How do I get LinkedIn ad credits?

LinkedIn ad credits allow you to run paid advertising campaigns on LinkedIn without spending real money. They are a great way to test and optimize your ads before investing your marketing budget. Here’s what you need to know about getting and using LinkedIn ad credits.

What are LinkedIn ad credits?

LinkedIn ad credits are a form of virtual currency you can use to pay for LinkedIn ads. Each credit has a value of $1, so 100 credits = $100 to spend on ads. Ad credits allow you to run paid LinkedIn campaigns to reach your target audience without spending real money.

Some key things to know about LinkedIn ad credits:

• They only can be used for LinkedIn ads, not other advertising platforms.
• Each credit equals $1 toward LinkedIn ads.
• They do not expire, so you can use them anytime.
• They allow you to test and optimize campaigns before spending real money.

Who is eligible for LinkedIn ad credits?

LinkedIn offers ad credits to new and existing advertisers on both LinkedIn Ads and LinkedIn Campaign Manager. Here is who qualifies for credits:

• New advertisers – If you’ve never run LinkedIn ads before, you can get a credit pack to test out the platform when you create your first campaign. The amount offered varies based on your account location.
• Existing advertisers – Occasionally LinkedIn will offer credit packs to current advertisers as a reward or incentive to spend more on the platform.
• LinkedIn partners and employees – Partners who sell LinkedIn ads and LinkedIn employees often receive credit packs as part of their compensation or benefits.

How much are the ad credit packs?

The amount of ad credits you can receive varies based on your advertiser status and location. Here are the typical credit pack amounts:

As you can see, new advertisers in the US get the largest credit packs, while existing advertisers may get various amounts based on promotions.

How do I claim my LinkedIn ad credit pack?

The process to claim ad credits depends if you are a new or existing advertiser.

For new advertisers

If you are new to LinkedIn ads, follow these steps to claim your credits:

1. Go to the LinkedIn Ads platform and click “Create Ad.” This will launch the ad creation workflow.
2. On the second step of the workflow, you will see an offer for a credit pack for new advertisers. Click “Activate Credits.”
3. The credit pack will automatically be added to your new LinkedIn ads account. You will see the amount of credits available on the account dashboard.
4. Use the credits to run your first ad campaigns on LinkedIn. The credits will automatically be deducted from your balance as you spend.

For existing advertisers

If LinkedIn is offering ad credits to existing advertisers, you will receive an email or in-platform notification letting you know. Typically you will be instructed to click a link or button to add the credits to your account. The process may vary with different credit offers.

You can also check your LinkedIn ads account dashboard periodically to see if any new credits have been automatically added to your balance. LinkedIn will notify you when this happens.

How long do I have to use ad credits?

One of the best things about LinkedIn ad credits is that they do not expire. You can use them anytime, whether that’s right away to test initial campaigns or months later to give your advertising another boost. There is no time limit to use the credits.

Even if your LinkedIn ads account remains inactive for a while, your unused ad credits will be waiting for you when you come back. You don’t have to worry about losing them.

What can I use ad credits for?

LinkedIn ad credits can be used to pay for any LinkedIn ad campaign in both self-serve LinkedIn Ads and LinkedIn Campaign Manager. Here are some ways you can spend credits:

• Run Sponsored Content ad campaigns
• RunText ad campaigns
• Run dynamic, personalized ad campaigns with Matched Audiences
• Run campaigns targeting job titles, skills, company names, and more
• Pay for LinkedIn lead gen forms to capture leads from your ads
• Run retargeting campaigns for website visitors, leads, etc.

The credits act as real money to pay for any type of LinkedIn advertising. The full slate of targeting, bidding, and creative options are open to you.

Are there restrictions on how I use credits?

There are very few restrictions on how you utilize LinkedIn ad credits:

• Credits can only be used for LinkedIn ads, not outside platforms
• Credits can only pay for ads themselves, not other LinkedIn products/services
• You cannot transfer credits to another LinkedIn advertiser
• Credits cannot be exchanged for cash refunds

But other than that, you have full flexibility on how you spend credits to reach your target audiences on LinkedIn.

How do I track how many credits I have left?

You can easily view your available ad credit balance right from your LinkedIn ads account dashboard. Next to your real money balance, you will see a separate line showing ad credits remaining.

This balance will update in real-time as you spend credits on active ad campaigns. You can check it anytime to see how many credits you have left to spend.

What happens when I use up all my credits?

Once your ad credit balance reaches zero, your campaigns will automatically begin spending your real money credit card balance. There is no disruption in your campaigns.

If you don’t want campaigns to start spending real money, you should pause them before credits fully deplete. You can always resume them later once you add more ad credits or real money to your account.

Can I get more ad credits after using my initial pack?

Unfortunately LinkedIn does not allow advertisers to directly purchase ad credit packs. The company occasionally offers additional credits to existing advertisers through promotions and incentives.

Here are some ways to potentially get more free ad credits from LinkedIn after using up your initial pack:

• Increase your spend – Heavy LinkedIn ad spend may qualify you for bonus credit packs
• Respond to LinkedIn credit offers – Check your email and account for offers
• Apply for a LinkedIn marketing partner program – Partners may get credits
• Attend LinkedIn events – Credits are sometimes handed out at events
• Ask your LinkedIn sales rep – They may be able to provide credits

While not guaranteed, these methods give you the best shot at replenishing your credits once they run out.

Can I transfer unused credits to another LinkedIn account?

Unfortunately, there is no way to transfer or gift unused ad credits from one LinkedIn account to another. The credits can only be utilized by the original advertiser they were awarded to.

If you have multiple LinkedIn ads accounts, you cannot combine credit balances either. Each account has its own separate pool of credits that must be used individually.

Are ad credits taxable?

In most cases, free ad credits received from LinkedIn do not have any tax implications. They are treated similarly to coupons or discounts, not monetary income.

However, it is a good idea to consult your tax advisor or accountant if you receive a particularly large amount of free credits. Tax rules can vary in different countries and situations.

In summary, small free credit packs likely won’t create a tax liability, but check on your specific circumstances if you receive thousands of dollars worth of credits.

How do I make the most of my ad credits?

Here are some tips to maximize the value of your LinkedIn ad credits and use them effectively:

• Take your time – Don’t feel rushed to use credits quickly. Test and optimize over time.
• Start small – Don’t blow your full balance at once. Start with smaller campaigns.
• Test multiple options – Experiment with different targets, creatives, formats, etc.
• Measure results – Track key metrics like cost per lead or conversion rate.
• Follow best practices – Read LinkedIn’s ad guides and follow their recommendations.
• Ask for guidance – Work with a LinkedIn rep or agency to develop effective campaigns.

With the right strategic approach, your limited ad credits can go a long way in building effective LinkedIn ad campaigns.

Conclusion

LinkedIn ad credits provide an excellent way to kickstart your LinkedIn advertising without risking real money. While the free credits eventually run out, you can get a lot of mileage from your initial credit pack by testing and optimizing over time.

To get started with your free credits, launch your first LinkedIn ad campaign and the credits will automatically be made available to you. Then spend them slowly and strategically to establish your LinkedIn advertising presence.