Over the past year, LinkedIn has been working to overhaul its brand. It’s moved away from its reputation for being a complex tool used only by recruiters and jobseekers. Its revamped desktop website ushered in the company’s shift in focus towards being a fully-fledged social network.
Today, LinkedIn announced it’s rolling out video to all its users. You can now upload videos to LinkedIn posts when online or in its iOS and Android apps. The apps also support native video recording so you can shoot a new clip without leaving the app.
LinkedIn suggested the feature could be used to provide another angle into your professional life. Designers might upload videos of their creative process, developers could show off new projects and businesses could detail their latest products. Videos can be shared, liked and commented on, keeping conversations on LinkedIn.
The feature’s an obvious attempt to cement LinkedIn’s status as the social network for professionals. It’s facing increased competition from companies such as Facebook. Facebook is also betting big on video and has recently begun to more aggressively expand into LinkedIn’s core market. LinkedIn said it’s launching video to offer a new way for people to connect on its platform.
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“Every day, millions of LinkedIn members have conversations about their work, career and interests,” said LinkedIn. “We’ve seen countless examples of how these conversations help members get ahead in their careers and find their way in to new opportunities. This is why we continue to invest in new ways for you to discover great content and contribute to the conversations that matter most to you.”
LinkedIn will provide detailed statistics to help you understand who’s watching your videos. You’ll be able to track the locations, names and businesses of your viewers, giving you an insight into the industry sectors and geographic areas benefitting from your uploads. The analytics will also include basic metrics for views, likes and comments.
LinkedIn said most users should be able to access the video features immediately. The platform’s currently undergoing a staged rollout though so it may take some time to reach everyone worldwide. The launch is expected to be complete in the next few weeks when every LinkedIn user will be able to participate.
