In today’s competitive job market, standing out from the crowd is essential for career advancement. LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking platform, offers a range of account options to cater to different needs, with LinkedIn Premium being one of the most talked-about choices. But is investing in this account truly worth it? In this article, System SocialZ’ll explore the unique features and benefits of LinkedIn Premium and examine how it can enhance your networking opportunities and job search.
Understanding the value of LinkedIn Premium is crucial for anyone looking to elevate their professional journey. Whether you’re a job seeker, a hiring manager, or a sales professional, we’ll help you assess whether this investment aligns with your career goals and unlocks the potential of LinkedIn as a powerful tool in your professional toolkit.
What is LinkedIn premium?
On LinkedIn, users can choose from four types of accounts tailored to different professional needs. The LinkedIn Free account is a solid starting point for building an online presence, though it has limitations. For enhanced networking and job-seeking capabilities, LinkedIn Premium offers an extended version of the free account, featuring additional benefits and tools. LinkedIn Premium includes specialized accounts like LinkedIn Sales Navigator, designed for lead generation, and LinkedIn Recruiter, which helps hiring managers find ideal candidates.
LinkedIn Premium is particularly beneficial for individuals seeking new career opportunities, as well as for hiring managers and sales professionals aiming to drive leads. By unlocking features such as InMail messaging, advanced search options, and lead builders, LinkedIn Premium empowers users to expand their professional networks and leverage the platform’s resources effectively. Whether connecting with industry leaders or discovering job openings, LinkedIn Premium provides the necessary tools for success in today’s competitive job market.
Main differences between LinkedIn Basic and Premium
A LinkedIn Basic account allows users to create and maintain a professional profile while building a network of contacts. It’s ideal for individuals who want to connect with colleagues and friends and receive messages from them, providing a solid foundation for professional networking.
In contrast, a Premium Career account is tailored specifically for job seekers who wish to gain insights into their competition. This plan allows users to connect directly with recruiters and see who has viewed their profile in the past 90 days, offering additional visibility in the job market.
Overall, the Premium Career account includes all the features of a Basic LinkedIn account, with enhanced tools designed for active job seekers and professionals looking to network and discover growth opportunities in their field.
LinkedIn Premium benefits
The platform has been leveraged to identify key benefits associated with LinkedIn Premium through various experiences. These advantages stand out as significant enhancements to user experience and professional engagement, making the investment worthwhile for many professionals looking to advance their careers. Here are the main benefits of the premium account on LinkedIn System SocialZ’ve discovered:
Find exactly who you are looking for
With a LinkedIn Premium subscription, you gain access to the “Viewed Profile” feature, which allows you to see everyone who has visited your profile over the last 90 days. This feature provides you with a tab that includes filters, analytics, and a comprehensive list of individuals who have viewed your profile.
You can even refine your search to focus on specific individuals, which is particularly useful for gauging interest from recruiters, potential clients, or job candidates. Understanding who has viewed your profile can provide valuable insights into your professional visibility and help you identify opportunities for engagement.
Curated timeline
LinkedIn curates the activity of every person or account you’ve saved into a timeline, allowing you to see the content your prospects are sharing and engaging with. This feature offers valuable insights into their interests and preferences.
You can leverage this information in two key ways. First, it serves as an effective conversation starter when reaching out to prospects, enabling you to reference their recent posts for more personalized interactions. Second, it can guide you in creating your own content that resonates with your audience’s interests, increasing the likelihood of driving meaningful engagement. This strategic approach enhances both your networking and content marketing efforts on the platform.
Lead suggestions
If you have a specific company you want to target, LinkedIn Premium can enhance your outreach strategy. By visiting the company’s business page, LinkedIn will suggest relevant individuals for you to connect with based on your predefined search criteria, such as industry, job title, and skills. This feature streamlines the process of identifying key contacts, allowing you to focus on those who can significantly impact your networking or business development efforts. By targeting the right people within the organization, you increase your chances of establishing meaningful connections that can lead to valuable opportunities.
Discover how active your prospects are
When you save a lead, you gain access to a wealth of information about the prospect, including their recent activity on the platform. If they haven’t been active in the last 30 days, it may indicate that they are less likely to respond to your outreach. Conversely, if they are frequently active, you have the opportunity to nurture this prospect further and engage them more effectively. Understanding their activity level can help you tailor your approach and improve your chances of building a meaningful connection.
LinkedIn Learning
One of the key benefits of a LinkedIn Premium subscription is access to LinkedIn Learning, an educational platform that provides a wide array of valuable courses. These courses cover essential topics such as landing your dream job, improving your sales skills, optimizing your recruiting workflow, leveraging social media for business, and various aspects of marketing. This breadth of content makes it a versatile resource for professionals seeking to enhance their skill sets.
LinkedIn Learning has garnered positive feedback from users and is widely regarded as an excellent tool for personal and professional development. With an impressive rating of 4.4 out of 5, it demonstrates its effectiveness and popularity among learners, making it a valuable addition to any subscription.
Unlimited searches
With a basic LinkedIn account, your search capabilities are limited, and exceeding the allowed number of searches can temporarily restrict your access due to the “commercial use limit,” which typically allows for about 300 searches per month. Upgrading to a Premium Business, Sales Navigator, or Recruiter license, however, provides you with unlimited search capabilities. It’s important to note that this feature is not available with the LinkedIn Premium Career plan, so be sure to choose a subscription that aligns with your search needs.
Open profile option
If you have a Premium account on LinkedIn, you can enable the Open Profile feature, which allows individuals outside your direct connections to send you free InMails. This feature is especially advantageous for freelancers, consultants, and job seekers.
By activating Open Profile, you enable potential clients and recruiters outside your network to reach out to you directly at no cost. This increases your chances of receiving inquiries from prospects, candidates, and recruiters, thereby expanding your opportunities for engagement and collaboration.
InMails
InMail messages enable you to connect directly with individuals on LinkedIn, even if they’re outside your existing network. Unlike the free account, which only allows messaging within your connections, InMail lets you bypass the traditional connection request process, giving you the opportunity to directly reach out to professionals and explore potential opportunities.
The number of InMails you receive each month varies based on your LinkedIn Premium plan:
- 5 InMails with Career
- 15 InMails with Business
- 30 InMails with Recruiter Lite
- 50 InMails with Sales Navigator
- 150 InMails with LinkedIn Recruiter
LinkedIn Premium account types
LinkedIn Premium Sales Navigator
Sales Navigator is an essential tool for business development managers and sales professionals, offering several advantages for optimizing lead generation and building relationships.
Key Features:
- InMail Messaging: Reach out directly to prospects outside your immediate network.
- Sales Insights: Access critical information to tailor your sales approach.
- Advanced Search with Lead Builder: Filter and refine searches based on specific criteria to find the right leads.
- Profile Views: See who has viewed your profile, providing opportunities for engagement.
This investment can significantly enhance your sales strategy and help you achieve greater success in your business development efforts.
LinkedIn Premium Business
LinkedIn Premium for Business is particularly well-suited for marketers, as it provides the tools necessary to promote and grow your business while enhancing your professional brand. This plan enables you to learn new skills and effectively reach out to your ideal audience.
Key Features:
- InMail Messaging: Connect directly with prospects outside your network.
- Business Insights: Gain valuable data to inform your marketing strategies.
- Online Video Courses: Access a variety of courses to enhance your skills.
- Profile Views: See who has viewed your profile, helping you identify potential connections.
- Career Insights: Stay informed about market trends and career opportunities.
LinkedIn Premium Career
LinkedIn Premium Career is the ideal solution for job seekers, providing tools that help you stand out in a competitive job market. This plan allows you to connect directly with hiring managers, see how you stack up against other applicants, and acquire new skills to advance your career.
Key Features:
- Direct Messaging for Recruiters: Easily reach out to recruiters to express your interest.
- Applicant Insights: Gain valuable information about how you compare to other candidates.
- Salary Insights: Access data to help you understand salary expectations in your field.
- Online Video Courses: Take advantage of a variety of courses to enhance your skill set.
- Profile Views: See who has viewed your profile, giving you insights into potential interest.
By choosing Career, job seekers can utilize these features to improve their job search efforts and boost their likelihood of securing their desired roles.
LinkedIn Premium Recruiter Lite
LinkedIn Premium offers an ideal solution for recruiters with its Recruiter Lite account. This plan enables you to quickly identify top candidates, reach out to the best talent directly, and foster relationships with potential hires.
Key Features:
- InMail Messaging: Connect with candidates outside your network.
- Smart Suggestions: Receive tailored recommendations for potential applicants.
- Candidate Tracking: Easily manage and track your candidate pipeline.
- Advanced Search: Utilize refined search tools to find the right talent.
- Integrated Hiring: Streamline the hiring process within the platform.
How much does LinkedIn Premium cost?
The cost of a LinkedIn Premium account varies depending on the specific tier you choose. LinkedIn offers two primary Premium options: Premium Career and Premium Business.
Premium Career is priced at $29.99 per month, which totals $239 annually. This account is tailored for job seekers looking to enhance their visibility and connect with recruiters.
Premium Business costs $59.99 per month, amounting to $575.88 annually. This option is ideal for professionals aiming to promote their business and expand their network.
In addition to these options, LinkedIn provides various Sales Navigator packages designed to support sales professionals in generating leads:
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator Core is priced at $99.99 per month and is geared towards individuals looking to generate leads efficiently.
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator Advanced is intended for sales teams that require comprehensive access to LinkedIn’s sales toolkit and costs $149.99 per month.
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator Advanced Plus is tailored for larger enterprise sales teams and includes additional CRM integration. Pricing for this package varies based on the specific needs of the business.
For recruiters, LinkedIn offers specialized Recruiter packages:
- LinkedIn Recruiter Lite serves as an entry-level recruiting tool suitable for individuals and small teams, costing $170 per month.
- LinkedIn Recruiter is designed for professional services and staffing firms, providing a higher cap on candidate search alerts, and is priced at $835 per month.
Additionally, LinkedIn features an internal educational platform called LinkedIn Learning, with subscription prices starting at $19.99 per month. This resource provides users with access to a wide range of courses aimed at enhancing professional skills and knowledge.
All LinkedIn Premium users enjoy the added benefit of a distinguished LinkedIn badge next to their name, showcasing their premium membership status and enhancing their professional visibility on the platform.
How to get LinkedIn Premium free?
LinkedIn is dedicated to supporting the community, and one way it does this is by offering free access to LinkedIn Premium. However, it’s important to understand that the options outlined below provide only temporary access to Premium rather than permanent use.
That being said, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore the features and assess whether this subscription package aligns with your career advancement goals or enhances your LinkedIn lead generation efforts. Let’s explore the different methods you can use to try LinkedIn Premium for free.
Free trial
If you want to explore LinkedIn Premium, you can take advantage of the LinkedIn Premium Free Trial. This one-month trial is available to everyone, but you’ll need to provide your credit card details to get started. Your subscription will activate automatically at the end of the trial, so be sure to cancel if you don’t want to continue. You can cancel anytime during the trial to avoid charges while still enjoying the full month for free.
Remember, starting a Premium free trial makes you ineligible for another trial for at least 12 months.
Follow these steps to begin your LinkedIn Premium Free Trial:
- Click the Profile icon: Go to the profile icon at the top of your homepage and select Settings & Privacy.
- Access account preferences: Navigate to Account Preferences and click on Subscriptions & Payments. Then select Change next to the Upgrade for Free option.
- Choose your plan: LinkedIn will ask about your goals to suggest the best plan. You can choose from the recommended options or browse all available plans.
- Select a subscription: The Premium Business plan is a popular choice for job seekers and sales professionals.
- Start your free month: Click Start My Free Month, enter your credit card details, and complete the process.
Keep in mind that the displayed price doesn’t include tax or VAT, so factor that in if you plan to continue after the trial.
Getting Premium free from employees
One of the perks of working at LinkedIn is that nearly all employees receive a complimentary LinkedIn Premium subscription for six months. Many choose to give away their coupons, providing a great opportunity for others to access the platform’s resources.
While specific conditions may apply, obtaining a free LinkedIn Premium coupon is worth exploring. To find employees offering these coupons, use the search bar to type #linkedinpremium or #PlusOnePledge. Click on the Posts tab and sort by the most recent entries.
Once you find a relevant post, reach out to the employee and request the coupon. To increase your chances, be honest and share why you need a free LinkedIn Premium subscription, explaining how you plan to use it to advance your career.
Premium Free for military veterans
LinkedIn has partnered with SheerID, an identity verification platform, to offer U.S. military veterans 12 months of free access to LinkedIn Premium. This initiative includes access to over 16,000 online courses, providing valuable resources for veterans transitioning to civilian life. Importantly, military spouses can also benefit from this offer.
With this special membership, military personnel enjoy numerous advantages, including:
- Free access to the Premium Career subscription for a full year.
- Increased visibility to recruiters.
- Opportunities to build a professional network.
- Streamlined job search and application processes.
- Access to various courses for skill development.
- Resources to assist in the transition from military to civilian life.
- Veteran-focused learning materials.
- Tools for navigating a new career path.
To apply for the free LinkedIn Premium program for veterans, visit the Veterans subscription page and complete the required form.
Tip: Indicate your veteran status or military experience on your LinkedIn profile before applying.
If you’ve previously started a LinkedIn Premium free trial or subscription, be sure to cancel it before applying to remain eligible for this program. This initiative reflects LinkedIn’s commitment to supporting veterans and their families in their career journeys.
Students and graduates can access Premium for free
LinkedIn regularly partners with educational institutions to offer students and recent graduates 12 months of free access to LinkedIn Premium. This initiative is designed to help enhance students’ professional profiles and expand their networking opportunities.
To find out if your school is part of this program, contact your institution’s administration or career services. If they aren’t yet partnered with LinkedIn, encourage them to reach out and explore the possibility.
To qualify for the free subscription, you’ll need a school-issued email address. If your school doesn’t participate, you can look for other options, such as the 6-month free subscription offered to students with an Amazon Prime Student account.
To redeem this offer, log in to both your Amazon Prime Student and LinkedIn accounts and follow the activation instructions. Keep in mind that if you already have an active LinkedIn Premium subscription, you won’t be eligible for these offers. Taking advantage of these programs can significantly enhance your career readiness as you transition from school to the professional world.
Visual studio users can access for free
Visual Studio Dev Essentials, offered by Microsoft, provides developers with essential tools and resources, including access to LinkedIn Learning. As part of this program, users can enjoy a free Premium Career plan on LinkedIn.
This offer includes access to a vast array of LinkedIn Learning courses, enabling users to earn certificates and enhance their skills. The subscription lasts for 1 month, and no credit card is needed to start.
To redeem this offer, create a Microsoft account and visit the Visual Studio Dev Essentials page. Click “Join” or “Access Now,” then navigate to the Benefits page to find the LinkedIn Learning offer and click “Activate.”
Keep in mind that to qualify, you must have at least a Business (Professional Standard or Enterprise Standard) Visual Studio subscription. This program is a great opportunity for developers to advance their careers through valuable educational resources.
Quarterly free subscription for journalists
If you’re a journalist eager to enhance your skills and engage with a professional network, LinkedIn presents an excellent opportunity. Each quarter, LinkedIn grants access to a community of journalists, valuable industry insights, webinars, and a complimentary subscription to LinkedIn Premium.
This initiative is specifically designed for qualified health journalists who meet certain criteria. To apply for the program and receive a one-year subscription to LinkedIn Premium Business, you need to satisfy the following requirements:
- You must be a member of the LinkedIn for Journalists group.
- Your LinkedIn profile should clearly showcase your journalism career trajectory.
To ensure you don’t miss out on the application period for each quarter, be sure to check the LinkedIn for Journalists page frequently for updates and announcements. Engaging with this initiative can significantly enhance your professional development and networking opportunities within the journalism community.
How to get a LinkedIn Premium discount?
As highlighted, there are several ways to experience Premium accounts for free. However, keep in mind that each account is limited to just one promotion per year. If you’re still contemplating whether to commit to a full-priced subscription, you can also take advantage of discounts.
Here are two ways to secure a better deal.
LinkedIn Premium discount
You can secure a discount on LinkedIn Premium while going through the cancellation process, providing a chance to reassess your commitment to the service. Start by navigating to your Settings & Privacy page and locating the Subscriptions & Payments section. Click on the Cancel Subscription button to initiate the process.
As you proceed, a new window will guide you through the cancellation steps. LinkedIn will eventually ask for a reason for your cancellation, and you can simply state that the subscription is too expensive. After submitting your response, LinkedIn may offer you a 50% discount for two months on your Premium subscription.
This discount allows you to continue accessing the benefits of Premium account at a reduced rate, giving you ample time to evaluate its features. You’ll have the opportunity to explore resources like LinkedIn Learning courses and enhanced networking capabilities, helping you decide if the full-price subscription aligns with your professional goals.
Sales Navigator discount
If you’ve had a LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator subscription in the past but currently have no active plans, keep an eye out for a notification in the top right corner of your LinkedIn homepage that says Get 50% off Sales Nav.
LinkedIn periodically shows this message to remind former subscribers of the valuable features and benefits available through their subscription services. By clicking on this notification, you can easily redeem a 50% discount on Sales Navigator for two months. This offer allows you to explore the platform’s advanced sales tools at a reduced rate, helping you determine if it’s the right fit for your needs.
LinkedIn Premium plans comparison
LinkedIn Premium Business vs. LinkedIn Sales Navigator
For lead generation, Sales Navigator provides significantly greater value than LinkedIn Premium Business. This powerful tool features extensive search filters, enabling you to pinpoint leads effectively, and offers more InMails for outreach. For sales representatives, sales development professionals, or founders, choosing Sales Navigator is a smarter decision as it’s tailored to enhance your sales prospecting and drive better results.
LinkedIn Premium Business vs. LinkedIn Basic
LinkedIn Premium Business may not justify the expense, particularly if your focus is on lead generation. Additionally, all the features of LinkedIn Premium Business are included in Sales Navigator, allowing you to access both tools for just $40 more.
Rather than comparing LinkedIn Premium Business to a free account, it’s more beneficial to evaluate Sales Navigator against a basic account.
LinkedIn Premium Career vs. LinkedIn Basic
For job seekers, LinkedIn Premium Career doesn’t offer significant advantages over a Basic account. If your budget allows, you might consider it, but investing in skill development may be a more effective way to enhance your employability and improve your chances of landing a new job.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator Core vs. Sales Navigator Advanced
Sales Navigator Advanced can be a game changer, particularly with its CSV upload feature, which allows for easy importation of leads. This efficiency helps streamline your outreach efforts.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator vs. Recruiter Lite
LinkedIn Sales Navigator provides similar functionality to LinkedIn Recruiter at a lower cost. If your focus is on advanced search filters and accessing the LinkedIn database, Sales Navigator is the better option. It’s particularly useful for recruiting businesses, allowing you to find both candidates and clients. However, if you require ATS and job posting features, LinkedIn Recruiter may be more suitable.
LinkedIn Premium- Frequently asked questions
What is the LinkedIn Premium cost for students?
The cost of LinkedIn Premium for students is typically $29.99 per month under the Premium Career plan. This plan is designed to help students with job searches, networking, and skill development by offering features like InMail messaging, LinkedIn Learning, and insights into job applicants. Students also have the option of a free one-month trial to test out the service.
Can I still use LinkedIn Premium if I cancel?
Yes, you can still use LinkedIn after canceling your Premium subscription, but your account will revert to a Basic (free) account. This means you’ll retain your profile, connections, and other data, but you will lose access to all Premium features once your current billing cycle ends. Specifically, any InMail Message credits you’ve accumulated will not be credited back, so it’s important to use them before canceling if you wish to make the most of your subscription.
Can I try LinkedIn Premium for free again?
No, you cannot try Premium on LinkedIn for free again if you have already taken advantage of a free trial or promotional offer. These promotions are typically limited to one-time use per account, so once you’ve accessed the free Premium subscription, you won’t be eligible for another free trial or a second year of free access.
Does LinkedIn Premium increase post views?
Yes, LinkedIn Premium can boost your post views. Premium members receive an average of four times more profile views and have 14 times more connections than non-Premium members, increasing their reach and engagement. Additionally, with AI-powered coaching through LinkedIn Learning, Premium members get personalized career advice and resource recommendations to enhance their profiles and content.
So, is LinkedIn Premium worth it in 2024?
Determining whether a Premium account on LinkedIn is worth it in 2024 involves examining the unique benefits it offers against the backdrop of your specific professional needs and goals. As the landscape of job searching, networking, and sales evolves, the relevance of LinkedIn Premium can vary significantly based on how you intend to utilize the platform.
For job seekers, the ability to stand out in a competitive job market is crucial. A Premium Career account provides insights into how you stack up against other applicants, offers direct messaging to recruiters, and grants access to online courses that can enhance your skill set. However, many users have found that investing in personal development may provide even greater returns than the cost of a Premium subscription.
Sales professionals, on the other hand, often prioritize lead generation and client outreach. In this case, Sales Navigator emerges as a more powerful option, boasting advanced search capabilities and enhanced outreach features that make it an ideal choice for those looking to drive sales. This subscription tends to offer better value than LinkedIn Premium Business, which lacks some of the specialized tools that sales professionals require.
Recruiters also have their unique considerations. While Sales Navigator can be a more budget-friendly alternative to LinkedIn Recruiter, it still provides robust search filters and access to a vast pool of potential candidates. However, if you need features like ATS and job posting capabilities, the Recruiter subscription may be necessary to meet your hiring needs.
Ultimately, evaluating the overall value of LinkedIn Premium requires careful consideration of your individual use case and objectives. By weighing the benefits against the subscription costs, you can make an informed decision about whether Premium is a worthwhile investment for your career in 2024.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn Premium presents an array of features designed to elevate your networking, job search, and sales efforts. From advanced search capabilities to direct messaging with recruiters and potential clients, the benefits can significantly enhance your professional journey.
While the decision to invest in LinkedIn Premium depends on your individual goals whether you’re a job seeker, salesperson, or recruiter- the potential for increased visibility and connections is undeniable. By taking advantage of these tools, you can position yourself more effectively in today’s competitive landscape.
To explore how LinkedIn Premium and other features on LinkedIn can benefit you, visit System SocialZ.