LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that unlocks additional features beyond the free version of LinkedIn. With LinkedIn Premium, you get access to features like InMail messaging, profile highlighting, expanded search filters, professional learning courses, and detailed analytics on your posts and profile. If you want to maximize your use of LinkedIn for networking, searching for jobs, connecting with clients, learning new skills, and growing your personal brand, LinkedIn Premium can provide useful tools and insights. Here’s what you need to know about activating a paid Premium account on LinkedIn.
Types of LinkedIn Premium plans
LinkedIn offers three tiers of Premium accounts:
- Premium Career – Focused on job seeking, skills insights, and career development courses
- Premium Business – Focused on sales tools, company research, and messaging prospects
- Premium Hiring – Focused on recruiting tools, InMail credits, and expanded candidate search
The features included depend on the type of Premium account you choose. Make sure to select the option that aligns best with your personal or professional goals on LinkedIn.
Signing up for a paid Premium plan
To sign up for LinkedIn Premium:
- Log into your LinkedIn account on desktop or mobile
- Click on the “Me” icon in the top navigation bar and select “Premium” from the dropdown menu
- On the Premium page, click the “Try Premium Free” button
- Select the Premium plan you want to start your free trial or paid subscription for
- Enter your payment information and follow the prompts to complete sign-up
Once you complete the sign-up process, your Premium account will be active. You can immediately start using the Premium features based on the plan you selected.
Activating a free Premium trial
If you want to test out LinkedIn Premium before committing to a paid subscription, you can sign up for a free trial. Here’s how:
- Follow steps 1-3 above to get to the Premium plans page
- Click the “Try Premium Free” button on the plan you want to trial
- Enter your name, email address, and password to create your free trial account
- Agree to the terms of service and click “Start My Free Trial”
Your free Premium trial will last for 30 days. During the trial you will have full access to all features of the Premium plan you selected. LinkedIn will automatically charge your payment method after 30 days if you don’t cancel, so be sure to track your trial period.
Upgrading from a free account
If you currently have a free LinkedIn account, you can upgrade to a paid Premium plan at any time:
- Go to the “Me” icon > “Premium” like above
- Click “Upgrade your account” on the Premium page
- Select the Premium plan you want to upgrade to
- Enter your payment information and complete upgrade steps
Once you finish upgrading, your Premium access will be enabled right away so you can start benefiting from the additional features.
Linking Premium to your Company or School
Some companies and schools provide their employees or students with discounted or free LinkedIn Premium access through corporate partnerships. If your company or school offers this, you can link your Premium account to receive special pricing or a free upgrade.
To link your account, go to the Premium signup page and look for the “Link Account” section. Enter your company or school details there to connect your Premium access. You may need a validation code from your company or school to complete the linking process.
Managing billing for Premium
LinkedIn offers a few billing options for Premium accounts:
- Monthly billing – You are charged monthly until you cancel your subscription
- Annual billing – You pre-pay for a full year at a discounted rate compared to monthly billing
- Multi-user bundles – Companies can purchase Premium access for multiple employees at reduced per-seat pricing
You can view and update your billing details from the “Account” section of your LinkedIn settings at any time. This is also where you would go to cancel an auto-renewing subscription before the next billing cycle.
Getting help with LinkedIn Premium
If you have any trouble signing up for or activating LinkedIn Premium, here are some options for assistance:
- Check the LinkedIn Premium help site for FAQs, walkthroughs, and troubleshooting
- Use the live chat feature on LinkedIn to chat with a customer service rep
- Call LinkedIn Premium customer support at 1-866-513-5509
- Email Premium support at [email protected]
Key benefits of LinkedIn Premium
Here is an overview of some of the key features unlocked with a LinkedIn Premium account:
Messaging and relationship building
- InMail messages – Send direct messages to anyone on LinkedIn, even if you’re not connected
- InMail responses – See if your messages are read and received responses
- Expanded profile views – See the full list of who has viewed your profile recently
Jobs and recruiting
- Open Candidates – See which “passive” users are open to new job opportunities
- Candidate recommendations – Get suggested candidates for open positions in your company
- Salary insights – View salary ranges for positions to inform your hiring offers
Content and personal brand
- Who’s Viewed Your Profile – See the titles and companies of viewers
- Profile visibility boost – Get up to 7x more profile views
- League of X profiles – Get exclusive access to top profiles across industries
Insights and analytics
- Advanced profile metrics – See who your top profile visitors are, plus more metrics
- Post analytics – View detailed statistics on the reach and engagement of your posts
- Premium Badges – Display badges on your profile to stand out
These are just a few of the valuable features unlocked with a Premium plan. The full list of benefits depends on the specific plan you choose.
Conclusion
Activating LinkedIn Premium is straightforward – simply select your plan, provide payment details, and complete the signup steps. With Premium, you gain access to features for networking, recruiting, branding, and insights that can significantly boost your LinkedIn results. Consider starting with a free trial to experience Premium firsthand. And if you need help, LinkedIn offers ample customer support resources. Use this guide to confidently upgrade to Premium and level up your LinkedIn presence.
