LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 850 million members worldwide. As a job seeker or business professional, having a strong LinkedIn presence can help you build your personal brand, connect with relevant people, and find new opportunities. LinkedIn offers several premium subscription plans that provide additional features beyond the free version, but are these paid plans worth the investment? Here is an in-depth look at what you get with LinkedIn premium and whether you should try it out using the one month free trial.
What does LinkedIn premium include?
LinkedIn currently offers three premium subscription options for individual users: Premium Career, Premium Business, and Sales Navigator. The premium plans build on the free account by providing benefits in the following areas:
Expanded profile views and search
With a premium plan, you can see more information about who has viewed your profile, including title, location, company, and industry. This helps you understand who is looking at your profile and tailor your content accordingly. You also get expanded search filters to find relevant profiles more easily.
InMail messages
Premium members can send InMail messages directly to any LinkedIn member, even if they are not in your network. This allows you to reach out to recruiters, hiring managers, and other professionals that interest you. The number of InMails varies by plan, with Premium Career getting 25 per month.
Job seeking and promotion tools
Premium subscribers get access to job seeking tools like the ability to apply with 1-click and see how you compare to other candidates. You can also get help promoting your own services and products with premium features like displaying badges to highlight credentials.
Learning and news resources
Premium plans include access to LinkedIn Learning courses and certification exam practice tests. You also get Unlimited reading access to premium news articles on LinkedIn.
Analytics and insights
With premium, you can see analytics on who has viewed your profile and content. You also get insights about how your network compares to other professionals in your industry. This data can help inform your career or business strategy.
Benefits of trying LinkedIn Premium for free
The best way to decide if LinkedIn Premium is worth the investment for you is to experience the benefits firsthand. LinkedIn offers a free one month trial that includes full access to all premium features. Trying out premium allows you to evaluate the following key benefits:
Test out messaging capabilities
With 25-30 free InMail messages during your trial, you can reach out to key professionals and assess the response rate. See if being able to message beyond your existing network makes a difference in connecting with the right people.
Evaluate job seeking tools
If you are searching for a new job opportunity, the one month trial allows you to take advantage of premium job seeking benefits like easy apply and insights into how you compare with other candidates. You can evaluate if these resources improve your chances of getting noticed and hired.
Increase profile visibility
Utilize analytics to see who is viewing your profile and use that information to adapt your content for greater visibility with your target audience. Test if premium profile tools lead to more profile views and engagement.
Build connections and leads
Try using premium search filters and messaging to connect with more relevant professionals in your industry. For sales professionals, see if you can generate more qualified leads during the one month trial period.
Learn relevant skills
Access LinkedIn Learning courses and certification prep materials in your field to build your skills and resume during your trial. Determine if the unlimited learning content available helps support your career goals.
What does LinkedIn Premium cost?
If you decide to continue with a paid subscription after the free trial ends, here are the current monthly costs for LinkedIn’s premium plans:
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Premium Career | $29.99 |
| Premium Business | $44.99 |
| Sales Navigator | $79.99 |
Discounted annual subscriptions are also available that can save you up to 33% compared to paying month-to-month. LinkedIn occasionally offers promotions that lower the price for your first year. Overall, Premium Career and Premium Business offer similar features at different price points based on the level of access needed.
Is LinkedIn Premium worth the money?
Whether one of LinkedIn’s paid premium plans is a good value depends on your individual needs and career goals. Here are some pros and cons to weigh:
Pros
- Expanded networking and messaging capabilities
- Advanced job seeking tools and insights
- Increased profile views and engagement
- Valuable skill-building learning content
- Useful analytics about your brand and content
Cons
- Monthly or yearly cost is an extra expense
- Some features like learning content have free alternatives
- Effectiveness can depend on how actively you use premium tools
- Advanced features may be unnecessary for some users
Generally, investing in a paid LinkedIn plan makes the most sense if you will utilize the additional features to actively network, look for a job, market a business, or build your skills. The premium plans may provide less value if you already have an established network and are not actively job searching or promoting services on LinkedIn currently.
Tips for trying LinkedIn Premium free
To get the most value from your free one month LinkedIn Premium trial, here are some tips:
Pick the right plan for you
Evaluate Premium Career vs Premium Business and Sales Navigator to choose the plan with the ideal features for your needs. You can downgrade or upgrade plans at any time.
Set goals and benchmarks
Define what success looks like for your trial, such as connecting with 5 new professionals or applying to 10 jobs. Track your progress to see if premium tools are delivering results.
Fill out your profile
Make sure your profile is complete with a photo, description, experience, education, skills, and recommendations. A polished profile will maximize visibility and engagement.
Proactively connect and message
Don’t wait for others to come to you – use InMail and search filters to actively reach out to industry leaders, recruiters, potential clients, and others who interest you.
Use premium content fully
Take advantage of LinkedIn Learning courses, exam prep, and premium news articles so you can evaluate the full breadth of content available to make an informed decision about the benefits.
Conclusion
LinkedIn Premium offers robust networking capabilities, advanced job seeking tools, and useful business insights that can take your career or professional brand to the next level. The one month free trial makes it low risk to test out premium features and see if the benefits are worth the monthly or annual subscription fees for your needs. Use the trial period to set goals, fully engage premium tools and content, and ultimately decide if upgrading is the right choice to support your professional growth.
