LinkedIn video views are an important metric that content creators and marketers track to gauge the success of their video content. With over 740 million members, LinkedIn is the largest professional social network and an influential platform for B2B content distribution. Understanding how LinkedIn counts video views can help optimize video performance.
What counts as a view on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn considers a view as when a member watches for at least 3 seconds of the video. This 3 second threshold aims to filter out accidental clicks and drive meaningful engagement. Views are counted when:
- The video is watched for more than 3 seconds continuously, or in aggregate
- The video is watched in the LinkedIn app or on the desktop site
- The video is watched on the LinkedIn platform, not via embeds or shares on other sites
LinkedIn has confirmed that looping or rewatching a video does not recount views. Members have to refresh the page to trigger a new view.
Where are LinkedIn video views counted?
LinkedIn videos can be viewed in multiple places across the platform. But not all views are counted equally in the lifetime view count:
- Your LinkedIn Page – Full views from your Company or Showcase Page are included.
- LinkedIn feed – Full views of videos shared directly in the feed by you or others are counted.
- LinkedIn Groups – Full views of videos posted in Groups are counted.
- LinkedIn messaging – Views of videos sent via messaging are not counted.
- Shared links – Views of links to YouTube or other non-native videos are not counted.
In summary, native LinkedIn video views are counted from Pages, feeds and Groups. But views of third-party links or videos sent via messaging are excluded.
When do LinkedIn video views update?
LinkedIn video view counts are not updated in real-time. Instead, LinkedIn batches and updates the views on videos periodically. Some key notes on LinkedIn video view counts:
- Views update more frequently at first, then less often over time.
- In the first hours after posting, view counts may update as often as every 30 minutes.
- In the first week, view counts may update every 1-2 hours.
- After the first week, view counts update every 3-5 hours.
- After the first month, view counts update once per day.
So while not real-time, view counts are updated fairly frequently at first. This gives some insights into initial traction and viewer interest. But the frequency decreases over time as patterns emerge. Sometimes seemingly “viral” videos see view counts freeze as frequency drops off.
Why video view counts may change
Sometimes you may notice LinkedIn video view counts decrease or fluctuate over time. Common reasons include:
- LinkedIn deleting bot or spam accounts which previously viewed the video
- LinkedIn removing views from members that do not meet the 3 second threshold
- Recalculations during data migrations behind the scenes
While dips can be frustrating, this pruning ensures view counts more accurately reflect real engagement. The core count generally stabilizes over time barring any outliers.
Tips to increase LinkedIn video views
Here are 5 proven tips to help maximize LinkedIn video views:
- Hook viewers in the first 5 seconds – Highlight key value props or insights upfront to capture attention.
- Keep videos short – Videos under 2 minutes see substantially higher view completion rates.
- Add captions – Support sound-off viewing and accessibility with built-in captions.
- Promote videos with Sponsored Content – Invest in ads to extend reach beyond your existing audience.
- Repurpose top videos – Re-share top performing videos to reopen discovery in the feed.
How many views make a LinkedIn video successful?
Success metrics for LinkedIn video views vary greatly. A few benchmarks to consider based on content type and objective:
- Brand awareness video – 100-500+ views
- Lead gen/conversion video – 500-1,000+ views
- Viral video – 10,000+ views
- Influencer/creator content – 50,000+ views
However, raw view counts only reveal part of the story. Be sure to also track metrics like view duration, social engagement, and conversions generated to fully understand video impact.
Conclusion
Gaining visibility on LinkedIn requires engaging video content that resonates with professionals. Understanding how LinkedIn counts video views – from thresholds and locations to updates and fluctuations – is key to accurately tracking performance.
Focus on creating snackable videos that instantly deliver value. Optimize for quality over quantity by measuring real engagement metrics beyond just view counts. Integrate LinkedIn videos into a broader content strategy to maximize reach and ROI on the world’s largest professional network.
What strategies have you found most effective for increasing LinkedIn video views? I’d love to hear tips and insights from your own video marketing experience in the comments below!