Making quick videos on LinkedIn can be a great way to create engaging content for your connections. Videos allow you to communicate in a more personal and dynamic way than written posts. They also tend to get more engagement in the LinkedIn feed. But creating high-quality videos that resonate with your audience does require some strategy and planning. Here are some tips on how to make quick, effective videos for LinkedIn.
Know Your Goals and Audience
Before you start filming, think about what you want to accomplish with your video and who you want to reach. Are you hoping to educate your connections on a certain topic? Promote an upcoming webinar or event? Share company news? Make connections in your industry? Understanding your goals will shape what kind of video you make. It will also determine who you should target the video towards – your whole network, a specific industry, followers of your company page, etc. Spend some time researching what types of videos and topics your target audience responds to best on LinkedIn.
Choose an Attractive Thumbnail
The thumbnail image you choose will be the first thing people see in their feed, so pick something eye-catching. Use a high-quality, high-resolution image that looks professional. Images with people’s faces or bright colors tend to attract more attention. You can take a still frame from your video or upload a separate image. Make sure it’s relevant to your video topic and enticing enough to get people to click.
Keep It Short
Attention spans are short on social media, so keep your LinkedIn videos under 3 minutes. 60-90 seconds is ideal. Quick tip or how-to videos are perfect for LinkedIn. You want to communicate your key messages succinctly without losing the viewer. Write a script to stay concise and focused. Make sure every second counts.
Film Horizontally
Always film your LinkedIn videos horizontally, not vertically. Horizontal videos take up more space in the feed and feel more natural for the viewer. Vertical videos can look awkward and less professional. Use your phone horizontally or invest in a camera.
Use Good Lighting
Proper lighting is crucial for making your videos look polished and appealing. Make sure you film during the day or in a brightly lit room. If your space has poor lighting, consider buying some inexpensive clip lights or ring lights. Avoid backlit situations where you are silhouetted or cast in shadow. Position lights in front of you to illuminate your face evenly.
Choose a Quiet Space
Background noise can quickly ruin an otherwise great video. Find a quiet room or space to film where interruptions and sounds won’t distract the viewer from your message. If necessary, hang blankets on the walls to muffle echo and reverberation. Invest in an external mic to capture high-quality audio. Make sure any ambient sounds like air conditioning units are turned off while filming.
Use a Tripod
Shaky footage comes across as unprofessional and amateurish. Use a tripod to keep your camera steady. Your video doesn’t need fancy camera work – just a stable, fixed shot where you can speak clearly to the viewer. Make sure your phone or camera is level and stationary. Check the framing so your head and shoulders are centered. Use a tripod with extendable legs to get the right height.
Dress Professionally
Dress for your LinkedIn videos like you would for an important business meeting. Avoid casual clothes like t-shirts and shorts. Stick to business professional attire and make sure it’s neatly pressed. Solid colors and medium tones tend to look best on camera. Make sure your face and hands are cleanly washed and groomed. Keep accessories minimal. Your appearance should reinforce your professional brand.
Look Into the Camera
Make eye contact with the viewer by looking directly into the camera lens when speaking. Don’t stare down at your notes or let your eyes wander – this breaks the personal connection. Imagine you are simply having a conversation with the viewer. Practice your script enough times so you are familiar with the content and don’t need to rely on notes. Place the camera at eye level so you can look straight ahead.
Engage with Energy and Passion
Speak to the viewer in a warm, upbeat, passionate manner. Convey excitement and enthusiasm for your topic, even if it’s a routine company update. Smile and use natural facial expressions and gestures. Avoid seeming stiff or robotic in your delivery. Include some humor if appropriate. Your genuine excitement will come through on camera and engage the viewer. Passion is contagious.
Edit Tightly
Once you’ve finished filming, put your video editing skills to work. Trim any unnecessary pauses, filler words (um, like, etc), or mistakes. Cut your content down to only the most essential elements to keep the pace snappy. Use editing software to insert B-roll footage if helpful. Add graphics, titles, logos, or simple animations if desired. Include some upbeat background music if it fits, lowering the volume so it doesn’t distract.
Post at Optimal Times
Carefully choose when you share your video for maximum impact. According to LinkedIn, the best times to post are Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5 AM, 12 PM and 5 PM. Posting during peak active hours means more of your connections will see your video in their feed. Do some tests with posting at different times and see which perform best. Promote your video in LinkedIn groups and to your other social networks to expand your reach.
Quick Video Ideas for LinkedIn
Here are some ideas for quick, engaging videos you can produce regularly for your LinkedIn connections:
- Expert tips relevant to your industry
- “Day in the life” showing your work environment
- Q&A or FAQ videos addressing common questions
- Thought leader perspectives on industry trends
- Virtual venue tours
- Customer testimonials
- Behind-the-scenes company footage
- Introduce your team
- Webinar or event promo
- Case studies and client success stories
- Product or service tutorials
- Recap of a recent conference or trade show
Keep generating fresh video content frequently so you stay top of mind with your audience. Mix up serious company messages with more casual, fun videos. Stay on brand while showcasing your authentic personality.
Conclusion
Creating quick, professional videos for LinkedIn does require some planning, preparation, and practice. But the impact on your brand and reach can be immense. Follow these tips to start showcasing your company, expertise, products, and personality through engaging video. Keep them short, visually appealing and focused on your goals and audience. With a little time investment, you can quickly master the art of producing effective LinkedIn videos that get people’s attention in their feeds and beyond.
| Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| Know Your Goals and Audience | Understand what you want to accomplish with the video and who you want to reach before filming. |
| Choose an Attractive Thumbnail | Use a high-quality, relevant image that will catch people’s attention. |
| Keep It Short | Maximum 3 minutes, ideal length is 60-90 seconds. |
| Film Horizontally | Always film in landscape mode, not portrait. |
| Use Good Lighting | Make sure you are filmed in bright, even light with minimal shadows. |
| Choose a Quiet Space | Reduce background noise that could distract from your message. |
| Use a Tripod | Keep the camera steady and level for professional looking footage. |
| Dress Professionally | Wear neat, business attire that aligns with your brand. |
| Look Into the Camera | Maintain eye contact by looking directly into the lens as you speak. |
| Engage with Energy | Speak warmly and passionately. Convey authentic enthusiasm and excitement. |
| Edit Tightly | Trim content down to only the most essential elements with a snappy pace. |
| Post at Optimal Times | Publish when your audience is most active on LinkedIn for maximum exposure. |
