Why cross-post from YouTube to LinkedIn?
LinkedIn native video is one of the most underutilized content types on the platform, yet it generates 5x more engagement than text posts. If you create educational, business, or career content on YouTube, LinkedIn is the perfect secondary platform. The audience is professional and hungry for video content.
YouTube Specs
- Caption limit
- 5,000 chars
- Max hashtags
- 5
- Aspect ratios
- 16:9, 9:16
- Media formats
- MP4, MOV
- Max video length
- 12h
- Max file size
- 2000 MB
- Best times
- 2-4 PM, 6-8 PM
- Links in posts
- Yes
YouTube Specs
- Caption limit
- 5,000 chars
- Max hashtags
- 5
- Aspect ratios
- 16:9, 9:16
- Media formats
- MP4, MOV
- Max video length
- 12h
- Max file size
- 2000 MB
- Best times
- 2-4 PM, 6-8 PM
- Links in posts
- Yes
LinkedIn Specs
- Caption limit
- 3,000 chars
- Max hashtags
- 5
- Aspect ratios
- 16:9, 1:1
- Media formats
- JPG, PNG, PDF, MP4
- Max video length
- 10 min
- Max file size
- 200 MB
- Best times
- 8-10 AM, 12-2 PM, 5-6 PM
- Links in posts
- Yes
How to cross-post from YouTube to LinkedIn
- 1
Select professional or educational YouTube videos
Choose content about industry insights, tutorials, career advice, or business tips. Avoid entertainment-only content.
- 2
Download and trim for LinkedIn
LinkedIn supports videos up to 10 minutes. Clip the most valuable segment of your YouTube video.
- 3
Write a professional LinkedIn caption
Replace your YouTube SEO description with a professional narrative. Share your expert perspective, add data, and ask for industry opinions.
- 4
Add professional hashtags
Use 3-5 industry hashtags like #ContentMarketing, #Leadership, or #Entrepreneurship.
- 5
Post during business hours
LinkedIn peaks at 8-10 AM and 12-2 PM on weekdays. Very different from YouTube's 2-4 PM peak.
Formatting tips for YouTube to LinkedIn
LinkedIn supports both 16:9 and 9:16
You can upload YouTube videos in their native 16:9 format on LinkedIn. No reformatting needed.
Keep it under 10 minutes
LinkedIn video max is 10 minutes with 200MB file size. The sweet spot is 2-5 minutes.
Write thought-leadership captions
LinkedIn audiences expect insights and expert opinions, not casual social media banter.
Common mistakes to avoid
Sharing YouTube links on LinkedIn
Like Facebook, LinkedIn reduces reach for external video links. Upload video natively for best results.
Entertainment content on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is professional. Only cross-post business, career, educational, or industry content.
Casual YouTube captions on LinkedIn
Rewrite your caption with professional insights, data, and a question for your industry peers.
Pro Tip
LinkedIn articles with embedded native video get significantly more reach than standalone video posts. Consider writing a short LinkedIn article with your video embedded and a written summary for those who prefer reading.
Frequently asked questions
Should I upload YouTube videos natively to LinkedIn?
Yes. Native LinkedIn video gets much more reach than shared YouTube links. Download your video and upload directly.
What is the video size limit on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn allows videos up to 10 minutes and 200MB. Both 16:9 and 9:16 formats are supported.
Do YouTube links work on LinkedIn?
YouTube links create a small preview on LinkedIn but get reduced reach. Native uploads consistently perform 3-5x better.