What makes a good LinkedIn Cover Story Video?

Reading time: 4 minutes 28 seconds +30 seconds to watch the video

Let’s go!

Let’s talk LinkedIn profile images. 

If you just sighed, don’t worry because I’m not going to talk about your profile image. Instead, let’s chat about your profile video.

LinkedIn released this feature in 2021, but most people still don’t know about it, and even fewer use it. 

What is a LinkedIn profile video?

The LinkedIn profile video is a video you can use in place of your LinkedIn profile picture. That’s right. LinkedIn allows you to upload a prerecorded video instead of a professional headshot image.   

Your video is limited to 30 seconds in length, and while that may seem like a small amount of time, you can convey a lot in 30 seconds if you follow a proven method. 

Why use a LinkedIn profile video?

Adding a video as your profile “photo” has a few benefits.

• It humanizes you.
• It helps prospects understand what you do.
• You can highlight problems you solve.
• You can talk about your offer.
• You help people pronounce your name.  

I could go on, but you get the point. A video profile image can do some heavy lifting for you.  

What should you say?

It’s important to keep in mind that while your video will be about you and your offer, it’s not for you; it’s for your prospects. So what you don’t what to do is turn your video into a sales call. 

Here’s a list of what not to include.

• A laundry list of services. 
• Talk of how long you’ve been in business. 
• Talk about why you started your business. 

When prospects watch your LinkedIn profile video, they want to know why they should care and how to engage with you, not your company’s history. So, let’s dig into that.

A LinkedIn profile video script

Before I break down the LinkedIn profile video script, here it is in its entirety. I’ll explain the methodology I used to create it in the next section. Feel free to copy and paste the script, so you can modify it to work for you.

“Hey, Ryan here, and I’m on a mission to help entrepreneurs clearly articulate who they are and what they do. 

I know that finding the right words for your brand can be frustrating even if you’ve taken courses or read books, like StoryBrand, the truth is creating the perfect message for your audience is hard, but it doesn’t have to be. 

You can create the perfect message for your brand, so you attract the right people and increase your opportunities. 

So if you need to clarify your message, schedule a call at RyanRhoten.com/30, and let’s chat because I believe finding your message should be easy. Not your life’s work.” 

A LinkedIn profile video breakdown

What follows is a breakdown of my LinkedIn profile video script. The script follows a proven storytelling method to make it relevant and relatable to prospects. 

So, let’s break down my LinkedIn profile video by reviewing the script, with explanations in [brackets].

“Hey, Ryan here… 

[Introduction. I should probably say my last name since some people struggle with it]

…and I’m on a mission to help entrepreneurs clearly articulate who they are and what they do. 

[Not only is this my mission, but it’s also the biggest problem my clients struggle with the most].

I know that finding the right words for your brand can be frustrating…

[Exact words clients have said to me during our sales calls]  

…even if you’ve taken courses or read books, like StoryBrand

[These examples make it relatable to prospects. Many of my clients tell me these are things they tried to do before they started working with me.] 

…the truth is creating the perfect message for your audience is hard, but it doesn’t have to be. 

[Transition to the solution].

You can create the perfect message for your brand…

[Offering hope. You can do this!]

…so you attract the right people and increase your opportunities. [The desired outcome and why they should take action]  

So if you need to clarify your message… 

[I use the phrase “clarify your message” because I’m a StoryBrand Guide and prospects use this language].  

schedule a call at RyanRhoten.com/30, and let’s chat…

[Direct call to action. This is what I want them to do after watching] 

…because I believe finding your message should be easy. Not your life’s work. 

[Touching on frustration with this sentence. I had a client who told me she’d worked on her message for what felt like her whole life. Side note. We nailed her message after 2 sessions.] 

A possible new ending to the video would be to call out the time it takes to go through my process. For example, I could say:

…because with the Brand Messaging System, you can have a clear message everywhere, so become the obvious choice in your market in 30 days or less.   

Tools to create a LinkedIn profile video

Creating your video is not too difficult unless you’re uncomfortable with video. I use this trick with my clients to get them more comfortable on camera. 

Take out your phone. Record yourself talking about what you do for 30 seconds, then delete it. Don’t watch it. 

Repeat that process until you start to feel more comfortable. 

Scripting your LinkedIn profile video

If you are concerned about forgetting your lines, check out the BIGVU app.          

BIGVU is like a teleprompter for your phone. BIGVU allows you to upload a text script (or bullet points) to your phone. The script appears on your phone’s screen so you can read it, but in the final video, you only see yourself, no script.

How to add closed captioning to your LinkedIn profile video

Since more and more people are watching videos on their social feeds in silence, it makes sense to add closed captioning to your video. The easiest way I’ve found to do this is by using Headliner App.  

Don’t let the headline on the website confuse you. You do not need a podcaster to use the app. Headliner has a video captioning feature that allows you to caption your video. Simply upload your video, and Headliner takes care of the rest. 

Once done, export the video, head over to LinkedIn, and upload it as your profile “pic,” and voila, you have an excellent way to introduce yourself to others. 

That’s it for this week. Next week, I have an awesome announcement about a topic that is personal. 

Cheers,

Ryan