LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 800 million members. It allows users to connect with colleagues, find jobs, share content, and build their professional brand. One feature that LinkedIn offers is the ability to send direct messages to connect with other members. This raises the question – can you send video messages on LinkedIn?
The Answer
No, LinkedIn does not currently offer the ability to send video messages. The messaging feature on LinkedIn only allows you to send text-based messages. There is no option to record or upload a video message to send to your connections.
LinkedIn Messaging Overview
Here is an overview of how messaging works on LinkedIn:
- You can message any of your 1st-degree connections directly without needing them to follow or approve you.
- You can also message 2nd and 3rd-degree connections by paying for LinkedIn Premium.
- Messages are limited to 8,192 characters including spaces.
- You can attach files and images to messages.
- Messages are only visible between you and the recipient – they do not appear publicly on profiles or in feeds.
- On the mobile app, you can use chat heads to have ongoing conversations that sync across devices.
As you can see, while LinkedIn provides a helpful messaging system to connect with your network, video messages are not supported at this time. You are limited to text, image, and file-based messaging only.
Why No Video Messaging on LinkedIn?
There are a few potential reasons why LinkedIn does not allow video messaging:
- Privacy concerns – Video messages may be considered too personal or raise privacy issues in a professional context.
- Bandwidth costs – Hosting and streaming many video messages could increase LinkedIn’s infrastructure costs significantly.
- Misuse potential – Video messaging could be misused for spam or inappropriate contact.
- LinkedIn’s focus – LinkedIn is designed for professional networking rather than casual video chats.
The use case for exchanging professional video messages on LinkedIn may also not be as strong as other social networks designed for friends and family. Most business communication can be done effectively through written messages and content sharing.
Alternatives for Sending Video Messages
If you need to send a video-based message to your professional connections, here are some alternative options beyond LinkedIn:
- Record a short video and upload it to YouTube as ‘unlisted’ – then share the private link.
- Use a file sharing site like Dropbox to exchange recorded video files.
- Connect on another social network that allows video messaging, like Facebook Messenger.
- Exchange contact info and use FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Skype for video calls.
- Record a personalized video message using a service like Vidyard or Loom.
The table below compares the options for sending video messages:
Platform | File Size Limit | Video Length | Privacy |
---|---|---|---|
YouTube Unlisted | 128GB | Up to 12 hours | Visible only with link |
Dropbox | 100GB for Business | No limit | Visible only to recipients |
Facebook Messenger | 1.5GB | Up to 1 hour | Visible only to recipients |
100MB | Up to 30 seconds | Visible only to recipients |
File Sharing Sites
Using a file sharing platform like Dropbox or Google Drive to exchange video files allows you to share unlimited length videos with large file sizes privately. This gives you the most flexibility but requires the recipient to download the video file to view it.
YouTube Unlisted
Uploading a video message to YouTube as an ‘Unlisted’ video means that only people who you share the link with will be able to view it. The video can be up to 12 hours long with a 128GB file size limit. This allows you to share a video securely without making it public on YouTube.
Social Media Apps
Apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp or Snapchat give you the option to exchange video messages quickly. However, they usually limit the length (1 minute for Facebook, 30 seconds for WhatsApp) and file size of videos. You’d only share short video clips or messages using these platforms.
Will LinkedIn Add Video Messaging?
While LinkedIn does not currently offer video messaging, there is a chance they may add this feature down the line. According to their public roadmap, LinkedIn has been focused on improving messaging capabilities in general over the past year.
For example, some recent messaging updates include:
- Increasing the character limit from 5,000 to 8,192 characters.
- Adding the ability to @mention colleagues and see read receipts.
- Introducing chat heads on mobile to keep conversations in one place.
Video messaging would be a logical next step as LinkedIn looks to make conversations on the platform richer and more engaging. However, the company has not made any definitive statements about launching this feature.
In a 2021 interview, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky said they aim to build the messaging experience into something more similar to WhatsApp or iMessage. But he also acknowledged the hesitancy around video being seen as too personal for a professional environment.
While video messaging doesn’t appear to be on LinkedIn’s imminent roadmap, the demand from users for richer messaging capabilities is increasing. With platforms like Twitter launching audio and video messaging, LinkedIn may follow suit eventually – but only once privacy controls are in place.
Tips for Messaging on LinkedIn
While you currently can’t send video messages directly on LinkedIn, you can still have effective conversations using the existing text-based messaging options. Here are some tips:
- Personalize your message with a warm greeting and mention how you are connected.
- Keep your message professional and avoid using emojis/slang.
- Ask open-ended questions to spark a conversation.
- Share links to relevant articles, profiles, or images to provide value.
- Follow up if you don’t receive a response within a week.
- Respect the recipient’s privacy – don’t over message someone who isn’t responding.
Making Connections on LinkedIn
In addition to messaging your existing connections, you can expand your network on LinkedIn to open up new messaging opportunities. Some tips for making more connections include:
- Importing your email contacts and connecting to those on LinkedIn.
- Connecting with former colleagues and classmates.
- Following companies you are interested in and connecting with their employees.
- Joining LinkedIn groups related to your industry and messaging group members.
- Connecting with people who engage with your posts and content.
With a robust professional network on LinkedIn, you have many more options for sending direct messages and engaging in productive conversations to advance your career.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn doesn’t offer video messaging currently, you have a few solid alternative options for sharing video-based messages professionally. These include using an unlisted YouTube video, exchanging files via Dropbox or Google Drive, or using apps like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp if you have a personal connection.
LinkedIn may eventually add video messaging capabilities as its messaging platform evolves. But for now, you can still have meaningful conversations using text-based messaging on LinkedIn. Focus on personalizing your messages, asking good questions, and adding value to build relationships through LinkedIn messaging.