LinkedIn continues to strengthen its role as the “go-to” platform for professional networking by enhancing its Live Events suite with more flexible, engaging formats — especially its integration of audio into live streaming.
What’s New in LinkedIn Live Events?
Audio Rooms Integrated into LinkedIn Live
LinkedIn has phased out its standalone Audio Events feature and merged it into LinkedIn Live. Instead of creating native audio-only sessions, users now stream via third-party tools—simply using a static image in place of video to emulate audio-only interactions. This consolidation began in December 2024.
Enhanced Live Event Ad Features
To amplify visibility, LinkedIn rolled out powerful ad formats tailored for Live Event promotion:
- Thought Leader Ads – Promote a member’s post about your Live Event directly from your Company Page.
- Sneak Peek Videos – Share short, 30-second glossy previews of upcoming events either before or during broadcast.
- Advanced Targeting Options – Gain precise audience reach by targeting regions, industries, roles, and more.
Expanded In-Stream Video Ad Program (“Wire”)
The “Wire” program now enables both U.S. and EU brands to deliver in-stream video ads within trusted publisher content—extending LinkedIn’s ad reach beyond just user feeds.
Why These Updates Matter
Streamlined Event Creation: Combining formats under LinkedIn Live simplifies planning, enabling seamless integration of audio and video events—and automatic event recordings enhance post-event content opportunities.
Richer Promotional Tools: Thought Leader Ads and sneak-peek clips offer new ways to build event hype, while improved targeting ensures your content reaches the right professional audiences.
Stronger Engagement and Reach: With ad features and expanded in-stream placements, events can gain both visibility and credibility—especially valuable for B2B and high-value industry gatherings.
Quick Overview Table
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Unified Audio via Live | Audio-only events now run through LinkedIn Live with visuals |
| Thought Leader Ads | Promotes member posts as event ads from company pages |
| Sneak Peek Videos | Short previews shared before/during live broadcasts |
| Advanced Event Targeting | Pinpoint audiences by region, role, industry, and more |
| In-Stream Video Ads (Wire) | Video ads appear in publisher content for U.S. & EU brands |
Final Thoughts
LinkedIn’s latest event enhancements offer creators, brands, and marketers richer tools for virtual engagement—streamlining formats while boosting promotional power. Audio-only sessions remain, but now fit within a unified, multimedia-friendly framework that supports recordings, dynamic visuals, and targeted reach.
