LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that provides users with additional features not available with the free version. Some key questions people considering LinkedIn Premium may ask include:
- What extra features do you get with LinkedIn Premium?
- Who is LinkedIn Premium best suited for?
- What are the different tiers of LinkedIn Premium and what is included in each?
- How much does LinkedIn Premium cost?
- Is LinkedIn Premium worth the money?
This article will provide answers to these common questions to help you decide if LinkedIn Premium is right for you or your business.
What extra features do you get with LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn Premium unlocks a number of additional features not available to regular users. Some of the key benefits include:
- Expanded profile views – See who has viewed your profile, even if they are not in your network.
- InMail messages – Send direct messages to anyone on LinkedIn, even if you’re not connected.
- Search filters – Advanced search filters to target industry, job function, seniority and location.
- Premium profile badges – Display badges on your profile to highlight certifications, publications etc.
- Learning courses – Access over 16,000+ expert-led courses to boost skills.
- Interview preparation – Get tips on preparing for interviews and connect with coaches.
In addition, LinkedIn Premium provides insights into your profile performance compared to others in your industry. You can see how your profile views, search appearances and post engagements stack up.
Who is LinkedIn Premium best suited for?
LinkedIn Premium can provide value to several user groups, but is likely to have the most appeal for:
- Job seekers – Premium helps job seekers stand out in the competitive marketplace by showcasing credentials and allowing targeted communication with recruiters.
- Business owners / sales professionals – The added profile visibility and ability to contact anyone makes Premium valuable for promoting a personal brand, business or service.
- Recruiters/HR professionals – Premium provides recruiters with powerful search tools and visibility into passive candidates not actively job hunting.
- Marketers / brand managers – Premium provides insights into audience demographics and tools to build engagement with target personas.
- Career builders – Premium helps those looking to advance their career by building connections and skills through courses.
Essentially, LinkedIn Premium can benefit anyone looking to maximize their professional network and opportunities on the platform.
What are the different tiers of LinkedIn Premium and what is included in each?
LinkedIn Premium is available in three different package tiers:
LinkedIn Premium Career
This is the basic premium package. It includes:
- Profile views: See who’s viewed your profile
- InMail messages: 30 credits to contact anyone
- Search filters: Advanced filters for searches
- Profile badges: Showcase credentials
- Interview preparation: Coaching and tips
- Premium profile branding: Background photo
LinkedIn Premium Business
This is designed for sales and business development professionals. Extras include:
- InMail messages: 50 credits per month
- Search credits: 5 per month to search outside your network
- Contact filters: Prioritize leads based on likelihood to respond
- Post audience targeting: Share content with selected audience groups
LinkedIn Premium Hiring
Tailored for recruiters and HR professionals hiring staff. Additional features include:
- InMail messages: 150 credits per month
- Candidate recommendations: Suggestions of potential hires based on criteria
- Pipeline management: Organize and track candidates
- Interview preparation: Coaching and tips for candidates
- Talent pool matching: Find qualified candidates from your company talent pool
The higher tiers build on the features of the lower packages and provide enhanced tools suited to each user’s professional focus.
How much does LinkedIn Premium cost?
The monthly and annual prices for LinkedIn Premium (in USD) are:
| Package | Monthly Price | Annual Price (when paid monthly) | Annual Price (when prepaid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Career | $29.99 | $359.88 | $239.88 |
| Premium Business | $44.99 | $539.88 | $359.88 |
| Premium Hiring | $99.95 | $1,199.40 | $899.88 |
Key notes on LinkedIn Premium pricing:
- There is a discount for paying annually upfront rather than monthly installments.
- Premium is cheaper when adding to an existing Teams / Sales Navigator plan.
- Non-profits and educational institutions receive discounts.
- Some countries and currencies have different prices.
It’s worth looking out for any special offers too – LinkedIn sometimes runs deals like one month free Premium access.
Is LinkedIn Premium worth the money?
Whether LinkedIn Premium is worth the investment depends on the individual user and their goals. But here are some potential benefits that can make the premium features worthwhile:
- Expanded networking opportunities – Premium makes it easier to connect with relevant professionals, even if they are not direct connections.
- Improved job prospects – Premium provides tools to improve your personal branding and visibility with recruiters.
- Valuable business insights – The analytics and audience targeting features provide market intelligence to grow your business.
- Returns from sponsored content – Well targeted sponsored content enabled by Premium can drive ROI exceeding the subscription cost.
- Skills development – The wide range of courses included can significantly boost knowledge and employability.
However, the free version of LinkedIn is still very capable, so Premium is probably not necessary for more casual users. The premium features provide most value for seasoned professionals and businesses actively leveraging LinkedIn.
Conclusion
LinkedIn Premium provides a range of features aimed at helping users expand their professional networks, brand themselves, and unlock insights and opportunities in the LinkedIn ecosystem. For job seekers, sales professionals, recruiters, marketers and other power users, the premium packages can provide functionality that improves results and justifies the subscription cost in terms of ROI. More casual users may be better off sticking with LinkedIn’s (already excellent) free tools however. Overall, LinkedIn Premium is worth considering for anyone wanting to maximize LinkedIn for their career or business.