How to Build a LinkedIn Thought Leadership Video Program

Why does executive visibility on LinkedIn matter for B2B?

98% of Fortune 500 CEOs are on LinkedIn. But most of them barely post. The ones who do - consistently, on video - build a personal brand that directly feeds their company's pipeline. When a CEO shares a point of view on camera, it signals confidence and transparency in a way that a corporate blog post never can.

The numbers back this up. 87% of B2B buyers say they prefer content from trusted industry influencers over branded content. Your executives are those influencers - if they show up. LinkedIn's algorithm also favors personal profiles over company pages. A video from your CEO's profile will reach 5-10x the audience of the same video posted from your company page.

What stops leaders from posting video on LinkedIn?

We have worked with hundreds of executives on video. The objections are always the same three: "I don't have time," "I'm not good on camera," and "I don't know what to talk about." Each one is solvable.

Time: A thought leadership video does not need to be a 10-minute production. A 60-second clip filmed on a phone takes less time than writing a LinkedIn text post. Batch 4-5 clips in a single 30-minute session and you have a month of content.

Camera comfort: Nobody is naturally good on camera. But most executives are good at talking about their industry. The trick is to stop thinking of it as "being on camera" and start thinking of it as "having a conversation." Use a conversational prompt, not a script. And let the first take be a warmup - almost everyone improves dramatically by take two.

Topics: This is actually the easiest problem. Executives already have opinions. They share them in board meetings, on sales calls, and at conferences. The content team's job is to capture those opinions and turn them into short, focused videos.

What topics work best for executive LinkedIn video?

The best thought leadership videos fall into four categories:

Industry trends and predictions. When your CEO comments on a new regulation, a competitor move, or a shift in buyer behavior, they position themselves as someone worth following. These videos have a short shelf life but high engagement because they are timely.

Behind-the-scenes decisions. Why did you enter a new market? Why did you kill a product line? Why did you hire 50 people in APAC? These "why we did X" videos humanize the company and build trust with prospects who are evaluating whether to work with you.

Responding to news and events. When something happens in your industry, the first leader to share a thoughtful take on video owns the conversation. Speed matters more than production quality here. A quick selfie video posted within hours of the news beats a polished piece posted a week later.

Lessons learned and failures. This is the category most executives avoid, but it is the one that generates the most engagement. When a leader admits something did not work and explains what they learned, it builds credibility faster than any success story.

Should thought leadership videos be polished or raw?

Both have a place, but raw outperforms polished for most thought leadership content on LinkedIn. Here is why: LinkedIn's feed is personal. People scroll through updates from colleagues, friends, and industry peers. A heavily produced corporate video feels out of place. A direct-to-camera clip that looks like it was filmed in the leader's office fits the context.

That said, "raw" does not mean "bad." Good lighting, clear audio, and a steady frame are non-negotiable. The sweet spot is what we call "polished casual" - professionally lit and mic'd, but conversational in tone and delivery. No teleprompter, no script, just an executive talking about something they know well.

For recurring series and higher-stakes content (keynote clips, product launches, annual reflections), a more produced approach makes sense. The key is matching the production level to the content type. Learn more about production approaches in our LinkedIn video production guide.

What posting cadence should executives maintain?

Consistency beats frequency. Posting one video per week is better than posting five videos in one week and then going silent for a month. LinkedIn's algorithm rewards regular posting, and your audience builds expectations around your cadence.

Here is a realistic cadence for a busy executive:

Weekly: One 30-60 second video on a single topic
Monthly: One longer video (2-3 minutes) with deeper analysis
Quarterly: One produced piece (keynote clip, interview, or panel highlight)

The weekly videos can be batched. Record 4 clips in a single sitting once per month. Your content team handles editing, captions, and scheduling. The executive's time commitment is roughly 30 minutes per month - less than a single meeting.

How do you measure the impact of thought leadership video?

Vanity metrics (views, likes) tell you whether the content is reaching people. Business metrics tell you whether it is working. Track both, but make decisions based on the latter.

Reach metrics: Video views, impression growth over time, follower growth on the executive's profile, comment volume and quality.

Business metrics: Profile visits that convert to website visits, inbound connection requests from target accounts, mentions in sales conversations ("I saw your CEO's video about X"), and pipeline influenced by content engagement. For a deeper dive into tracking these metrics, see our guide to B2B video ROI KPIs.

The most telling signal is qualitative. When prospects start mentioning your executive's videos in sales calls, you know the program is working.

How does this connect to a broader employee advocacy strategy?

Executive thought leadership is the tip of the spear, but it works best when paired with a wider employee advocacy video program. When your CEO posts a video about company direction and then 20 employees share their own perspectives, the combined reach is enormous. The executive sets the tone, and the team amplifies.

This is where a production partner like Shootsta makes the difference. Instead of relying on each executive and employee to figure out video on their own, you provide a system: recording sessions, editing support, a content calendar, and distribution guidelines. Download the LinkedIn Video Strategy Guide for the full framework.

What is the first step?

Start with one executive. Pick the leader who is most willing (not necessarily the CEO - a VP of Sales or Head of Product who is already active on LinkedIn is a better pilot candidate). Record 4 videos in one session. Post them weekly. Measure the results after a month. If it works, expand to other leaders.

The hardest part is getting started. Once an executive sees their first video get 50 comments and a prospect mention it on a call, they are hooked.

How to Build a LinkedIn Thought Leadership Video Program

Why does executive visibility on LinkedIn matter for B2B?

What stops leaders from posting video on LinkedIn?

What topics work best for executive LinkedIn video?

Get the LinkedIn Video Strategy Guide

Should thought leadership videos be polished or raw?

What posting cadence should executives maintain?

How do you measure the impact of thought leadership video?

How does this connect to a broader employee advocacy strategy?

What is the first step?

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