Whether you need a LinkedIn premium account to create a company page is a common question for business owners and marketers looking to establish their business presence on LinkedIn. The short answer is no – you do not need a premium LinkedIn account in order to create a LinkedIn Company Page. LinkedIn offers this feature for free as part of its basic, free account.
What is a LinkedIn Company Page?
A LinkedIn Company Page is a profile specifically for businesses and organizations to share information about their company, promote their products/services, publish content, and connect with followers. It operates similarly to an individual profile, but for brands and businesses rather than a personal profile. Some key features of LinkedIn Company Pages include:
- Displaying an overview of your company details like location, industry, company size, website, etc.
- Posting updates, articles, images, videos, and other content
- Interacting and engaging with followers
- Advertising job openings
- Showcasing company culture and values
- Promoting products and services
Having a Company Page gives your business a hub on LinkedIn to increase awareness, connect with clients and partners, recruit employees, and establish thought leadership.
Do I Need a Premium Account to Create a Company Page?
The good news is that you do not need a premium, paid LinkedIn account in order to create a Company Page. LinkedIn allows any user with a free, basic account to create a Company Page. There are no restrictions or requirements to upgrade to a premium account first.
Here’s a quick rundown of which types of LinkedIn accounts can create Company Pages:
- Basic/Free Account – Can create a Company Page
- Premium Career Account – Can create a Company Page
- Premium Business Account – Can create a Company Page
- Premium Sales Account – Can create a Company Page
So whether you simply have a free LinkedIn account or any level of premium account, you can create and manage a Company Page without restrictions. There are no limits or caps on the number of Company Pages a single account can create either.
How to Create a LinkedIn Company Page
Creating a Company Page on LinkedIn with a free account is a relatively straightforward process:
- Go to LinkedIn.com and log into your account.
- Click on the “Work” tab along the top nav bar.
- Look for and click on the “Create a Company Page” button.
- Enter your company details: Company name, industry, company size, location, website URL, etc.
- Select a URL for your page.
- Choose a cover photo and profile image.
- Review and agree to LinkedIn’s terms.
- Click “Create Page.”
Once created, you can begin customizing your Company Page by adding additional details, posting content, and connecting with followers. Take advantage of sections like Careers, Products, Culture, and Life to showcase different aspects of your business.
Benefits of Upgrading to Premium
While a premium account is not required to create or maintain a Company Page, there are some additional benefits that come with LinkedIn’s paid offerings. Some top perks include:
- Increased profile views – Premium accounts get more profile views than basic accounts.
- More customization – Add more sections, customize branding, pin up to 6 posts.
- Expanded analytics – See page visitors, follower demographics, post metrics.
- Lead generation – Tools to collect leads from your Company Page.
- Additional admin roles – Grant manager, analyst, and advertiser roles.
Weigh the additional capabilities and features against the cost of premium to determine if upgrading makes sense for achieving your goals with Company Pages. However, most basic functionality is available for free.
Limitations of Free Company Pages
There are some restrictions in place for Company Pages created with a free LinkedIn account. These limitations include:
- Only 1 showcased follower.
- Limited Company Page analytics.
- No lead generation tools.
- 1 administrative role.
- Limited profile customization.
The tradeoff for having a free Company Page is less customization, metrics data, tools for generating leads, and extra administrative roles. But the core Company Page features remain intact.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn does not require a premium account in order to create or manage a Company Page. Any user with a free or premium LinkedIn account has access to build a Company Page for their business. While premium unlocks extra analytics, customization, and lead gen options, a basic free account still provides the fundamental Company Page features.
Focus first on populating and optimizing your free Company Page. Add detailed information on your products, services, mission, team, and culture. Use the page to generate awareness, connections, and engagement with your target audience. Then down the line if your goals expand, consider upgrading to unlock premium capabilities.