How to Post Shorts on LinkedIn

Posting short, vertical videos on LinkedIn can get you serious attention, but the process isn’t as obvious as it is on Instagram or TikTok. You won’t find a dedicated Shorts or Reels button, and that's exactly where the opportunity lies. This guide breaks down exactly how to upload your snackable videos to LinkedIn, step-by-step, and shares practical strategies to make sure they get seen by the right people.

Why Bother with “Shorts” on LinkedIn?

In a feed dominated by text-based posts and company announcements, a well-made vertical video is impossible to ignore. While LinkedIn is a professional network, the people using it are the same people scrolling TikTok and Instagram. They’ve been trained to consume and enjoy short, snappy video content. Bringing that format to a professional context can give you a massive advantage.

Here’s why it works so well:

• It Stops the Scroll: Movement is a powerful attention-grabber. A dynamic video can instantly stand out against static text or images, getting more eyes on your message.
• It Humanizes Your Brand: Video allows you to showcase your personality, your team's culture, and the real people behind your brand or career. This builds connection and trust far more effectively than a formal headshot and block of text.
• It Simplifies Complex Ideas: Need to explain a complex industry concept, perform a quick software tutorial, or break down recent news? A 60-second video can communicate information more efficiently and memorably than a long article.
• It Drives Better Engagement: LinkedIn's algorithm often favors native video content, especially when it shows high engagement signals like watch time, likes, and comments. This means your video is more likely to be shown to a wider audience.

The Truth About “Shorts” on LinkedIn: What You Need to Know

Before you run off to create, let's get one thing clear: LinkedIn does not have an official “Shorts” feature. Unlike YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels, there isn't a separate, dedicated feed for short-form, vertical videos. When people talk about posting "Shorts" on LinkedIn, they are simply referring to the strategy of posting a short, vertically-oriented video as a standard native video post.

That's great news because it means you don't need to learn a new tool. You just need to upload your video in the right format. To set yourself up for success, keep these technical specs in mind:

• Video Length: You can upload videos from 3 seconds to 10 minutes long. For a "short," aim for something under 90 seconds, with the sweet spot often being between 30 and 60 seconds.
• Aspect Ratio: While LinkedIn supports horizontal (16:9) and square (1:1) video, you should absolutely use a vertical aspect ratio of 9:16. This fills up the entire screen on mobile devices, creating a more immersive experience for the vast majority of users who scroll on their phones.
• File Format: MP4 is the most reliable format. MOV is also widely supported.
• File Size: Your video can be up to 5GB, which is more than enough for short-form content.
• Captions: You can upload an SRT file (SubRip Subtitle file) to add closed captions to your video. This is a must-do, which we'll cover in more detail below.

How to Post Shorts on LinkedIn: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to upload your first video? The process is straightforward whether you’re on a computer or your phone. Let’s walk through both.

Posting from a Desktop Browser

Uploading from your computer gives you the most options, especially for adding things like a custom thumbnail and a captions file.

1. Start a New Post: On your LinkedIn homepage, click on the “Start a post” box at the top of your feed.
2. Select the Video Icon: In the pop-up window, click the “Add media” icon (it looks like a little landscape picture) and then select the video icon. Alternatively, you can click on the three dots for "More" and choose the video camera icon.
3. Choose Your Video File: A file explorer window will appear. Navigate to your saved 9:16 vertical video and select it.
4. Optimize Your Video Settings: Once the video is processing, you'll see a preview window. This is where you can fine-tune your post.
   • Thumbnail: Click on "Thumbnail" to select an auto-generated frame or upload a custom image. A compelling thumbnail can significantly increase clicks.
   • Captions: Click on "Select caption" to upload your SRT captions file. This makes your video accessible to everyone, including those who watch with the sound off.
   • Alt-text: Add a descriptive text for users with screen readers.
5. Write a Compelling Post: Don't just upload the video and walk away! Your post copy is critical. Write an engaging hook to provide context, ask a question to spur conversation, and add 3-5 relevant hashtags. We’ll offer more tips on this in the next section.
6. Tag People or Companies: If you mentioned specific individuals or organizations in your video, be sure to @-tag them in your post to increase visibility.
7. Post it: Once you’re happy with everything, hit the “Post” button to send your video live.

Posting from the Mobile App

Posting on the go is simple and fast, though it offers slightly fewer customization options than the desktop version (like custom thumbnails).

1. Tap the “Post” Button: This is the blue button with a “+” icon at the bottom center of the app screen.
2. Select “Add a video”: This option will appear with a video camera icon. It will open your phone’s media gallery.
3. Choose Your Video: Select the vertical video you want to post from your library. Tap “Next” in the top right corner.
4. Add Your Text and Hashtags: Just like on desktop, this is where you write your caption. Add your hook, share your insights, ask a question, and include your hashtags.
5. Tag Someone: You can use the @ symbol to tag any relevant connections or companies here.
6. Post: Tap "Post" in the top right corner. Your video will upload and you'll get a notification once it's live on your feed.

Best Practices: Turning Your Video into an Engagement Magnet

Uploading the video is the easy part. Getting it to perform well requires a bit more thought. Follow these best practices to give your content the best possible chance of succeeding.

1. Your First Three Seconds are Everything

You have to earn a viewer's attention. If the first few seconds of your video are boring or confusing, they will keep scrolling. Start with a strong hook that clearly states the value proposition of the video.

• Use Bold On-Screen Text: "3 Writing Tips for Professionals" or "This common career advice is wrong…"
• Ask a Question: "Are you making this mistake in meetings?"
• Make a Surprising Statement: "I got fired, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me."

2. Create Content for the LinkedIn Context

A dance trend that went viral on TikTok might not land well on LinkedIn. Your content should be tailored to the professional mindset of the audience. Think T.I.P.S.

• Teach: Share a quick tutorial, a how-to guide, or explain a technical concept in a simplified way.
• Inspire: Talk about a career lesson, a success story, or a challenge you overcame. Personal stories resonate deeply.
• Persuade: Share a strong opinion on an industry trend or make a case for a specific strategy or mindset.
• Show: Take people behind the scenes of your work, show a day in your life, or showcase your company culture.

3. Always, Always Use Subtitles

This cannot be overstated. A huge portion of users browse LinkedIn in an office, on a commute, or in other public places where it's inappropriate to have sound on. If your video relies on audio and has no subtitles, you're losing the majority of your potential audience immediately.

You can use tools like CapCut, Descript, or Adobe Premiere Pro to easily add dynamic, burned-in captions to your video before you even upload it. Alternatively, create and upload an SRT file through the desktop posting interface.

4. Write Post Copy That Adds V.A.L.U.E.

Think of your post copy as the partner to your video. It should complement the video, not just repeat it. Use the V.A.L.U.E framework:

• Vivid Hook: Your first line should reinforce the video's hook and grab attention.
• Add Context: Use the next few lines to provide any background information or expand on the core idea of your video.
• Lead a Discussion: Ask an open-ended question related to the video's topic to encourage comments.
• Urge Action: Tell people what you want them to do next. Do you want them to share their own experience? Visit your website? Follow you for more tips?
• Employ Hashtags: Use 3-5 relevant hashtags. A good strategy is to use a mix of broad tags (#leadership, #marketing) and more niche tags (#b2bcontent, #productmanagement).

5. Engage with Your Engagers

The work isn't done after you hit "Post." The first hour is critical for the algorithm. Set aside some time to respond to every comment you receive. This conversation signals to LinkedIn that your post is valuable and interesting, which will help it get shown to more people.

Final Thoughts

Posting short-form video on LinkedIn is a straightforward way to capture attention, show your expertise, and build your professional brand. By following the steps above and focusing on creating consistently valuable content, you can easily add this powerful format to your content strategy and stand out from the crowd.

We know that producing great videos takes real effort, and managing them across LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram can quickly become a juggling act. That’s why we designed an all-in-one social media planner that treats video as a first-class citizen. With Postbase, you can plan all of your short-form videos on a single visual calendar and schedule them everywhere at once, taking the busywork out of staying consistent.