls with your professional network right from their LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn seems to have plans to enhance the video features down the roadmap. But for now, the Teams integration can fulfill basic video chatting needs, especially for those already using Teams regularly. So if you want to take a connection to the next level, give LinkedIn video calling a try!
