LinkedIn's New Video Trends Feature: Professional TikTok?

LinkedIn is finally embracing what the rest of the internet figured out years ago: video is king. In their latest attempt to keep members glued to their feeds, LinkedIn is rolling out a new video trends feature that encourages professionals to respond to trending topics with their own video takes. It's essentially TikTok for people who wear business casual, and honestly, it's about time. While other platforms have been riding the short-form video wave for years, LinkedIn has been cautiously dipping its toes in the water. Now they're diving in headfirst, and it might just be the engagement boost they've been looking for.

How It Works (Spoiler: You've Seen This Before)

The new feature is refreshingly straightforward. You'll notice header tags within video clips and your main feed highlighting trending video topics. Tap on any of these topics, and you'll be whisked away to a collection of videos from other professionals sharing their thoughts on that particular subject. Want to add your two cents? There's a conveniently placed "Add to this trend" button that opens your camera, inviting you to record your professional hot take.

If this format feels familiar, that's because it is. LinkedIn has essentially borrowed the playbook from TikTok's wildly successful trend-based engagement model. It's also remarkably similar to LinkedIn's own "Collaborative Articles" feature, which generates industry questions and invites members to contribute their insights.

Those Collaborative Articles initially exploded in popularity, largely because consistent contributors earned themselves a shiny "topic expert" badge. Once LinkedIn discovered users were gaming the system to earn these badges, they pulled the plug on that particular incentive, and engagement predictably nosedived. Now they're hoping video will reignite that collaborative spirit, without the badge-hunting behavior.

Why This Might Actually Work

Unlike many of LinkedIn's attempts to be more like other social platforms, this one actually makes sense. Video content watch time on the platform has jumped 36% year-over-year, a clear signal that LinkedIn users are increasingly comfortable consuming professional content in video format.

This is particularly true for younger professionals who've grown up in the YouTube and TikTok era. For them, watching a 30-second video explanation is often preferable to reading a text-heavy post. By encouraging more video creation, LinkedIn is meeting these users where they already are.

The format also plays into our natural desire to share expertise. Professionals love demonstrating their knowledge (have you ever met a consultant who didn't want to explain something?), and video trends give them a structured, low-pressure way to do exactly that. The trend format provides both a prompt and a built-in audience, removing two major barriers to content creation.

What This Means For Your LinkedIn Strategy

If you've been hesitant to embrace video on LinkedIn, consider this your wake-up call. The platform is clearly signaling where its algorithm priorities lie, and text-only content may soon find itself at a disadvantage.

For brands and thought leaders, these video trends offer a ready-made opportunity to demonstrate expertise without the pressure of creating completely original content from scratch. The trend format provides both the topic and the context, leaving you to focus solely on delivering your unique perspective.

The key to success will be maintaining professionalism while showing personality. Unlike TikTok, where the weirder the better, LinkedIn video trends will need to strike that delicate balance between engaging and appropriate for a professional audience. Think less dance challenges, more informed takes on industry developments.

Like all new features, early adopters will likely see the biggest benefits. While everyone else is still deciding whether to participate, those who jump in now have a chance to establish themselves as regular contributors to trending conversations.

LinkedIn is currently testing this feature with U.S. users, presumably to work out any kinks before a wider rollout. If you're part of the test group, we'd recommend giving it a shot – even if just to stay ahead of the inevitable wave of video content that's about to flood your professional feed.

At Hire a Writer, we're always tracking these platform evolutions so you don't have to. Our Full Service Digital Marketing and Growth Marketing teams can help you navigate these new features and ensure your brand stays visible no matter how the professional social landscape shifts.