How do I subscribe to LinkedIn premium in India?

LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that unlocks additional features beyond the free version of LinkedIn. LinkedIn Premium provides users with tools to grow their network, find jobs, market themselves and their business. Some of the key benefits of LinkedIn Premium include unlimited InMail messages, unlimited profile views, insights on who’s viewed your profile, ability to take online courses and access to job seeking tools.

In India, LinkedIn Premium is priced competitively and offers good value for money considering the features unlocked with the paid subscription. If you are an active LinkedIn user looking to maximize your usage of the platform for professional or business networking, LinkedIn Premium can be a worthwhile investment in India. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to subscribe to LinkedIn Premium in India.

Pre-requisites for subscribing to LinkedIn Premium in India

Before subscribing to LinkedIn Premium, you need:

– A LinkedIn account – If you don’t already have a LinkedIn account, you can sign up for one for free at linkedin.com or via the LinkedIn mobile app.

– A valid credit or debit card – LinkedIn Premium can only be purchased with a valid credit or debit card. You cannot pay with other payment methods like net banking, UPI etc. The card needs to be issued in India.

– An Indian IP address – To purchase LinkedIn Premium in India at Indian pricing, you need to access LinkedIn from an Indian IP address. If you try to purchase it from another country, you may be shown pricing in that local currency instead of Indian rupees.

How to subscribe to LinkedIn Premium in India

Here are the step-by-step instructions to purchase LinkedIn Premium subscription in India:

1. Login to your LinkedIn account and visit the Premium upgrade page. This can be accessed from the ‘Me’ icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.

2. Under the Premium tab, click on the blue ‘Try Premium Free’ button. This will take you to the LinkedIn Premium purchase page.

3. On the purchase page, select the Premium plan you want to subscribe to. There are four options:

• Premium Monthly – Billed monthly at ₹650 per month
• Premium Quarterly – Billed once every 3 months at ₹1,800
• Premium Half Yearly – Billed once every 6 months at ₹3,500
• Premium Yearly – Billed once every 12 months at ₹5,500

The quarterly, half-yearly and yearly plans offer bigger discounts compared to the monthly plan.

4. Enter your card details – card number, expiry date and CVV. Make sure to use a card issued in India.

5. Carefully review the plan details, pricing and billing frequency. Click on ‘Subscribe Now’ to complete the purchase.

6. LinkedIn will process the payment and activate Premium access on your account immediately.

Key features unlocked with LinkedIn Premium in India

Here are some of the most useful features you get with LinkedIn Premium in India:

• Unlimited InMail messages – Send direct messages to anyone on LinkedIn, even if they are not in your network.
• Unlimited profile views – View unlimited LinkedIn profiles without restrictions.
• Insights on profile viewers – See who has viewed your LinkedIn profile.
• Advanced profile filtering – Use more filters while searching member profiles to find your ideal connections.
• Premium courses – Get access to more than 15,000 expert-led online courses.
• Premium job postings – Apply for jobs listed exclusively for Premium subscribers.
• Interview preparation – Get tips from LinkedIn on preparing for job interviews.
• Salary insights – View estimated salary ranges for different jobs and locations.

Tips for getting the most from LinkedIn Premium in India

Here are some tips to maximize the value you get from LinkedIn Premium in India:

– Build your network proactively using InMail messages. Don’t randomly spam people – send meaningful messages to those you’d genuinely like to connect with.

– Use profile views strategically to research employers, clients, business partners, influencers etc. Premium gives you unlimited profile views.

– Check who’s viewed your profile regularly. This gives you insight into which connections are interested in you. Engage with them.

– Take online courses relevant to your career. Premium unlocks thousands of courses for upgrading your skills.

– Apply for Premium-only job postings that aren’t visible to regular users. Higher visibility of your application.

– Use salary insights while negotiating your salary/pay. Know the market rate for someone with your skills and experience.

– Set reminders to cancel Premium before the auto-renew date if you only wanted to try it short term.

Pros and cons of subscribing to LinkedIn Premium in India

Pros

– Increased reach and visibility for your profile and content

– Unrestricted access to view member profiles

– Valuable insights into who’s viewed your profile

– Direct messaging capability with InMail

– Access to useful online courses

– Ability to apply for exclusive Premium job postings

– Ad-free LinkedIn browsing experience

Cons

– Premium is a paid subscription unlike free LinkedIn access

– Offline viewing and accessibility is limited

– Some features like salary insights have limited information

– Auto-renew can lead to accidental future charges if not cancelled

– Need to selectively use InMails or they could be perceived as spam

Conclusion

LinkedIn Premium can be a worthwhile upgrade if you actively use LinkedIn for professional networking, job search or business marketing. The additional features unlocked with Premium provide more opportunities for widening your reach and visibility on the platform. However, Premium may not be useful if your usage of LinkedIn is more passive or infrequent. Review the pros and cons carefully before subscribing to determine if the paid features justify the pricing for your specific needs. Use the tips mentioned to maximize the value from LinkedIn Premium in India if you decide to upgrade.