LinkedIn's new updates: What's changed and why you should care

 If you've been wondering why your LinkedIn feed looks different or why everyone's suddenly obsessed with video content, you're not alone. 

The platform has introduced some new features that could transform how you connect, create content, and convert prospects.

Whether you're a business owner trying to generate leads, a marketing professional looking to stay ahead of the curve, or someone who just wants to understand what all the fuss is about, these updates matter. 

So, let's take a look into what's new, what's working, and why you might want to pay attention.

💎 New analytics that show what really matters

LinkedIn analytics have had quite the glow-up! The platform has rolled out new post analytics that go beyond the usual likes and views to show you what's driving meaningful engagement.

What's new: 

💎 Profile viewers from your posts: See exactly how many people checked out your profile after seeing your content 

💎 Followers gained from specific posts: Track which content attracts new followers 

💎 Premium custom button interactions: Monitor clicks on your website or newsletter links (for Premium subscribers) 

💎 Average watch time: Understand how long people engage with your video content

Why should you care? Because these metrics show the real impact of your content. It's one thing to get 50 likes on a post; it's quite another to know that same post drove 20 people to visit your profile and 5 new followers. This data helps you understand which content builds your network and drives business outcomes.

If you've been creating content without knowing its true impact, these analytics are your new best friend. Start paying attention to which posts drive profile views and followers.

💎 Video creation just got easier (and more important)

LinkedIn has partnered with Adobe Express to make video creation much smoother. This integration means you can design video content using Adobe's tools and export directly to LinkedIn without the usual download-and-upload hassle.

What this means: 

💎 Access to professionally designed, LinkedIn-optimised B2B video templates 

💎 AI-powered editing features built into Adobe Express 

💎 Direct export to your LinkedIn ad account's media library 

💎 No more broken workflows or file format headaches

But this focus on video isn't just about making life easier. LinkedIn's pushing video because it works. Videos are 20 times more likely to be shared on the platform, video viewership is up 36% year-over-year, and video content generates 1.4 times more engagement than other post types.

Here's the exciting part: 

If you're not using video in your LinkedIn strategy yet, now's the perfect time to start. The platform is actively promoting video content, which means better reach for your video posts and more opportunities to connect with your audience.

💎 Trust beats everything in B2B marketing

LinkedIn's latest research into B2B marketing reveals something most of us instinctively knew but needed data to prove: trust is everything. Their study of over 1,500 decision-makers found that 93.7% of marketers agree that trust is the most important factor in building a successful B2B brand.

What builds trust: 

💎 Customer recommendations: Still the number one influence on purchase decisions 

💎 Consistent brand presence: Being visible and reliable across touchpoints 

💎 Transparent communication: No corporate jargon or misleading claims 

💎 Social proof: Reviews, case studies, and testimonials

This isn't groundbreaking news, but it reinforces why authentic, personal content performs so well compared to corporate speak. People buy from people they trust, and trust is built through consistent, genuine interactions over time.

Great starting points: 

Focus on sharing customer success stories, being transparent about your processes, and building genuine relationships rather than pushing for immediate sales.

💎 LinkedIn Ads: Five tests worth running

If you're ready to invest in LinkedIn advertising (and with Google's costs rising, who isn't exploring alternatives?), there are five ad types worth testing based on recent performance data from Search Engine Land:

1. Thought Leader Ads

These ads appear to come from personal profiles rather than company pages, making them feel more human and authentic. 

They work best when: 

💎 Focusing on customer problems, not your product 

💎 Posted by someone with a senior title and good follower base 

💎 Using engaging hooks and readable formatting 

💎 Including images or video content

 2. Conversation Ads

Perfect for reaching small, highly targeted audiences with personalised messaging. 

Test different: 

💎 Call-to-action buttons 

💎 Message angles and lengths 

💎 Senders (CEO vs. Business Development Director) 

💎 Subject lines

3. Video Ads

Less-produced, more authentic videos are outperforming slick corporate content. Think user-generated content style rather than expensive production.

4. Carousel Ads

Great for storytelling and showcasing multiple aspects of your service. 

Test themes like: 

💎 Product features with real use cases 

💎 Data-driven insights with statistics 

💎 Problem/solution journeys

5. Offer Testing

Remember, LinkedIn users are typically at the top of the funnel. Low-friction offers like "learn more" or interactive calculators tend to convert better than "book a demo" calls-to-action.

💎 Video Best Practices That Drive Results

Since video is clearly LinkedIn's favourite child right now, here are the practices that work:

Technical Basics: 

💎 Vertical videos (9:16) see 24% higher click-through rates 

💎 Keep videos under 2 minutes for optimal engagement 

💎 Use subtitles (92% of mobile users watch with sound off) 

💎 Stabilise your footage with a tripod 

💎 Invest in a decent microphone

Content Strategy: 

💎 Make the first 6 seconds count - hook viewers immediately 

💎 Think beyond talking heads - show conference snippets, behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, show some personality 

💎 Be timely and tap into current events 

💎 Plan for mobile viewing (most LinkedIn users are on mobile) 

💎 Create content that can be repurposed across different formats

Engagement Tactics: 

💎 Use your post text to introduce and frame your video 

💎 Keep things authentic rather than overly polished 

💎 Consider breaking longer videos into shorter, shareable segments 

💎 Test different video styles to see what resonates with your audience

💎 What This All Means for Your Business

These updates represent LinkedIn's exciting new direction. The platform is prioritising:

💎 Authentic, personal content over corporate messaging 

💎 Video content over static posts 

💎 Meaningful engagement over vanity metrics 

💎 Trust-building over hard selling

For Content Creators: Start experimenting with video, use the new analytics to understand what drives real engagement, and focus on building genuine connections.

For Businesses: Consider LinkedIn advertising seriously, especially if you're looking for alternatives to rising advertising costs elsewhere. The platform offers sophisticated targeting with potentially excellent ROI.

For Everyone: LinkedIn has evolved far beyond job searching. It's become a brilliant content and advertising channel that can drive real business results when used thoughtfully.

💎 Getting started: Your next steps

💎 Check your new analytics - Look at your recent posts and see which ones drove profile views and followers 

💎 Plan your first video - Even a simple talking-head video can outperform static posts 

💎 Audit your content strategy - Are you building trust or just promoting services? 

💎 Consider advertising - Start small with one ad type and test your way to success 

💎 Optimise for mobile - Most engagement happens on mobile devices

💎 How SocialJems can help you master LinkedIn

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by all these updates? Don't worry, that's exactly where we come in. At SocialJems, we live and breathe LinkedIn (sometimes a bit too much, but that's what makes us good at it!).

Here are a few of the ways that we can help!

💎 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation 

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital front door. We'll give it a complete makeover to ensure it's clear, compelling, and attracts your ideal clients. Think of it as a professional glow-up that actually converts visitors into connections.

💎 Content Creation & Strategy 

Struggling to know what to post or when to post it? We create authentic, engaging content that showcases your expertise without sounding like a corporate robot. From thought-provoking posts to behind-the-scenes content, we'll help you build genuine connections.

💎 Video Content Creation 

With video being LinkedIn's golden child right now, we can help you create compelling video content that doesn't require Hollywood production values. We focus on authentic, engaging videos that your audience will want to watch and share.

💎 Full LinkedIn Management 

Want to focus on running your business while someone else handles your LinkedIn presence? We offer complete LinkedIn management, from content creation to engagement, so you can build your network without burning out.

💎 LinkedIn Training & Consultancy 

Prefer to handle things yourself but need guidance? Our training sessions will turn you into a LinkedIn pro. We'll teach you how to leverage these new features, create engaging content, and build meaningful business relationships.

💎 Analytics & Reporting 

With all these new metrics LinkedIn's introduced, we'll help you understand what's working and what's not. Regular reports keep you informed about your progress and help refine your strategy for even better results.

The best part? We're not just another agency that treats you like account number 247. We genuinely care about your success and believe in building proper partnerships with our clients. 

Ready to make LinkedIn work for your business? Get in touch and let's chat about how we can help you take advantage of all these exciting new features. Because in a world where everyone's trying to crack the LinkedIn code, we've already got the blueprint.

Want more insights on social media marketing? Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for regular tips, updates, and the occasional behind-the-scenes chaos that makes our agency tick.