Quick Answer
There are a few key reasons why you may not be able to post a video on LinkedIn:
- Your LinkedIn account doesn’t have the capability enabled – You need to have a Premium Business or Sales Navigator account in order to post videos on LinkedIn.
- Your video file is too large – LinkedIn has a file size limit of 5GB per video upload. If your video is larger than that, it won’t be accepted.
- Your video isn’t in a supported format – LinkedIn only accepts MP4, MOV, and AVI file formats for video uploads.
- There are copyright or legal issues with your video – LinkedIn will not allow videos to be posted that violate copyright or other laws.
- You’ve reached your daily/weekly video limit – LinkedIn limits accounts on how many videos can be posted in a certain time period, even premium accounts.
So in summary, double check your account type, video file size and format, the content of the video, and how frequently you are posting. Address any issues that may be limiting your ability to upload videos to LinkedIn.
Examining the Requirements to Post Videos on LinkedIn
LinkedIn has certain requirements that must be met in order to share video content on their platform. Here is a more in-depth look at what is required:
Account Type Requirement
The most basic requirement is having the right type of LinkedIn account. The ability to post native videos is limited to users who have Premium Business or Sales Navigator accounts.
Free LinkedIn accounts do not have access to post native videos. However, free users can still include links to videos hosted on other platforms like YouTube or Vimeo. But the video itself needs to be uploaded and hosted elsewhere first.
So if you try to directly upload a video file on the LinkedIn interface with a free account, you’ll receive an error saying that privileges are restricted. Upgrading to one of the premium account types is necessary to have full video posting privileges.
File Size Limit
Assuming you meet the account type requirement, the next consideration is the size of your video file. LinkedIn has a file size limit of 5GB per video you want to upload.
If your video exceeds that file size limit, LinkedIn will display an error message that the file is too large and unable to be processed. You would need to use video editing software to reduce the size of your video in order to successfully upload it.
The 5GB file size limit allows you to upload fairly long, high-definition videos. But extremely large or uncompressed video files may need to be optimized before uploading in order to meet this limit.
Video Format Requirements
LinkedIn also only supports certain video file formats for uploading. The specific formats allowed include:
- MP4
- MOV
- AVI
So if your video is encoded in a format other than those three, LinkedIn will return an error saying invalid file type if you attempt to upload it.
You would need to convert the video to one of the approved formats first before sharing on LinkedIn. There are many free online video converter tools available to handle this if needed.
Copyright and Legal Restrictions
LinkedIn also prohibits users from posting videos that violate copyright law or other legal restrictions. This includes:
- Videos you do not have legal rights or permission to share
- Videos containing illegal or prohibited content
- Videos that infringe on third party intellectual property
If you try to upload a video that breaks any of these rules, LinkedIn will reject it and likely issue a warning or temporary account limitation for repeat violations.
Make sure you have the rights to share any video you are posting, and that it does not display illegal or copyright-protected content.
Daily and Weekly Video Upload Limits
Finally, LinkedIn places limits on the number of videos you can upload, even for premium accounts. This includes:
- 10 videos per day limit
- 100 videos per week limit
If you try to exceed either of those thresholds, you’ll get an error notification that you have reached your video upload limit. This is to prevent any single user from spamming videos or overwhelming follower’s feeds.
So if your videos are not appearing, check to see if you had uploaded your daily or weekly maximum already. Wait for the limit to reset before attempting to upload additional videos.
Troubleshooting Tips for Posting Videos on LinkedIn
If you are having trouble posting videos on LinkedIn, here are some troubleshooting tips to try:
Verify Your Account Type
As mentioned, only Premium Business and Sales Navigator accounts can post native videos on LinkedIn. Double check that you have one of these premium account types enabled.
The functionality will not be available with a free account. Upgrading your account is the only way to access native video posting capabilities.
Check File Size and Format
Review your video file properties and technical details. Confirm that the file size is less than 5GB, and that the video is encoded in MP4, MOV, or AVI format.
If either of those requirements are not met, you will need to use video editing software to alter the file accordingly before re-uploading.
Review Video Content
Carefully review the actual content of your video to check for any potential legal issues or intellectual property concerns. Make sure you have full rights to share the video, and that it does not display any illegal or copyrighted material.
Removing any problematic content or acquiring proper permissions can help resolve restrictions related to the video itself.
Check Upload Frequency
See how many videos you have already posted that day and week. LinkedIn allows a maximum of 10 videos per day and 100 videos per week.
If you already hit those limits, you’ll have to wait for the daily or weekly period to reset before uploading any additional videos. Pacing out your video posts can help avoid those threshold limits.
Contact LinkedIn Support
If you still cannot isolate the specific reason for your video upload failure, consider reaching out to LinkedIn’s customer support team.
They can review any error notifications in more detail and let you know if there are any restrictions unique to your account that may be blocking your video posts.
Best Practices for Posting Impactful LinkedIn Videos
Once you sort out the requirements to post videos on LinkedIn, it’s also important to follow best practices to make sure your videos are engaging and effective. Here are some top tips:
Optimize Video Length
Shorter videos tend to perform best on LinkedIn. Try to keep your videos under 2 minutes in length when possible. That helps maintain viewer attention and completion rates.
For longer videos, break them into a series of 2 minute (or shorter) segments. You can always link the different segments together in each post.
Craft Compelling Titles
The title of your video posts can make or break viewership rates. Use compelling wording that hints at the value of watching the video without giving everything away up front.
Aim for titles between 60-100 characters so the full text is displayed. Include keywords where relevant as well.
Provide a Full Description
The written description for your video posts provides helpful context for viewers. Summarize what the video covers and key takeaways or highlights.
This gives viewers a reason to click before committing 2 minutes to watch. It also expands your content footprint for SEO indexing.
Enhance Production Quality
Invest in proper lighting, audio equipment, editing software, and other tools to enhance the production quality of your videos as much as possible.
High-quality, professional videos tend to achieve much higher view rates and engagement on LinkedIn.
Work Video Content Into Your Strategy
Don’t post random videos that lack purpose. Align your video content to your overall LinkedIn business strategy and goals.
Video is a format, not a strategy itself. Use it purposefully to support broader objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of LinkedIn accounts allow video uploads?
The ability to natively upload and post videos on LinkedIn is limited to users with Premium Business and Sales Navigator accounts. Free accounts do not have access, only the ability to link out to videos hosted elsewhere.
What video file formats can you upload to LinkedIn?
LinkedIn supports the MP4, MOV, and AVI video formats for native video uploads. Videos must be properly encoded in one of these file types to be accepted.
Is there a file size limit for LinkedIn video uploads?
Yes, LinkedIn enforces a file size limit of 5GB per video upload. So your video file must be less than 5GB in order to successfully post it.
Can you post copyrighted or illegal content in LinkedIn videos?
No, LinkedIn prohibits users from posting any video content that violates copyright law or displays illegal, dangerous, or unethical material that goes against their community guidelines.
How many videos can you post on LinkedIn per day or week?
LinkedIn limits accounts to uploading a maximum of 10 videos per day and 100 videos per week. Hitting these thresholds will block additional uploads until the daily or weekly period resets.
Conclusion
Posting videos on LinkedIn can be a very effective tactic, but only if certain requirements are met. Having the proper account type, acceptable file attributes, legal content, and avoiding upload limits are all key to enabling video posts.
Additionally, following best practices for crafting compelling video content that aligns with your LinkedIn goals and audience needs is important for driving video performance. With the right approach, video can take your LinkedIn marketing results to the next level.