Many Amazon Prime members are unaware that their membership includes some great perks beyond free two-day shipping, Prime Video and more. One of those perks is a free year subscription to LinkedIn Premium, which unlocks access to powerful networking and job hunting tools on the popular professional social network.
LinkedIn Premium provides users with additional capabilities that can enhance their job search and career advancement opportunities. However, the process of claiming this Amazon Prime benefit may not be straightforward for those unfamiliar with redeeming Prime promotions. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to activate a free year of LinkedIn Premium using an existing Amazon Prime membership.
What is LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn Premium is the paid subscription tier of LinkedIn that offers users enhanced features compared to the free basic account. A LinkedIn Premium subscription provides access to these key capabilities:
- See full profiles of LinkedIn members beyond just name and headshot
- Advanced profile filtering when searching for connections
- Unlimited InMail messages for directly contacting anyone on LinkedIn
- See who has viewed your profile
- Take free LinkedIn Learning courses
- Additional profile customization options
For professionals who actively use LinkedIn for networking, recruiting and career development, the Premium features dramatically improve the platform’s usefulness. The usual cost of LinkedIn Premium is $29.99 per month, making a year of complimentary access an excellent benefit for Prime subscribers.
LinkedIn Premium Benefit for Amazon Prime
Amazon’s Prime partnership with LinkedIn allows current Prime members to enjoy one year of LinkedIn Premium at no additional cost. This provides a total value of $359.88 if you were to pay monthly.
To be eligible, you must have an active Prime membership at the time you redeem the offer. Amazon limits this to one per customer to prevent abuse. The Premium subscription will auto-renew at the regular paid rate after one year, so you would need to cancel manually if you do not wish to continue.
Follow the steps below to activate your free 12 months of LinkedIn Premium through Amazon’s offer.
How to Redeem LinkedIn Premium with Amazon Prime
Redeeming your complimentary LinkedIn Premium via Amazon Prime requires a few quick steps. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:
Step 1: Ensure Amazon Prime Membership is Active
Since this offer is exclusive to paid Prime subscribers, the first step is making sure you have an active Prime membership.
Go to Amazon and sign into your account. Hover over “Accounts & Lists” and look under Prime to confirm your membership says “Your Prime membership renews on (date)”.
If it does not show this or says “Try Prime”, you will need to sign up for a paid Prime subscription first before proceeding.
Step 2: Visit the LinkedIn Premium Offer Page on Amazon
Once confirmed as a Prime member, visit this specially designated page on Amazon’s website:
https://www.amazon.com/l/16136904011
This is where Prime members can view and redeem the LinkedIn Premium offer.
Step 3: Click “Activate Your Free Year”
On the Prime offer page for LinkedIn Premium, click the button marked “Activate Your Free Year”.
This will redirect you to LinkedIn’s website to complete the activation process.
Step 4: Log Into LinkedIn
You will be prompted to log into your LinkedIn account. Enter your LinkedIn email address and password to sign in.
If you do not have an existing LinkedIn account, you can click join now to create one for free.
Step 5: Follow the On-Screen Instructions
After logging into LinkedIn through the activation flow, follow the on-screen instructions.
LinkedIn will apply the free year Premium subscription to your account. You may be asked to provide payment details, but you will not be charged for 12 months.
You will see confirmation on LinkedIn that your account now has Premium status, unlocking all of the detailed benefits outlined earlier in this article. You now have complimentary access for one full year!
Using LinkedIn Premium
Once successfully activated, take advantage of your free year of LinkedIn Premium access to boost your professional networking and career opportunities. Here are some top ways to use Premium’s features:
Unlock Full Profile Views
The Open Profile setting under Privacy & Settings enables Premium subscribers to view full profiles beyond just name, headline and photo. This provides valuable context on connections’ backgrounds and expertise to inform outreach.
Research Advanced Profile Filters
Premium opens advanced filters to target profile searches by current company, school, location, interests, skills and other criteria. This allows more precise networking.
Grow Your Network with InMail
Use InMail messages to contact any LinkedIn member, even if you are not directly connected. This facilitates direct outreach to recruiting managers, executives and other key contacts.
See Who is Looking at Your Profile
The Who’s Viewed Your Profile feature shows Premium users the LinkedIn members who have recently looked at their profile. This helps understand where your brand has permeated.
Take Free Online Courses
LinkedIn Learning comes with Premium, offering access to thousands of expert-led online video courses covering business, creative and tech topics to advance your skills and knowledge.
Maximize the Value of Your Free Year
Here are some tips to maximize the value from your Premium access:
- Set aside time each week for intentional networking outreach to build your connections
- Complete LinkedIn Learning courses that provide relevant skills for your career goals
- Engage consistently with the platform to keep your profile active and highlighted
- Utilize Premium search filters to identify ideal jobs and make plans to apply
- Convert InMail responses into phone calls and coffee meetings to grow your network
Being strategic with how you use Premium can significantly expand your professional opportunities and earning potential over the next year.
Renewing LinkedIn Premium
As noted previously, your free year LinkedIn Premium via Amazon Prime will expire after 12 months. At that point, your account will revert to a free basic access unless you proactively renew as a paid subscriber.
Here are some options to continue with Premium:
- Monthly auto-renew at $29.99 per month
- Annual payment of $239.88 ($19.99 per month)
- Redeem a new free year with an active Prime subscription, if Amazon extends the promotion
- Cancel Premium renewal and revert to free account
Be sure to weigh whether the benefits are worth a paid renewal for your needs once the year ends. You can disable auto-renew in your LinkedIn account settings when ready.
Downgrading from Premium
If you wish to downgrade from LinkedIn Premium to a free account during your free year, you can do so easily. Here is how:
Via Desktop
1. Go to your LinkedIn settings
2. Click on the Premium tab
3. Choose the Downgrade option
Via Mobile App
1. Tap your profile photo
2. Tap Settings & Privacy
3. Choose Account preferences
4. Select Downgrade premium
This will immediately revert your account to a free member, losing access to Premium features.
Troubleshooting LinkedIn Premium Activation
In most cases, the LinkedIn Premium activation through Amazon Prime works seamlessly. But if you encounter issues, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Confirm Active Prime Membership
Double check that your Prime membership is current and has not lapsed, as this makes you ineligible.
Try a Different Browser
Technical glitches may sometimes interfere with the redirect and activation process. Trying a different web browser can help.
Clear Cookies and Cache
Cookies and cached files related to Amazon or LinkedIn can also disrupt the redemption process sometimes. Clearing them may allow a smooth activation.
Contact Amazon Customer Service
If you cannot resolve the activation issues, reach out to Amazon’s customer service online chat or by phone. They can investigate and confirm your Prime eligibility.
Conclusion
Unlocking a free year subscription to LinkedIn Premium can be tremendously valuable for enhancing your professional networking, job search and career growth opportunities. Amazon Prime members are entitled to this great benefit, which is relatively quick and easy to activate if you follow the instructions. Focus on using Premium strategically during your free 12 months to maximize the impact.
