How do I get a 50% discount on LinkedIn?

Getting a significant discount on LinkedIn Premium can help you save money while still accessing all the great features of a paid LinkedIn account. LinkedIn does not openly advertise discounts, but there are a few legit ways to get 50% off or more on LinkedIn Premium subscriptions. With some strategic planning and smart negotiating, you can land the coveted 50% LinkedIn discount.

Should I Upgrade to LinkedIn Premium?

Before trying to get a LinkedIn Premium discount, first consider whether upgrading is worthwhile for you. Here are some of the key benefits of LinkedIn Premium:

• See full profiles of everyone who has viewed your profile
• Send unlimited InMails to contact people outside your network
• See expanded profiles showing full work histories
• Remove LinkedIn ads
• Get access to various LinkedIn Learning courses
• Unlock salary data to see what people in similar roles or companies are paid

For active LinkedIn users who want more insights, networking capabilities, and profile visibility, Premium is likely worth the investment. The regular monthly price is $29.99, so even without any discount, you can view Premium as a professional development investment that pays for itself through career and networking gains.

Still, paying full price for Premium can add up, especially for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and other solo operators. If you use LinkedIn extensively for business purposes, getting 50% off or more can boost the value proposition of Premium and make the upgrade cost more manageable.

Should I Buy an Annual LinkedIn Premium Subscription?

One simple way to effectively get 50% off LinkedIn Premium is to purchase an annual subscription instead of going month-to-month. Here is a breakdown of the regular US pricing for Premium accounts:

As you can see, the annual subscription at $359.88 works out to the same $29.99 per month fee. However, by paying for the full year up front, you essentially get 50% off – you pay for 6 months and get the other 6 months free.

The 50% off deal is automatically applied when you select the annual payment option during LinkedIn checkout. No coupon code is needed.

This can be a great way to get a major discount on Premium without having to negotiate or look for LinkedIn deals. Just be sure to set a calendar reminder to cancel your Premium renewal before you get auto-billed for a 2nd year.

Should I Pay Annually or Monthly for LinkedIn Premium?

Paying annually nets you the most savings, but also comes with a larger upfront cost. Here are some factors to weigh when deciding if annual or monthly Premium is better for you:

• Can you afford $359.88 as a one-time charge? This is more feasible for some people than others.
• Do you foresee needing/using Premium for the full next 12 months? Or is your need more sporadic?
• Are you OK committing to Premium for a full year? If work needs change, you may wish you only paid monthly.
• Can you easily remember to cancel Premium before your year renews? If not, annual isn’t the best option.

In summary, if you can float the upfront annual fee and are confident you’ll maximize Premium for the coming year, go annual for 50% off. But if cash flow is tight or your needs are inconsistent, consider monthly. You can always switch between annual and monthly plans later on via your account settings.

Negotiating a LinkedIn Premium Discount

Beyond going annual for an effective 50% discount, some LinkedIn users have successfully negotiated even lower Premium subscription rates. Here are some tips for getting LinkedIn Premium for less than the advertised pricing:

Wait for a Limited Time Discount Offer

Periodically, LinkedIn runs special discount offers allowing new Premium subscribers to get their first month for only $1. Keep an eye out for these limited-time promotions, which are typically advertised via banner ads on LinkedIn itself. It’s not recurring 50% off, but could allow trying out Premium very affordably for 1 month.

Mention Being a Student

LinkedIn offers Premium heavily discounted for students and educators. As a student, you can get Premium for just $14.99 per month – 50% off the standard $29.99 rate. However, you normally have to validate your active student status.

But some people have luck simply mentioning being a student when contacting LinkedIn’s customer support. Say you want to upgrade to Premium to aid your job search after graduation, but as a student the full price is too steep. There’s a chance customer support may apply a one-time discount without requiring formal student verification. At worst, they simply say no to the request.

Ask About Discounts for Nonprofits

LinkedIn offers Premium for nonprofits at $79.99 annually instead of the normal $359.88 annual fee. That equates to over 75% off. To qualify, you need to have a valid nonprofit email address and go through an application process.

However, some have been able to get nonprofit discounts simply by asking. When you reach out to LinkedIn’s customer support, mention you work or volunteer for a nonprofit and face a limited budget. Ask politely if they offer any discount so you can better amplify your nonprofit’s mission. They may request you complete the formal application, but some reps do provide one-off nonprofit discounts on the spot without requiring further documentation.

Say You Need to Downgrade from Premium

If you currently have a paid Premium account, try messaging LinkedIn support saying you regretfully need to downgrade to the free version of LinkedIn. Mention you love Premium’s features, but unfortunately cannot currently justify the monthly expense due to personal financial constraints. You may be surprised to find LinkedIn offers you a private discounted rate (such as 50% off for 3 months) so you can keep your Premium membership. This tactic leverages the fact that it’s easier for LinkedIn to retain an existing subscriber than attract a brand new one.

Partner With Someone to Share an Account

Since LinkedIn Premium allows set up on multiple mobile and desktop devices, you can split the cost with a friend or colleague and share a single account. Just make sure you can trust the person, as you’ll have access to each other’s messages and login history. Also coordinate so you don’t accidentally use the login simultaneously and get the account locked down for investigation.

Going halfsies on the $29.99 monthly subscription can be a simple way to get Premium for 50% off. For the annual plan, you could even partner with 5 people for 1/5th the cost per person.

Enroll in Coursera Plus for Cheap Premium

Here’s a creative hack to possibly stack some steep LinkedIn Premium discounts. The online learning platform Coursera offers a subscription called Coursera Plus that includes access to LinkedIn Premium.

Coursera Plus normally costs $399 annually. However, Coursera appears to regularly offer 90% off promotions where you can get Coursera Plus for just $39 per year. Doing the math, that drops your effective annual LinkedIn Premium price down to just $39! Extremely hard to beat 90% off.

Now the catch is this Coursera Plus discount offer seems to only be eligible for new Coursera users. Those who have existing Coursera accounts may be excluded. Additionally, it’s unclear if Coursera limits how long you can keep renewing the 90% discounted Plus subscription. But it’s worth watching for Coursera Plus deals as a backdoor to ultra-cheap LinkedIn Premium access.

Appealing to LinkedIn Customer Service

Many of the tips in this article involve appealing to LinkedIn’s customer service team for a special discount exception. To maximize your chances of success:

• Be polite in your request. LinkedIn reps respond better to friendly inquiries than demanding ones.
• Stress how much you enjoy using LinkedIn but simply face financial limitations as a student, nonprofit worker, etc.
• Mention you may have to downgrade or close your account if you can’t get a lower price. LinkedIn wants to retain you as a user.
• Ask nicely if there are “any available discounts” you might qualify for rather than immediately requesting 50% off.
• Offer social proof of your situation, like sending a screenshot of your .edu student email address.
• Thank the rep for their time and understanding, even if they’re unable to provide a discount.

With the right polite tone and rationale, many LinkedIn customers have reported receiving discounts of 50% off or more just for nicely asking. Don’t be demanding or entitled, but don’t be shy asking either. The worst they can tell you is no.

Conclusion

While LinkedIn does not openly promote it, you can indeed obtain Premium for 50% off or more with the right strategies. Options range from buying an annual subscription for an automatic 50% discount to politely negotiating with LinkedIn customer service reps citing financial hardship. Get creative with annual vs. monthly plans, shared accounts, Coursera bundled packages, and strategic timing of limited-time promotions. With persistence and finesse, slashing LinkedIn Premium’s price in half is an achievable goal.