Use video or audio on your profile to tell your story and convince & convert
I am lazy and prone to distraction. My eyes get tired looking at computer screens, and my attention span is probably shorter than a goldfish.
I'll give your profile only lazy, partial attention — a text message may distract me, or my phone rings, my microwave will ping... it's easy to get distracted.
So why not hold my attention by telling me a little story - literally?
You have the option to add a ten-second audio introduction to your profile, originally designed to help people pronounce your name correctly.
You need to be using the LinkedIn app on a mobile phone to add audio to your profile. If you have the feature activated on your profile, you'll see a prompt when viewing your profile.
The steps are largely self-explanatory, but I have written an article with full details of how to add your audio here on LinkedIn.
You can also consider adding video or audio to tell me what you offer, and how I can benefit from it, and what I need to do to get it.
Some people do not “get it” when they read something — they need to hear a voice or see your face to understand how you can help them.
And humans connect at a primal level with the sound of another human voice. That's why they generally like using the phone or Zoom before they will seal a deal.
So if you don't ever speak to people… they won't ever really know what you are talking about.
Setting up a Soundcloud account is a two minute task. Adding the app to your phone is simple. Then you can record your messages to share on your LinkedIn profile.
You may need to edit any recording, and for PC or Mac owners, an excellent free resource for recording and editing your sound files is Audacity — or with a Mac, you can also use Garageband. On my iPhone, I use AudioCopy, which is simple, flexible and free, and uploads files straight to SoundCloud.
To embed the media into your profile, add it as a link to your 'Featured' section or the relevant job in your Experience section. Simply copy the URL of your sound clip, and then paste it in as a Link. Done.
Visitors to your profile can then just click on the image produced on your profile, and can then listen to your recording. With audio only, they can listen while they do other things. Like view more of your profile or check out your website. Nice.
You can use video in the same way: Upload it with a link to the YouTube, Vimeo or other URL and add it to your ‘Featured’ section or your experience section.
Video is only growing in prominence across all social media, so you should probably have something in place, even if it's only brief. 'Hello' this is me, this is what I do, contact me'.
Sound
Video
Both
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You can also now upload video as an update into your timeline, and there's a native LinkedIn Video option in their app for your smartphone.
LinkedIn are currently rolling out the option to 'Go Live' and stream live video. It's not for me, with my face made for radio, but others love it and broadcast regularly.
LinkedIn announced its new 'Audio Events' feature in January 2022.
It has become available to all members now, and will make audio an even more important part of LinkedIn. So get some audio onto your profile, if only your ten-second introduction.
I still think amateur video is dangerous for your image.
If you're going to use video, get the lighting, background, sound quality captioning and editing done to the highest standard - otherwise you just let yourself down.
I'm never convinced by someone telling me how to make a six figure income when they are sitting parked up in their Toyota. Don't do this.
Best of all, get a professional videographer to work with you to create a truly accomplished video, in an appropriate setting, lit well, with quality sound and professionally produced captions.
