LinkedIn adds video profiles and features to help you build your following

LinkedIn logo
LinkedIn logo (Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • LinkedIn now allows you to create a video cover story.
  • A new creator mode for LinkedIn makes it easier to build up a following.
  • LinkedIn now helps people see your live broadcasts by making them your profile background.

LinkedIn's new Cover Story feature lets you make a video profile of yourself. Within your cover story, you can share your professional story, expertise, and a bit of your personality. If you have a cover story, your profile photo will have an orange ring around it, and a preview of your video will silently play when people look at your profile.

In a study cited by LinkedIn, 76% of hiring managers believe seeing a video of a job seeker would be useful.

The new creator mode for LinkedIn makes it easier to build up a following on the network. With it, you can add hashtags to show which topics you are interested in. The mode also switches the "Connect" button to a "Follow" button and moves your featured and activity sections to the top of your profile.

LinkedIn Live broadcasters will now have their profile background show their live broadcast when they start streaming. This should help improve the visibility of streamed content.

In addition to the new features aimed at creators, LinkedIn added the option to add your gender pronoun to your profile.

These new features start rolling out this week, so you may have to wait a few days before you see them on your profile.

Mary Jo Foley has a piece for ZDNet that breaks down how Microsoft is focusing on creators and communities. We've also seen that push in Microsoft's pursuit of Discord.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.