LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform used by millions of people around the world. While LinkedIn is best known for its robust profile pages and job boards, the platform offers users several ways to communicate and connect with each other.
One of the communication features available on LinkedIn is the ability to make video calls through the platform. So yes, LinkedIn does have a built-in video calling option that allows members to conduct video conferences and virtual meetings.
Overview of LinkedIn’s Video Call Feature
The video call feature on LinkedIn is facilitated through a partnership with Whereby. Whereby is a browser-based video conferencing service that LinkedIn has integrated into its platform.
With the video call integration, LinkedIn members can start or join video conference calls directly within the LinkedIn messaging interface. This allows for seamless video meetings and calls without having to use an external third-party app.
Some key things to know about LinkedIn’s video calling capability:
- Video calls are initiated through LinkedIn Messaging. You can start a call from a direct message or group conversation.
- Call participants do not need to have Whereby accounts. As long as they are LinkedIn members, they can join calls.
- Video calls support up to 50 participants at once.
- Call length is unlimited. There is no time limit on LinkedIn video calls.
- Video calls can be recorded and saved locally if desired.
- Screen sharing is available to present slides, documents, or share your screen.
- Closed captioning is offered to make calls more accessible.
Overall, the combination of LinkedIn’s massive user base and Whereby’s video conferencing capabilities makes this integrated video call feature a very useful tool for professional networking and communication.
Who Can Use LinkedIn Video Calls?
The LinkedIn video call feature is available to LinkedIn members globally. However, there are some requirements in order to start or join a video call through LinkedIn:
- You must have a LinkedIn user account.
- Your profile must be set to public (your connections must be able to see your profile).
- To start a video call, you must have the paid Job Seeker, Career, or Sales Navigator plan.
- To join a video call, a free LinkedIn account is sufficient.
With a free LinkedIn account, you can participate in and join video calls, but not initiate them. To start calls, you need to upgrade to one of LinkedIn’s paid subscriptions.
Paid subscribers can also access advanced video call features like call recording, closed captions, and call summaries with conversation transcripts after the meeting.
How to Make Video Calls on LinkedIn
The process to start or join a LinkedIn video call is straightforward. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:
Starting a Video Call
- Open the LinkedIn Messaging tab on desktop or mobile.
- Open a 1:1 or group conversation.
- Click the video camera icon in the conversation.
- Set your camera and mic permissions when prompted.
- Copy the video call link or invite others to join.
Joining a Video Call
- Open the LinkedIn Messaging tab.
- Open the conversation where you’ve been invited to join a call.
- Click the video camera thumbnail to join the call.
- Allow camera and mic access when prompted.
Once you’ve started or joined the call, you’ll see the familiar video conferencing interface with participant’s video feeds. You can mute/unmute your mic, turn your camera on/off, share your screen, and utilize other common call features.
Video Call Use Cases
There are many valuable ways LinkedIn members can utilize the platform’s video calling capabilities:
- One-on-one meetings – Conduct remote 1:1 meetings with colleagues, clients, mentors, etc.
- Group meetings – Host team meetings, board meetings, presentations, training sessions.
- Interviews – Interview remote candidates or have virtual interviews with recruiters.
- Webinars – Host and attend webinars through LinkedIn instead of using external services.
- Conferences – Have virtual conferences and breakout sessions.
- Sales calls – Have video sales calls and demos with prospects.
- Office hours – Host open office hours for questions and advice.
The convenience of having video calls directly within the LinkedIn platform makes it easy to connect with your professional network face-to-face without having to schedule meetings across multiple apps.
Benefits of LinkedIn Video Calls
Utilizing LinkedIn’s integrated video calling capabilities offers several benefits:
- Ease of use – Starting and joining calls is simple without needing to set up external services.
- Trusted platform – Calls take place on the trusted, business-focused LinkedIn network.
- Professional context – Video calls are in alignment with nurturing business relationships.
- Free to join – Any LinkedIn member can participate in calls for free.
- Paid features – Subscribers unlock perks like call recording and closed captions.
- Fewer tools – Reduces toggling between apps to schedule and conduct meetings.
LinkedIn Video Call Limitations
While the LinkedIn video call functionality is very useful, there are some limitations to be aware of:
- Must have paid subscription to start 1:1 and group calls
- Max of 50 call participants (lower than other dedicated video conferencing apps)
- No virtual background options
- No call waiting rooms to admit participants
- Only available on desktop and mobile – no native app
- Scheduling capabilities not as robust as dedicated apps
For some use cases like large webinars or enterprise video meetings, dedicated tools like Zoom, Webex, etc. may still provide a more advanced feature set.
Tips for Using LinkedIn Video Calls
To take advantage of LinkedIn’s video calling functionality for your professional needs, here are some top tips:
- Test your microphone, speakers, webcam and internet connection in advance.
- Make sure you have proper lighting so you are visible on camera.
- Minimize background noise so you can be heard clearly.
- Use a headset if you have one available for optimum sound.
- Close unnecessary apps and browser tabs to optimize performance.
- If sharing a screen, close out any sensitive information.
- Mute your microphone when not speaking to reduce background noise.
- Position your camera at eye level for ideal framing.
- Be mindful of on-camera etiquette like eye contact and body language.
Taking some time to prepare with both your tech setup and environment can help ensure your LinkedIn video calls look and sound as professional as possible.
The Future of LinkedIn Video
Video is becoming an increasingly important part of engaging with professional networks and building relationships. LinkedIn seems committed to improving its video capabilities based on user demand.
We may see some of the following video features integrated natively into LinkedIn down the road:
- Higher participant limits for video calls and live events.
- Options for virtual backgrounds and custom video layouts.
- Enhanced scheduling and calendar integration.
- Support for webinars with 1000+ attendees.
- Video messaging for async video communication.
- Tools to edit and enhance recorded videos.
As video becomes more central to how we nurture our professional relationships, LinkedIn will likely continue expanding its video products. Integrated video calling is just the beginning.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s integration with Whereby’s video conferencing capabilities provides a robust way for LinkedIn members to connect face-to-face. Starting or joining video calls directly within LinkedIn conversations makes virtual meetings easy and convenient.
The video call feature is available to all members globally, with paid subscribers able to initiate one-on-one and group calls. With strong video quality, easy accessibility, and LinkedIn’s professional context, this is a very useful tool for networking remotely via video.
While there are some limitations compared to dedicated video conferencing apps, the convenience factor of keeping video calls within LinkedIn makes it a great option for connecting visually with your professional circles.