The 20-second rule for videos on LinkedIn, because the shorter, the… 👇
⏱️20… | …better! ⏱️19… | 20 seconds! You read that right.
⏱️18… | That’s the maximum time we’ll take in 2025 to watch a video before we scroll on.
⏱️17… | For videos of 1 minute or longer, we already drop off after an average of just 11 seconds! We’ve researched this.
⏱️16… | So, we decide in a flash whether something is worth our attention. ⏱️15… | But how do you apply this to your LinkedIn video content? Here are 4 tips to get you started:
⏱️14… | 1️⃣ Think carefully about your first sentence. Grab attention within the first 3 seconds with a provocative question, a strong statement, or a visual hook. ⏱️13… | 2️⃣ Get to the point. Skip long intros or logo animations and jump straight to the point you want to make. ⏱️12… | 3️⃣ Determine your CTA. What do you want the viewer to do? Like? Read? Buy? Keep it simple and concrete. ⏱️11… | 4️⃣ Create a bridge between the video and your blog. Your video supports your blog. Your video triggers, your blog convinces. Use them both smartly in combination.
⏱️10… | ⌚👀 And we still have time left, so here are some more must-know facts:
⏱️9… | 🧠 85% of videos on LinkedIn are watched without sound. Subtitling is not a luxury, but a must. ⏱️8… | 🧠 LinkedIn counts a “view” after just 3 seconds. So if you can hold people’s attention for 3 seconds, you’ll score on reach, even if they don’t click. But: the dwell time is the most important thing for your views. ⏱️7… | 🧠 Vertical videos (4:5 ratio) perform up to 35% better. Because they take up more screen space on mobile, where 80% of your audience is. Current update: Due to the new format on LinkedIn, your blog will be better read with horizontal posts. ⏱️6… | 🧠 Videos with a person in them get up to 2x more engagement. The first second is especially important. So show yourself right away, literally 😉 ⏱️5… | 🧠 Use tools like CapCut or Veedio. They help you automatically trim and subtitle your videos, which will save you a lot of time.
⏱️4… | Well, with these tips and tricks, you’re all set! ⏱️3… | Would you like to receive one of our examples of how to quickly and efficiently record these videos?
⏱️2… | Then just reply with “LET’S GO” and we’ll send it to you!
⏱️1… | Done! Within the time limit! And you? Did you read all the way to here? Or was this post too long?
Research shows that viewers decide within the first 2–3 seconds whether to keep watching. On LinkedIn, most videos lose a large part of their audience within the first 10 seconds.
This means that the first 20 seconds of your video are critical. If you don’t capture attention immediately, your content simply won’t perform, no matter how valuable it is.
How to apply the 20-second rule
Instead of starting your video with:
“Hi, today I want to talk about LinkedIn content…”
Start with:
“Most LinkedIn videos lose viewers in the first 10 seconds. Here’s how to fix that.”
This is exactly how you stop people from scrolling and increase your watch time.
How the LinkedIn video algorithm works
LinkedIn’s video algorithm focuses on one thing: attention. The longer people watch your video, the more LinkedIn pushes it to others.
Key factors include:
- Watch time (how long viewers stay)
- Early engagement (likes, comments in the first hour)
- Video format (vertical videos often perform better)
- Relevance to your network
This is why the first seconds of your video are so important. If people scroll away immediately, your reach drops.
Want to use LinkedIn video to actually generate leads instead of just views?
At YouLynq, we help companies create content that not only gets views, but actually drives conversations and leads.
Feel free to reach out if you want to explore what this could look like for your business.
