Creating a video for LinkedIn is one thing.
Creating a LinkedIn video that people actually stop, watch and engage with is another.
Now, you don’t need to become some sort of LinkedIn algorithm wizard to get results. There are some simple things you can do to give your videos a helping hand.
From choosing the right LinkedIn video format and aspect ratio to writing a stronger hook, adding captions and making sure your video is technically sound. A little optimisation can go a long way.
So, let’s get into how to optimise your LinkedIn videos for better engagement.
Start With the Right LinkedIn Video Format
Before you start worrying about crafting witty hooks, fun captions or clever editing, there are some technical elements to cover off. But don’t worry, it’s nothing too heavy.
LinkedIn currently supports a wide range of video formats, including:
- MP4
- MOV
- WEBM
- MKV
However, the only to formats that are confirmed to work across desktop, iOS, and Android are MP4 and MOV. MP4 also gives you a good balance between quality and file size.
What’s the Best Video Format for LinkedIn?
So, the answer becomes super simple. Use a high-quality MP4 unless you have a specific reason not to.
LinkedIn currently accepts videos up to 5GB, with a maximum duration of 15 minutes for organic uploads. Videos can range from 256 × 144 up to 4096 × 2304 resolution, with aspect ratios from 1:2.4 to 2.4:1.
That gives you plenty of flexibility. But just because LinkedIn allows a 15-minute video doesn’t mean you should make every video 15 minutes long. In fact, it’s unlikely that your video marketing plan on LinkedIn will call for a 15-minute video.
What Size is LinkedIn Video?
Unfortunately, there isn’t one mandatory LinkedIn video size ratio. The platform supports everything from very wide horizontal video to vertical video, meaning that getting the best LinkedIn video post aspect ratio can vary depending on what you’re creating.
In practical terms, these are the formats we’d consider:
- 16:9 horizontal: Great for interviews, presentations, case studies, live events and more traditional brand videos.
- 1:1 square: Great when you want your video to occupy more space on the feed without going fully vertical.
- 4:5 vertical: Perfect for mobile-first content as it takes up more of the screen while someone is scrolling.
- 9:16 full vertical: Talking-head videos, quick tips and short-form content designed for mobile viewing. Like this:
LinkedIn has also introduced a full-screen vertical video experience, with videos potentially eligible for its video feed, tab or carousel based on relevance and performance.
So, What is the Best Video Size for LinkedIn?
If you’re producing video specifically for LinkedIn, we’d recommend considering 4:5 or 9:16 for mobile-first content, while keeping 16:9 for content where the wider frame genuinely helps tell the story.
The important thing is to choose the format before filming, rather than discovering afterwards that the important bit of your beautifully composed shot is sitting somewhere outside the crop.
How to Upload Video to LinkedIn Posts
One of the great things about video marketing becoming super popular (and important) for SEO as well as brand trust is that, generally, adding a video to LinkedIn or any social platform is now pretty straightforward.
On desktop:
- Start a new LinkedIn post.
- Select the Video option.
- Upload your video from your computer.
- Add or review your captions.
- Choose your thumbnail.
- Write the supporting post copy.
- Check the preview.
- Hit publish.
As a growing brand in 2026, you need video in your LinkedIn strategy. The platform understands this, that’s why it allows for simple upload processes like dragging and dropping a video directly into the post composer from your PC or phone gallery, or recording directly through the LinkedIn app.
Don’t overlook that supporting copy.
Your video might be the star of the show, but the text above it is still an opportunity to create curiosity, provide context or give someone a reason to watch.
So, don’t just write some dry title like:
“Here’s our latest product video.”
Give people a reason to care:
“We spent three months trying to break this product. Here’s what we learned.”
Much better.
Should You Add Captions to LinkedIn Video?
If there’s one easy optimisation we wouldn’t skip, it’s captions.
LinkedIn allows you to upload a caption file or generate auto-captions when uploading video. Auto-captions are currently supported in 10 languages.
LinkedIn also provides caption controls as part of its accessibility features, helping people interact with video content in different viewing situations.
But captions aren’t just about accessibility. They can help people browsing while commuting, sneaking in a bit of surreptitious scrolling while sitting in their office, while waiting for a meeting, or grabbing five minutes of LinkedIn on their lunch break.
So, when you add captions to LinkedIn video, make sure they’re:
- Accurate
- Easy to read
- Large enough to see on mobile
- Properly timed
- Positioned so LinkedIn’s interface won’t cover them
For important messages, consider adding concise on-screen text too.
Just don’t turn your video into a PowerPoint presentation with moving pictures.
Should You Add Music to LinkedIn Video?
You can use music in your LinkedIn videos, but this is one area where businesses need to be sensible.
If you’re creating branded or promotional content, don’t assume that because a song is available somewhere online, you’re automatically allowed to use it in a commercial video or animated explainer (for example). Copyright still applies to music used in business content.
For most Reels In Motion-style business videos, music should support the story rather than become the story. If you’ve got dialogue, keep the music low enough that your message remains clear.
And if you’re using commercially licensed music, make sure your licence actually covers the intended use.
Optimise the First Few Seconds
Let’s be clear: you can be using the perfect LinkedIn video format, beautifully mixed audio and immaculate captions… but if nobody watches beyond the opening seconds, none of it matters.
It’s a similar principle to when optimising YouTube videos. Your first job is to give someone a reason to stop scrolling. Try opening with:
- A problem: “Your customers probably don’t understand what your business actually does.“
- A surprising statement: “We’ve stopped making corporate videos. Here’s why.“
- A question: “Would your customers understand your product if you couldn’t show them?“
- A useful promise: “Here are three things we’d change about your LinkedIn video strategy.“
The principle is simple: Don’t make people wait for the interesting bit. Start with it.
LinkedIn’s own video experience uses relevance and performance to determine which videos are eligible for its full-screen video environments. Meanwhile, research also suggests that attention is increasingly valuable on the platform.
How to Keep Your LinkedIn Videos Focused
One of the easiest ways to improve a video is to make it about less. Don’t try to explain your entire service offering in one video.
Instead:
- Answer one question
- Explain one concept
- Share one opinion
- Solve one problem
- Tell one story
This makes the video easier to follow and gives you a much bigger content library to work with.
One 30-minute interview could become:
- Five expert clips
- Three educational videos
- A customer story
- A behind-the-scenes video
- Several short social posts
Suddenly, you’ve got a LinkedIn content strategy rather than one lonely video.
Keep Important Content Inside the Safe Zone
There’s nothing quite like spending hours creating a beautifully designed video before discovering that LinkedIn has put its interface directly over your carefully positioned text.
Don’t let this happen to you.
LinkedIn recommends keeping the top, bottom and sides of your video clear of important text, logos and other key elements so the platform’s interface doesn’t interfere with them.
This is especially important with vertical video. When you’re designing captions, graphics or calls to action, leave yourself some breathing room around the edges.
Don’t Obsess Over Video Alone
Video can be a powerful part of your LinkedIn strategy, but it isn’t automatically the best-performing format for every business or every objective.
Metricool’s 2026 LinkedIn study analysed 673,658 posts from more than 63,000 accounts and found that while video remains widely used, formats such as carousels and multi-image posts were outperforming video on several engagement measures.
Believe it or not, that’s actually good news. Because it means you don’t need to turn your feed into an endless stream of talking heads.
Use video where it makes sense, use carousels when you’re explaining something visually, use text when you have a strong opinion to share and combine formats where you can.
What About LinkedIn Video Ads?
Organic LinkedIn video and LinkedIn video ads are two slightly different beasts.
Video advertising gives businesses the opportunity to put their content in front of highly targeted professional audiences, but the technical requirements and optimisations are different.
For example, LinkedIn’s current video ad specifications recommend 15–30 second videos to maximise eligibility across Feed and Audience Network placements, with ads supporting videos from 3 seconds up to 30 minutes depending on placement.
The Secret to Better LinkedIn Video…? Make better Videos
No magic LinkedIn video format guarantees engagement, and there’s certainly no button marked “make this go viral”.
The fundamentals are much simpler:
- Make something useful
- Make it easy to watch
- Give people a reason to stop
- Put your expertise and personality into it
But really, the rules on getting ahead on LinkedIn can be even simpler than that… you need to give A LOT before you take. That can be information, tips, webinars, giveaways, etc. All these things work incredibly well to grow your audience before you start selling to them’.
Then use your LinkedIn analytics to work out what your audience actually responds to.
Ready to Start Making Your LinkedIn Video Strategy Work For You?
Knowing how to optimise LinkedIn video is one thing. Having a steady stream of professional, engaging video content to share is another altogether.
At Reels In Motion, we help businesses turn their expertise, people and ideas into video content that works on LinkedIn and across your wider marketing strategy.
From expert-led videos and thought leadership content to customer stories, behind-the-scenes footage and short-form social content, we can help you create videos that look professional, feel authentic and give your audience a reason to stop scrolling.
Whether you need help planning your next batch of LinkedIn content or want a complete video strategy for your brand, we’d love to help.
[Talk to our experienced team about your video strategy]
