How Everyday People Are Going Viral On LinkedIn With This New Trend

linkedin viral video cover

How I Went Viral on LinkedIn and You Can Too

Two weeks ago, I started testing something new on LinkedIn—a trend that nobody’s talking about yet. I’d been posting consistently for years, but mostly image-based content. Then something changed.

LinkedIn made a quiet shift—one that is already paying huge dividends for anyone willing to jump in. I decided to act fast. I put together a plan and shifted to video content. Two weeks later, something unexpected happened.

One of my videos—with just 11 likes and 1 comment (which was mine!)—suddenly exploded. 24 hours later, it became my most-viewed piece of content this year. It’s already received over 30,000 views, and by the end of the week, I expect it to be closer to 100,000.

Update 10th January 2025 – I’ve since had over 2 million views in the past 30 days – the videos are going bananas!

viral

analytics 7 days

So what’s happening here?

You see, LinkedIn has made some changes. Back in March, they started experimenting with a TikTok-style vertical video feed on mobile. Just last month, LinkedIn HQ announced they were all-in, officially rolling this feature out globally.

When I heard this, I kicked into gear. I knew from experience what happens when platforms introduce new features—there’s a short window of massive opportunity for early adopters. I started posting vertical videos consistently, and just as predicted, one of them got picked up and pushed into the feed.

This is the moment smart marketers have been waiting for. Nobody’s talking about yet – but that will change in the coming months. The playing field has been leveled.

Even posts with low engagement can explode if they hit LinkedIn’s vertical video feed.

linkedin-video-tab

Why Vertical Video is a Game-Changer on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the latest platform to embrace vertical video—a format proven to engage audiences, especially on mobile devices. Here’s why this matters:

Check out my video about this on YouTube…

How to Leverage LinkedIn’s Vertical Video Feature

If you’ve ever wondered how to build your brand, grow your network, or even go viral on LinkedIn, this is your moment.

LinkedIn has not shared its criteria on which videos get featured in the new mobile feed, likely because they’re still making changes and need to be flexible. But based on my experience, this is what I recommend:

And one more bonus tip:

Eddie Maalouf runs a digital agency with 100 team members & over $700 Million per year in managed revenue.

He has worked with brands like Burger King, Snow Teeth Whitening, Clickfunnels and more. He exaplains the videos that have the best ROI in this short video.

The short-form videos that have the best ROI are podcast-style clips. Research shows that these short podcast-type clips get 6X ROI.

That’s what will give your videos the best chance of translating into business. They also position you as an authority, which eliminates competition.

But creating consistent, high-quality video content can be a challenge.

How We’re Helping Businesses Take Advantage

We’ve developed vertical video packages that are systemised to deliver world-class quality at an affordable rate for batch creation. Here’s what you can expect:

For our clients that we have created videos for in the past, we’re repurposing them and re-editing them into vertical format with engaging post-production optimised for mobile. The smart ones are moving on this trend today.

Why This Opportunity Won’t Last Forever

This golden window—where LinkedIn’s algorithm heavily favours vertical video—won’t last long. As more people jump on board, competition will grow, and the reach will level out.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to build your LinkedIn presence, this is it. Early adopters are already seeing incredible results, and there’s no reason why you can’t be one of them.

Ready to Go Viral on LinkedIn?

Whether you’re a creator, a business owner, or just looking to grow your personal brand, now is the time to act. To find out more, please contact us or DM me on LinkedIn.

This opportunity won’t come around again—don’t let it pass you by.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is LinkedIn’s Vertical Video Feature?

LinkedIn’s vertical video feature allows users to upload and share videos optimised for mobile viewing. These videos take up more screen space on mobile devices, making them more engaging and likely to grab attention in users’ feeds.

How Can I Use LinkedIn Videos to Go Viral?

To go viral on LinkedIn with video:

  • Create short, engaging videos with a clear message.
  • Use captions for accessibility and increased engagement.
  • Post 1-2 videos minimum per week, at peak times to maximise engagement
  • Share valuable insights or stories that resonate with your audience.
  • Shoot your video in vertical format to get featured in the mobile video feed
Why Are LinkedIn Vertical Videos So Effective?

Vertical videos are effective on LinkedIn because they:

  • Occupy more screen space on mobile devices.
  • Drive higher engagement rates by grabbing attention quickly.
  • Align with how most users consume content today—on mobile phones.
What Types of Content Work Best for LinkedIn Videos?

The best types of LinkedIn video content include:

  • Personal stories that connect emotionally with your audience.
  • Tips or educational insights relevant to your industry.
  • Behind-the-scenes content to showcase authenticity.
  • Testimonials or case studies that demonstrate your results.
How Do I Measure the Performance of My LinkedIn Videos?

To measure your LinkedIn video performance:

  • Track video views and impressions in your LinkedIn analytics.
  • Monitor engagement metrics like likes, comments, and shares.
  • Check your follower growth after posting videos.
  • Look for increases in profile visits and connection requests.
Can Small Businesses Leverage LinkedIn Videos?

Yes! LinkedIn videos are a cost-effective way for small businesses to:

  • Build brand awareness.
  • Showcase expertise.
  • Engage with a professional audience.
  • Drive leads and conversions.
What Are Some Tips for Creating Viral LinkedIn Videos?

Here are tips for creating viral LinkedIn videos:

  • Hook your audience in the first 3 seconds.
  • Keep your videos under 90 seconds for maximum impact.
  • Use bold captions and overlays to emphasize key points.
  • Share stories that align with your audience’s interests or challenges.
Why Is LinkedIn Video Marketing Important?

LinkedIn video marketing is important because:

  • It increases engagement rates compared to text or image posts.
  • It helps establish your authority by showcasing your expertise.
  • It enables you to reach decision-makers in your industry.
  • It improves your personal brand and business visibility.
How Can I Get Help Producing LinkedIn Videos?

At Bibby Media Group, we help create video content for our clients. From video production to writing your scripts, to coaching on how to record your videos. We even can handle posting them for you too. To see if we’d be a good fit reach out today for more info.

How to Boost LinkedIn Engagement: 15 Data-Driven Tips

Ever feel like your LinkedIn posts are falling flat?

You put time and effort into crafting a post, hit “publish,” and… nothing. Minimal likes, few comments, and definitely no leads. It’s frustrating, right?

The truth is, LinkedIn engagement isn’t a guessing game—it’s data-driven. The top LinkedIn creators know exactly what works, and they use proven strategies to get their posts noticed and drive real engagement. The good news? I’m sharing those exact insights in this guide.

LinkedIn Logo

In this article, you’ll find 15 research-backed LinkedIn tips designed to boost your visibility, increase engagement, and make sure your posts reach the right audience. These aren’t outdated ideas from years ago; they’re based on current data from thousands of LinkedIn posts, so you know they work right now.

This isn’t just fluffy advice – it’s all backed by data from research reports.

Implementing just a couple of these at a time will have a dramatic impact on your results.

So if you’re not getting any engagement, don’t give up. With a few tried and tested tactics you can turn that around.

First, let’s look at why LinkedIn is a golden opportunity to grow your business or career.

Why LinkedIn?

In today’s hyper-connected world, finding effective ways to generate B2B leads can feel like aiming at a moving target.

As the business landscape tightens and audiences become more selective, B2B marketers face the challenge of reaching their ideal clients in an ever-shrinking window of attention.

This is where LinkedIn marketing comes in.

LinkedIn User Statistics

With over one billion members across 200 countries and 67 million registered companies, LinkedIn stands as a powerful platform uniquely designed for business networking. It’s not just another social media platform—it’s a community of decision-makers, professionals, and industry leaders actively seeking connections and opportunities.

LinkedIn offers a unique edge:

B2B Revenue Statistics

And when it comes to generating revenue, LinkedIn outshines other platforms. In fact, 38% of B2B marketers report LinkedIn as their top social platform for driving sales.

The Bottom Line: LinkedIn marketing works, but it requires strategy and precision. You can’t just post and hope for the best; you need to understand the platform, find your audience, and leverage LinkedIn’s unique tools to make an impact.

Ready to transform your LinkedIn presence? Let’s dive in.


15 Data-Driven Tips for Writing Engaging LinkedIn Posts

These aren’t just tips—they’re backed by real data and proven results.

When I work with clients, these are the exact strategies we use to transform LinkedIn from a quiet feed to a hub of engagement, helping them stand out as authorities in their field.

If you’re ready to boost your LinkedIn presence with more engagement, more views, and a stronger impact, let’s dive in.

1. Write Like You’re Talking to a 12-Year-Old

Studies show that posts written at a 6th-grade reading level get 50% more engagement. LinkedIn isn’t the place to flex your vocabulary—keep it clear, conversational, and direct.

Research consistently shows a strong link between using simple, easy-to-read language and higher engagement online.

And here’s a pro tip: the best-performing posts on LinkedIn are often longer than you might think—1,800 to 2,100 characters. Just keep sentences short and concise. The easier your content is to read, the longer people stay on it, increasing “dwell time” and expanding your reach.


2. Hook Your Audience from the First Line

LinkedIn cuts off posts after the first few lines, so your opening needs to be strong.

Your goal? Make them want to click “See more.”

Start with a question, a bold statement, or even a bit of controversy to draw them in. Don’t waste those first few seconds with “Hey, LinkedIn!” or “Here’s an update…”

Try examples like these instead…

Examples of LinkedIn Posts

Learn to do this well, and you’ll crush it on LinkedIn.

Most people struggle with it, but that’s changing.


3. Double Engagement with a Call-to-Comment

Posts with a call to comment get twice the engagement.

People like giving their opinion. Invite them in.

LinkedIn Post Examples

The first 60 minutes are crucial.

Engagement during this window significantly impacts how many people see your post, so make sure you’re ready to jump in and respond to comments right after you post. Driving the conversation early can make all the difference.

Top creators boost engagement by sparking mini-conversations in their own comments, almost like a “Part 2” to the post. Think about what you could add in the comments—a link to a helpful resource, a follow-up question, or extra insights.

Add value, reply to others, and keep the conversation alive. Simply put, get the comments flowing!

4. Post Midweek for 2x More Views

For the best chance of engagement, aim for mid-morning on Monday to Thursday. Data shows this is LinkedIn’s sweet spot—when users are most active and your post is most likely to be seen.

That said, don’t ignore Fridays or weekends completely. Posting then can sometimes be a smart move since there’s less competition. Fridays work especially well for lighter content, like celebrating wins, sharing a personal update, or posting a fun team photo. People are winding down, so the tone fits.

Also, think about where your audience is located and aim to post in their mid-morning time zone.time. But when in doubt? Stick to the data for max impact.

Research on When to Post on LinkedIn

5. Show Your Face for 60% More Reach!

Looking for more engagement? Make it personal.

Studies show that posts featuring people get 20% more reach, but when the photo includes you, that reach jumps to 60%—and engagement increases by 50%.

Camera shy? I get it. Do it anyway.

People connect with people, not objects. So skip the stock photos and office setups. If you’re using an image, make it count. Show your face, and let your network see the real you!

LinkedIn Post Image Examples


6. Keep Your Videos Under 2 Minutes!

The stats don’t lie: videos between 30 and 90 seconds perform the best – by 40%!

Longer than two minutes and engagement starts to drop.

LinkedIn Video Examples

And remember that hook we talked about for writing? It’s just as crucial in videos.

After just 10 seconds, half of your viewers are likely gone. After a minute, over 80% have moved on. So get to the point quickly.

People are busy. Don’t make them work to get your message. Start strong, keep it tight, and grab attention early, or you’ll lose your audience before the real content even begins.

7. Spend 30 Minutes in Comments for Higher Reach

Engagement isn’t just about what you post—it’s about how you interact.

Spend at least 30 minutes a day in your feed, commenting on other people’s posts. Make your presence known. The more you engage, the more visible you become. It’s as simple as that.

And don’t just drop a quick “Great post!” or “Thanks for sharing.” Add real value. Share insights, ask questions, or engage directly in the conversation. This helps you stand out and makes people more likely to notice you.

Research Viral LinkedIn Posts

8. Analyse What Works (and Learn from Top Creators)

If you want to grow on LinkedIn, don’t just post and hope for the best.

Track your results. Each week, check your analytics—see which posts get the most views, likes, comments, and shares.

Spot patterns in what performs best and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Then, take it further. Study the top creators in your industry. Tools like Kleo allow you to sort their posts by engagement, timing, and format.

Look at the topics, formats, and hooks that resonate most with their audience, and notice when they’re posting to get the best reach.

And remember: don’t copy—adapt. Success leaves clues, so find what’s working for them and make it your own.

The insights you gain here can help shape a high-engagement strategy that fits your unique voice.


9. Tell a Story to Build Connection (and Boost Dwell Time)

When you present information as a story, people are up to 22 times more likely to remember it than standalone facts. Why? Because stories create emotional connections, tapping into the way we naturally process the world.

A good story takes your audience on a journey—they can see themselves in the narrative, relate to the challenges, and feel the impact of the outcome.

Whether you’re sharing a lesson learned, a client success, or a personal milestone, storytelling makes both you and your message unforgettable.

In a sea of content, it’s these memorable posts that grab attention and keep people coming back.

Plus, stories hold attention longer, increasing “dwell time”—something LinkedIn’s algorithm rewards with greater reach. (read my article about dwell time here)

Steve Jobs Storytelling Quote

10. Optimise for 65% of users on mobile!

With 65% of LinkedIn users browsing on mobile, it’s essential to make your content mobile-friendly.

Here’s how:

Design your posts with mobile in mind, and you’ll keep more people engaged. you’ll see a big difference in engagement – no one wants to scroll through a wall of text on their phone.

LinkedIn Mobile Usage

11. Customise Your Connection Invites

It’s not about numbers, it’s about quality.

Avoid generic invites. Personalise your message, even if it means upgrading to LinkedIn Premium.

If you only connect with CEOs of mining companies, for example, the more connections you get, the higher your acceptance rate. Why? Because you’ll be connected with everyone in their field, which builds credibility and makes you look like an expert in that area.

I’ve done this myself and for clients. It’s gold.


12. Get Active in Messages. Where the ROI Happens

LinkedIn isn’t just a place for public posts. The real connection often happens in the inbox.

This is where the ROI is. Where you can turn connections into offline meetings and sales.

Don’t wait around for people to send you an enquiry. Actively reach out to your target audience, engage meaningfully, and bring conversations offline where appropriate.

This is how my agency has generated over 500 million in sales for our clients over the past 10 years.

(Download 12 of my best messaging templates)

Making Money

13. Be Real – AI or Not

AI is everywhere – it can draft content, suggest ideas, even help refine your posts.

I am a big advocate for AI – I did a LinkedIn live all about AI recently (if you want the replay DM me).

But with so much AI-generated content flooding feeds, people are craving something genuine.

They want to see you, not just another polished, generic post.

Use AI as a tool to help streamline your process, but don’t skip the human touch. Always edit to add your unique voice, experiences, and perspective.

Readers can tell the difference, and it’s this personal connection that builds trust and keeps people coming back.

In a world of AI, authenticity is what makes you memorable. It’s what makes you stand out, and it’s the key to building real, lasting connections.


14. Make Your Posts Relevant to Your Audience

It’s easy to think your LinkedIn posts are simply for whoever happens to be connected to you, but there’s more to it than that.

Every post should be crafted with your target audience in mind – the people you want to engage and build relationships with.

LinkedIn’s algorithm favours relevancy over recency.

This means your posts are more likely to reach people who regularly engage with similar content. That’s why consistency with your content topics are key.

When you consistently post about topics aligned with your brand, your audience knows what to expect… And so does LinkedIn.

It’s not about you, focus on your audience. Always.


15. Use Vertical Videos for 25% More Engagement

LinkedIn is rolling out a “reels-style” video feed on mobile.

Vertical videos are getting 15-25% more engagement because they’re front and centre on mobile.

LinkedIn Video Examples

The new mobile layout means these videos are easily accessible from the navigation bar. As it’s still new, you can get an edge in reach by posting engaging, vertical content under 2 minutes.

Walla.

There you have it – 15 research-based tips to get more engagement on your posts!

Are there any I missed? Drop a comment below.


Knowledge Is Great, But Useless Without Action

You’ve got the data, the tips, the insights.

But none of this works if you don’t take action.

Start by picking one or two strategies and try them out this week. LinkedIn rewards those who take action – use the advice in this article, but don’t be afraid to do you!

This article is your toolkit. It’s up to you to use it. Go get em!


Unlock More LinkedIn Resources

To see my latest keynotes, training sessions, and interviews on LinkedIn strategies for business, subscribe to my YouTube channel. We’re at 18,300 subscribers now, and with your support, I’m aiming for 20,000 by 2025!

Want to upskill yourself or your team on LinkedIn? Find out more about our award-winning LinkedIn Training to enhance your profile, strategy and results.

If you’re focused on finding clients, our LinkedIn Lead Generation Services has geneated over $500 million in sales for our clients over the past 10 years.

How to Download LinkedIn Video Without Any Apps

Learn How to Save LinkedIn Video on Desktop or Mobile

On LinkedIn, videos are shared more often than any other type of content. On average, people spend 3x times longer watching video on LinkedIn. 79% of consumers now agree that video is the easiest way to get to know a brand online.

That same research shows that 74% of consumers can draw a direct connection between watching a video on social media and their purchasing decision-making process. In fact, 46% of consumers said that they’ve made a purchase as a result of watching a brand video on social media, while another 32% have considered doing so.

If you want to view LinkedIn videos offline, you’ll need to save or download the video from LinkedIn. However, it’s not as straightforward as you may think, so you’ll need a third-party tool to save the video.

Unfortunately, many of these tools don’t work, are full of spam, or require payment before any functionality. Finding reliable options can be challenging—but we’ve done the research. The following steps have helped thousands of people successfully download and save LinkedIn videos.

How to Download LinkedIn Video

After testing many methods to download Linkedin video, this is the one that works for thousands of people. Get the video URL from LinkedIn, copy and paste it into the LinkedIn Video Downloader (this one actually works), then hit download and there you have it. Here’s a video walk-through on how to do it:

Click to watch How to Download LinkedIn Video

7 Steps to Save a LinkedIn Video

Follow these steps to download LinkedIn videos safely and easily:

  1. Open the video you want to download on LinkedIn.
  2. Click the three dots in the top right corner to get the URL.
  3. Click Copy Video URL.
  4. Open LinkedIn Video Downloader
  5. Paste the URL.
  6. When the video opens, click the three dots in the bottom corner and select Download.
  7. Save your file in your preferred format.

If you are trying to download a video from LinkedIn Learning, note that this tool won’t work. LinkedIn Learning is a paid subscription service with high security. Downloading content from the membership area is not permitted.

That’s it – you’re ready to watch LinkedIn videos whenever and wherever you like!

linkedin content planner ebook

But downloading videos is only the beginning. To truly leverage LinkedIn, it’s essential to understand why videos have become a powerful tool for building brand recognition and connecting with your target audience.

Why LinkedIn Videos Are Essential for Your Brand

LinkedIn videos have become one of the most effective ways to build brand recognition and connect with your target audience. Videos on LinkedIn are shared more frequently than other types of content, with users spending three times longer watching video than other media types.

Key Video Stats:

With stats like these, it’s clear that LinkedIn video isn’t just an add-on; it’s a core component of a successful LinkedIn marketing strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download a video from LinkedIn??

Yes, you can download videos from LinkedIn using a trusted video downloader. Follow the steps above for a quick and reliable method.

Can I save LinkedIn Learning videos?

No, LinkedIn Learning videos are protected by advanced security measures, and downloading them is not permitted.

How do I download a LinkedIn post?

While posts themselves can’t be downloaded directly, you can save images, videos, or text by using a video downloader or right-clicking on images to save them.

Can I download my LinkedIn Live video?

LinkedIn does not provide a direct option to download Live videos after the session ends. However, you can re-watch the video in the Activity section of your profile (if it was shared as a post). If you’re using a 3rd party tool to stream your live like Streamyard or Restream they normally save the recording for a limited number of days, so best to download it directly after streaming.

How to download LinkedIn Learning videos on PC?

LinkedIn Learning videos cannot be downloaded due to security and subscription restrictions.

How to download LinkedIn video on mobile?

Open LinkedIn on your mobile browser, copy the video URL, and paste it into a trusted LinkedIn Video Downloader. Follow the steps to save the video to your device.

How to download a LinkedIn post image?

Right-click on the image and select Save As. On mobile, press and hold the image, then choose Download Image.

How to download LinkedIn video on PC?

Use the method above by copying the video URL and pasting it into a LinkedIn Video Downloader to save the file in MP4 format.

How to download a LinkedIn video from Messages?

LinkedIn doesn’t provide a direct option to download videos shared in Messages. If the video is a public post shared via a link, you can click the link to open the video post and use the method outlined above. However, for private videos shared directly in messages, your best option is to ask the sender for the original file or use screen recording software as a last resort.

This article was updated 11th January 2025.

Kerwin Rae Shares His Social Media Secrets

Kerwin Rae: Social Media Marketing Pioneer in Australia

When I think of who’s really dominated in the social media space in Australia, there is one man that springs to mind.

Kerwin Rae has a following of well over a million people, and compelling content which covers business, mindset psychology, high performance, health, parenting and relationships.

We sat down to chat about his journey and secrets behind his social media and entrepreneurial success.

Here’s the conversation..

Kerwin Rae on LinkedIn Heroes Transcript

– I think it was 2016 when I tuned in on YouTube on The Social Experiment. And you said, “Who the f@#k is Kerwin Rae? The world’s changed. Our marketing’s crap, and this is what we’re going to have to do.” Could you share a bit of background, please?

– Yeah, look, I’ve been in the business of, yeah, buying, building and selling businesses now for almost 20 years.

And I think it was about two and a half, almost three years ago now, coming up on three years, I think, in March next year. May next year. Yeah, we just realized that our marketing, and I’m a marketer, but I just realized our marketing was sucking.

We weren’t getting penetration, we weren’t breaking through like we used to. The old direct response, call-to-action environment just wasn’t working, and so we basically embarked on a mission which became The Social Experiment, which we documented to transition from being a traditional marketing business to being a social media marketing business.

And yeah, like we already had a very successful business already, we were very blessed through a lot of hard work, but, you know, since the launch of The Social Experiment, yeah, we’ve, I think we’ve had almost 3/4 of a billion video views and, yeah, the clock’s still ticking.

social media event

And most of that, by the way, is organic, so it’s been really well received.

– Yeah, absolutely. And I’ve been following your journey closely, and what I’ve really done is I’ve taken what you’re doing and just isolated LinkedIn. And just focused on LinkedIn video, and there’s a lot of organic traffic at the moment, so thank you for leading the way for us.

– No, you’re welcome. You’re doing very well.

– Along the way there must have been some challenges?

– Lots of challenges. That’s business, right?

– I don’t think there’s anyone that’s gone, “Nah, actually everything is going well.” So what was one of the ones that happened since you started the social media experiment?

– Look, I think there’s a couple that pop to mind, but probably the most challenging one is, was actually the documentation of the breakdown of my marriage, ’cause we were actually, we were all in on the project.

We were basically filming everything. So we were, in essence, The Social Experiment was about creating a reality TV-style web documentary where we documented, like, from the moment I walked in in the morning, to the moment I left in the evening.

I had a camera on me 24/7, and even on, you know, sometimes in the evenings and weekends, and touring and everything else, and my wife worked with me in the business, and, you know, it was during that early stage of The Social Experiment our relationship actually started to break down.

So that was probably one of the more challenging things, because one of the things that I like about The Social Experiment and I like about, you know, doing what I do with the team that I have, is it creates an enormous level of transparency.

Nathanial Bibby and Kerwin Rae

And I love authenticity, like I’m very much passionate about just being a real and genuine version of yourself, and in that environment it really just made me have to show up as the most authentic version of myself regardless of what was going on, you know?

Breakdown and all. And yeah, look it was quite a challenge, and to see, to reflect back on it when I see the episodes in retrospect, yeah, it was quite a challenging thing to watch your own marriage breakdown play out on, I guess you could say, almost like on a TV screen.

– Thanks for sharing that with us.

– Yeah, you’re welcome.

– And what would be one of the traits that you attribute to your success as an entrepreneur?

– Look, I think there’s many variables that create many characteristics, many character traits that are required, but my, probably my strongest trait is my resilience.

I’ve got really strong grit, and what that means is I have the ability, I’m no different to anyone else, I have just as many challenges, if not more, than most people.

But what I have is the ability to sit in my problems and actually find clarity in them, and be able to suffer without experiencing, without experienced pain with our suffering, you know?

Because business is very painful, life is very painful, and, you know, I think that’s a challenge for most people, is they pursue something that they love in the form of business, but then when it gets difficult they experience pain, you know, in the form of the let down or disappointment, but they allow that pain to turn into suffering.

And then when you start to suffer, that’s when life becomes heavy.

That’s when life becomes hard.

kerwin rae interview

And for me, you know, I won’t say that I was born this way but I’ve certainly spent a disproportionate amount of my life learning how to feel comfortable in really uncomfortable situations. You know?

I pursue vigorously, you know, discomfort. I pursue stress. I pursue, you know, almost like a madman, situations that will push me to my absolute extreme, but then in the moments where I’m pursuing them I’ll pursue peace. I’ll pursue presence.

I’ll pursue equanimity to be able to maintain as much clarity as possible in situations that most people would be losing their shit in.

– Yeah. What an awesome trait to have. You know, if you can be comfortable being uncomfortable, you can’t help but grow.

– Exactly, you know? And it gives you clarity as well, because I think the challenge for most people, they experience pain, and then they release chaos, and that comes in the form of emotions. And we can’t think straight when we have emotions running through our head.

– So talk to me about, moving back to social media, I’m curious. Since I’ve been doing this video marketing in particular on LinkedIn, I’ve noticed a big impact on my business. The quality of clients,

– Yeah.

– And certainly getting more inbound leads. But it’s very difficult to measure. How do you justify, you know, the amount that you’re investing in social media without being able to measure

– That’s a good question, you know? And that’s, I come from the ROI background of direct response where, you know, you do a campaign, you get a response, you measure how much the campaign costs, you measure the response, you take your profit out, divide it by the amount of sales you’ve got, and there’s your ROI per, you know, per lead.

Whereas with social media it’s a completely different animal, you know? It really is. It does require a long-term perspective.

It’s like, but it’s beautiful because I think anything beautiful in life requires us to take, you know, to take the long perspective.

Because when we’re looking for that instant gratification, when we’re looking for that instant measurable, I think sometimes we get lost in, you know, the actual doing of what it is that we’re trying to do, rather than the actual journey of what we’re actually on.

And this is the beautiful thing about, you know, video marketing as an example, it does require the ability for you to build a relationship with someone, you know? If you look at social media, social media is actually governed by a psychological principle called the mere-exposure effect.

The mere-exposure effect is a psychological phenomena whereby people tend to develop a preference for things once they become familiar with them. And they don’t become familiar with a product, or a service, or a brand anymore just by you saying, “Buy my stuff,” you know? You actually have to build a relationship, you know?

It’s much like going to a bar. If you go to a bar, most people who, if they go to a bar, and they just walk up to people and they ask them to go back to their room straight away, chances are you’re going to get a lot of slaps in the faces.

Whereas if you focus on, you know, meeting people, approaching people, getting to know people, finding out what their interests are, finding common ground and creating, you know, a level of relateability, that builds a relationship, then over a period of time you’re going to create that natural attraction whereby people are going to want to know more, and as a result they’ll end up doing business with you.

So it’s not something that you can necessarily measure in the short-term, it is something that is measured in the long-term. But as you said yourself, your business is, by the sounds of it, it’s gone gangbusters.

As a result of video, you know? As has ours. And I think that’s one of the biggest reasons that most people don’t do it, is because it does take a little bit of time.

-And that’s great.

– People will say to me, “Oh, why are you interviewing Kerwin? What are you trying to get? Like, what are you trying to do here?” You know, just, anything I do on social media is designed to add value.

– Yes. And that’s the long-term thing. And that’s the thing with this mere-exposure effect, people, you know, going back in 2005 you had to get about 5.4 exposures to trigger familiarity, which would be enough for someone to approach you. Now it’s about 18 to 20 exposures.

And if you’re putting a call to action in front of someone, like, 18 to 20 times, you’re going to piss them off.

You’re going to create a negative sentiment. Whereas you’ve got to learn how to capture their attention, their imagination, with information, education, entertainment, humor and relateability with content that draws them in to actually want to consume, so that they’re not only consuming the information that’s relevant to the brand, but they’re also building a relationship with you in the process.

You’re getting an exposure. And every time they watch a video that’s one more exposure, one more exposure. And, you know, the goal is to get to 18 to 20, and then they’re, in most cases they’re going to be ready to do some form of business with you.

– I remember one episode of Social Experiment, somebody raised, in your team, that, “Oh, my friends keep asking me what the hell we do. You know, we should explain it.” And you said, “No, that’s exactly what I want, for them to think.”

– Yeah, I want them to be curious, ’cause you’re exactly, you’re 100% right. Like, people were saying, they’d say on YouTube and on Facebook, they’d say, “What do you do?” And it’s completely like, and I would say to the team, “Don’t answer that question. I want curiosity.”

– Yeah.

– You know? ’cause it’s, like, people love novelty, you know? Novelty has this incredible chemical response in the brain. It produces nor epinephrine and dopamine. And that’s that cliff-hanging moment where people want to know more. And if you give people everything, all the information that they need, they’re no longer curious anymore.

They don’t want to know anymore. And so, you know, I love drip-feeding information in a way that is curious. It is. And that’s why if you look at our content, and I’m a business guy, but we touch on relationships.

We talk on not just business, but we talk on relationships, we talk on parenting, we talk on health, you know? Fitness. We talk on a whole range of different things because, you know, business to me, it’s a life to me.

It’s not one dimensional. People can relate to many different aspects of you and you just look for the angle that they can relate with the most based on the things that you’re most passionate about; that you’ve got a depth of knowledge that, you know, can actually add value to someone’s life.

– And then you capture the market.

– Kerwin, if you could be a superhero, who would you be and why?

– Ironman. Ironman. Didn’t have to think about that. I’ve got him everywhere. Even my son, he thinks he’s Ironboy. My son actually is convinced that we are both superheroes here to save the planet.

kerwin rae with son

How old is he now?

– He’s just turned 5, Noah, I love you pal, but yeah. He’s convinced that I’m a superhero. I’ve convinced him that he’s a superhero, and he’s convinced that we’re here to save the world.

– I love Ironman. Big house, fast cars.

– Ah, but he’s got the brains, you know, he’s got the brains, the intelligence, and the, and the suit, you know?

And I think, in many respects I think a lot of us are, like, we don’t realize that we can just put on a suit to become who we want to be, without being anything different from who we really are, if that makes sense.

-You know, I think he’s a great metaphor for life.

– Kerwin, I’m coming to the event tonight. Perth’s Fast Growth Summit. Looking forward to seeing you in action.

– Thanks, man. Appreciate it.

Watch the Kerwin Rae Interview

Watch full interview on YouTube

About LinkedIn Heroes

LinkedIn Heroes was started to deliver the inspiration and strategies you need to accelerate your entrepreneurial journey to success. To ensure you don’t miss an episode of LinkedIn Heroes subscribe to Nathanial’s YouTube Channel.

Also available on Spotify and iTunes.