The professional social network LinkedIn announced on Tuesday that business owners can now promote their brands using video ads thru the company’s Linkedin Ads platform. The site’s self-serve advertising interface lets users control costs, choose pay per view vs click ads, and stop their campaign. This is a huge step forward as previously companies could only advertise text and image ads to LinkedIn’s 175 million members.
The video ads will appear in 300 x 240 boxes in size which appear in the same area as the text and image ads.
“When a LinkedIn member is engaged and clicks on your video ad, the video will take over the entire 300 x 250 ad unit and play a 30 second video,â€said Will Hambly, LinkedIn’s online marketing manager. “After the video completes, users will still be able to click through to your landing page or visit your website, just like with the current ads.â€
Companies will also have the option of importing new videos or using ones they’ve already uploaded to their YouTube channel. This ability to cross post will hopefully help capture new LinkedIn audiences, while continuing to attract viewers on Youtube.
“Whether you have a complex business2business service to promote or an inspiring brand message, video ads are a way to educate, persuade and inspire LinkedIn’s 175 million members,†said Hambly.
The announcement of LinkedIn’s new video ads follows last week’s unveiling of its new profile design and simplified editing tools. The professional networking site said its new layout would make it easier for users to edit their profile and connect with other. Clearly, LinkedIn is also working to make it easier for advertisers to connect with users.