How to Post a Video on LinkedIn A Complete Guide

Let's be honest: your LinkedIn feed is probably a sea of text updates and shared articles. In that crowded space, video isn't just another type of content—it’s the best way to stop the scroll and get noticed.

Uploading a video directly to LinkedIn, what we call a native video, is a game-changer. Why? Because it autoplays right in the feed, grabbing attention immediately. Instead of just telling people what you do, a video shows them, forging a connection that text alone just can't match.

Why Video Is Your Secret Weapon on LinkedIn

Think about it this way. A sales leader could post a quick text update about their team’s big win. That's fine. But imagine if that same leader recorded a short, energetic video congratulating the team and sharing one key insight from their success. It's instantly more authentic, more human, and builds trust on the spot.

That simple switch transforms a generic update into a memorable story. It’s the difference between being another post and being a person people feel they know.

From Noise to Noticeable

This isn't just a gut feeling; the numbers are pretty staggering. According to LinkedIn's own data, native videos see 500% higher engagement than a simple text post. That massive lift is exactly why so many B2B founders and marketers are leaning heavily into video.

This boost in engagement creates a ripple effect that delivers real results:

• More Eyeballs on Your Content: LinkedIn's algorithm loves engagement, so it pushes popular videos out to a much wider audience.
• Build Trust, Faster: Video lets people see your face and hear your voice, which dramatically speeds up that "know, like, and trust" factor.
• Higher Quality Leads: When you educate your audience with valuable video content, you naturally attract leads who are more informed and ready to talk.

Humanize Your Brand and Message

At the end of the day, video cuts through the corporate-speak and puts a real face to a name or a brand. It’s your chance to convey genuine emotion, passion, and expertise in a way text never will.

Whether you're sharing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your company, a glowing client testimonial, or a quick tip from your industry, video makes you more approachable. You don't always have to be on camera, either; sometimes the most effective approach involves creating a faceless video for LinkedIn where the message is the true star.

Putting time into your video strategy isn't just about chasing likes. It’s about building a powerful, connected professional network that helps you hit your most important goals.

Before you hit "post," let's talk about the technical side of things. Getting your video specs right is the first—and most critical—step to making sure your content looks sharp and plays smoothly for everyone. Think of it less as a bunch of restrictive rules and more as a checklist for success.

Getting these details sorted out upfront saves you from the headache of failed uploads and ensures your video doesn't look pixelated or stretched in the feed.

Key Video Specs to Know

First off, LinkedIn is pretty generous with file size, giving you up to 5GB for a standard native video. This is great because it means you don't have to overly compress your file and sacrifice quality.

Your video's length is also a major factor. It needs to be at least 3 seconds long but can't exceed 10 minutes for a regular feed post. This gives you a massive canvas to work with, whether you're sharing a quick, attention-grabbing clip or a more in-depth explainer.

When it comes to file types, sticking to modern formats is your best bet for avoiding compatibility issues.

• Best Formats: You can't go wrong with MP4 or WebM. These are the most reliable choices for seamless playback.
• Formats to Avoid: While you might get lucky, files like AVI or MOV can be problematic and often fail to upload. My advice? Always export to MP4 to be safe.

Expert Tip: Just because you can post a 10-minute video doesn't always mean you should. I've found the sweet spot for engagement is typically between 30 and 90 seconds. That's enough time to deliver real value without losing your audience's attention.

And it's worth the effort. A well-made video can completely change how people see your brand on the platform.

From boosting engagement to humanizing your brand, the benefits are tangible and directly tie back to video's power to connect with people on a more personal level.

LinkedIn Video Specifications at a Glance

With different video types come slightly different rules. Here's a quick comparison table to help you keep track of the most common formats.

This table is a great starting point, but always double-check the latest specs, as platforms can update their requirements.

Why Aspect Ratio and Resolution Matter

The shape of your video—its aspect ratio—is more important than you might think, especially with so many people scrolling on their phones.

While you can upload a wide-screen video (2.4:1), it won't stand out nearly as much as a square (1:1) or vertical (9:16) one. Vertical videos take up significantly more screen real estate on mobile devices, making them impossible to ignore and far more effective at stopping the scroll.

For a complete rundown of all the technical details for every content type, our full guide to LinkedIn post specs is a great resource to bookmark. Nail these fundamentals, and you're well on your way to creating video content that truly performs.

How to Post a Video on LinkedIn From Any Device

Alright, your video is polished and ready to go. Now for the fun part: getting it live on LinkedIn. Whether you're at your desk with a fully edited client testimonial or capturing a quick behind-the-scenes moment on your phone, the process is pretty simple once you know the steps.

I'll walk you through exactly how to do it on both desktop and mobile. Remember, the goal isn't just to dump a file online. We're aiming to build a complete, engaging post with a killer caption, smart tags, and the right hashtags to make sure people actually see it.

Uploading Your Video from a Desktop

Posting from your computer is my go-to when I have a high-quality video file and want to spend a little more time crafting the perfect post. The bigger screen just makes it easier to handle all the details.

First, head over to your LinkedIn homepage and click the Start a post box right at the top of your feed. A window will pop up. From there, find the media icon and choose Add media. This opens your file browser, where you can find and select your video.

As your video is uploading, the real work begins. This is your chance to craft the rest of the post.

• Write a killer hook. That first sentence is everything. You could ask a thought-provoking question, share a surprising statistic, or tee up a problem that your video is about to solve.
• Give it some context. Don't make people guess. Briefly explain what your video covers and why it’s worth their time to stop scrolling and watch.
• Tag relevant people and pages. Use the @ symbol to tag anyone featured in the video or companies related to your topic. They'll get a notification, which often nudges them to engage with or even share your post, getting you more eyeballs.

After the video finishes processing, you'll see options to add a custom thumbnail and upload a caption file (SRT). Seriously, don't skip these. A good thumbnail grabs attention, and captions are crucial for the huge number of people who watch videos with the sound off.

Pro Tip: A great desktop post is a package deal: a polished video combined with thoughtful copy and strategic tags. Give yourself the time to get all the pieces right before you hit that post button.

Posting a Video from the Mobile App

The LinkedIn mobile app is your best friend for posting timely, on-the-go content. It's perfect for things like quick updates from a conference, a spontaneous team shout-out, or a personal insight you record while you're out and about.

To get started, just tap the Post button in the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. Then, tap the Add media icon and pick the video you want to share from your phone's gallery.

Once your video is selected, you can type out your caption, add hashtags, and tag people right there in the post editor. The mobile interface is really designed for speed, making the whole process fast and intuitive.

While the mobile app is fantastic for its convenience, it's worth noting that it can be a bit more limited than the desktop version. For instance, you might not have the option to upload a custom thumbnail. But for authentic, in-the-moment content, it’s an unbeatable way to stay active and visible. When you're ready, double-check your audience is set to Anyone and tap Post.

Get the Most Out of Your Video: Optimization Tips

Uploading your video is just the first step. To really make it work for you, you need to optimize it. Think of the video itself as the main course, but the thumbnail, caption, and call-to-action are the appetizer and dessert that create the full experience. These elements are what turn a passive view into a real connection.

And this isn't just theory—the numbers back it up. Native videos on LinkedIn get 5x more engagement than other types of content and are shared 20 times more often. It’s this incredible performance that has made LinkedIn a top video channel for a huge majority of marketers.

Create a Thumbnail That Stops the Scroll

Your thumbnail is your video's first impression. It's the one thing that can make someone stop scrolling and pay attention. A blurry, automatically generated frame just won't do the job. You need to create a custom thumbnail that's clear, intriguing, and gives a peek into the value you're offering.

Think of it like a magazine cover. Does it make you want to open it? A great thumbnail could feature:

• A punchy text overlay: Think of a short, powerful title or a question that sparks curiosity.
• An engaging human face: A picture of you or someone in the video with an expressive look can create an instant connection.
• On-brand colors and fonts: Using your brand's style helps build recognition and consistency.

A great thumbnail makes a silent promise to the viewer about what they’re about to watch. The first few seconds of your video need to deliver on that promise to build trust and keep them hooked.

Write a Caption That Starts a Conversation

Your video needs some context. The text you write to go with it shouldn't just summarize the video; it should add to it and get people talking. The aim is to get people to not only watch but to chime in with their own opinions and experiences.

Grab their attention right away with a strong opening line. You could ask a thought-provoking question, share a surprising statistic, or state a bold opinion that ties into your video's theme. Then, give a quick rundown of what they'll get out of watching. You can learn more about writing compelling copy in our guide on how to https://postiv.ai/blog/how-to-increase-social-media-engagement.

Always wrap up your post with a clear call-to-action (CTA). What’s the next step? It might be as simple as asking, "What's your take on this?" or directing them to a helpful blog post. Just be specific and make it easy for them to act.

Add Captions for Better Accessibility and Reach

Let's be real: a massive number of people on LinkedIn watch videos with the sound off. If you don't have captions, your message is completely lost on them. Uploading an SRT file (the standard format for captions) isn't just a nice touch anymore—it's absolutely critical for engagement.

This simple step ensures your content is accessible to everyone, whether they're in a quiet office or on a loud train. For a deeper dive, check out this guide on adding closed captioning to your videos. It’s an inclusive move that also dramatically boosts your video's potential reach and impact.

A Smarter Way to Manage Your Video Content

Feeling the pressure to consistently create and post high-quality video? I get it. The whole process—from brainstorming and scripting to filming, editing, and finally posting—can feel like a full-time job. This is where a smarter workflow can make all the difference, moving you away from manual grunt work and toward intelligent automation.

Let’s walk through a real-world scenario you can use right away. You’ve just recorded a fantastic 5-minute video packed with industry insights. Instead of it being a one-and-done post, you can strategically turn that single video into an entire week's worth of authority-building content.

From One Video to a Full Content Pipeline

This is where a tool like Postiv AI can completely change your game. The first step is to feed your video file into a central knowledge library. The AI then essentially "learns" the key concepts, arguments, and takeaways from what you said.

Once it's done that, the real fun begins. You can ask the AI to:

• Draft multiple post variations. Get several unique, on-brand captions for your video. Each one can have a different hook or angle, letting you test what actually connects with your audience.
• Design a summary carousel. Automatically create a visually engaging carousel that highlights the top three or four key takeaways from your video, all decked out in your branding. Just like that, you have a second piece of high-value content from the same source.
• Schedule everything for peak engagement. You can then queue up the native video, the new carousel, and even a few text-based posts it pulls from the video, all timed to go live when your audience is most active.

This is exactly how you can use smart tools to scale your content creation without letting quality slip.

This kind of integrated workflow lets you pour your energy into creating a great core video, while the system handles the heavy lifting of repurposing and getting it out there.

Safe and Compliant Scheduling

Of course, whenever you use a third-party tool, account safety is a huge concern. It's absolutely critical to pick platforms that play by LinkedIn's rules. A reputable tool will always use official, LinkedIn-compliant scheduling methods, which keeps your account in good standing. This means you can plan your video calendar with total confidence, knowing every post is published safely and shows up as a native-quality upload.

When you start thinking of your video not as a single post but as a source for multiple content assets, you can dramatically increase your output and impact without burning out. This is the secret to building a consistent, authoritative presence on LinkedIn.

This strategic mindset turns the simple question of how to post a video on LinkedIn into a repeatable system for generating a ton of great content. If you're looking to go even deeper on this, our guide on how to automate LinkedIn posts has even more practical tips. By embracing a smarter workflow, you stop just posting content and start building a true content engine.

Got Questions About LinkedIn Videos? We’ve Got Answers.

Even after you’ve posted a few videos, some questions always seem to come up. Think of this as your go-to FAQ, built from years of figuring out what actually works on LinkedIn so you can fine-tune your strategy and get better results.

Let’s dive into the big one first: should you upload your video directly to LinkedIn or just share a link from YouTube or Vimeo?

The answer couldn't be clearer: always upload natively. LinkedIn’s algorithm heavily favors content that keeps people on its platform. A native video will autoplay right in the feed, grabbing attention immediately and earning way more organic reach. When you share an external link, you're not only forcing someone to click away, but you're also telling the algorithm you're sending traffic off of LinkedIn. That’s a surefire way to have your post's visibility throttled.

How Long Should My Video Be? And What About Captions?

People always ask about the perfect video length. While LinkedIn lets you upload a video up to 10 minutes long, going that long is rarely a good idea.

For most content, the sweet spot for engagement is somewhere between 30 and 90 seconds. That’s just enough time to deliver a solid piece of advice or tell a quick story without losing the attention of a professional scrolling on their lunch break. If you’re creating something more in-depth, like a mini-tutorial, you can push that a bit longer, but your first 3-5 seconds have to be absolutely magnetic.

And what about adding those all-important captions? After you upload your video on a desktop, click the "Video settings" button (it looks like a little pencil icon). From there, you’ll get a prompt to upload your SRT caption file. With up to 85% of social media videos being watched with the sound off, this isn’t just a nice-to-have; it's a must-do for making your content accessible and effective. Don't skip it.

Your video's success isn't just about the content itself, but how easy you make it for your audience to consume it. Native uploads and captions remove friction, which is the key to holding attention in a busy feed.

How Do I Know If My Video Is Actually Working?

Finally, how can you tell if your video is resonating with people? The basic metrics—views, likes, and comments—are visible right on the post itself.

For the deeper insights, you’ll want to head to your profile and find the "Analytics & tools" section. This is where you can dig into audience demographics, seeing things like the job titles, industries, and locations of your viewers. Paying attention to this data is how you stop guessing and start creating more of what your specific audience actually wants to see.

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Ready to turn one great video into a week's worth of authority-building content without the burnout? Postiv AI combines a brand-trained AI writer, a carousel designer, and LinkedIn-safe scheduling into one seamless workflow. Start creating high-impact LinkedIn content in minutes.