LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that provides users with additional features and benefits beyond the free basic account. As LinkedIn has become one of the most important professional networking platforms, LinkedIn Premium has become an attractive option for those looking to maximize their use of LinkedIn. But is the paid version worth the money? Here are some of the key potential benefits of upgrading to LinkedIn Premium.
Enhanced Profile and Networking Capabilities
One of the main reasons to consider LinkedIn Premium is that it allows you to showcase your profile and extend your network more effectively. With Premium, you can view profiles anonymously to research people you might want to connect with. You also get insights about who has viewed your profile which can help you understand how potential employers or clients are engaging with you.
In addition, Premium enables you to contact anyone on LinkedIn, even if you’re not connected. This makes networking and prospecting much easier. The basic free account limits how many people you can message. Premium also lets you send InMail messages directly to people’s inboxes, helping you cut through the noise.
Advanced Search
LinkedIn Premium opens up LinkedIn’s advanced search filters. This allows you to precision target your searches by keywords, location, company, job function, and much more. The advanced search is invaluable for researching target companies, finding contacts at those companies, discovering recent new hires, and more. It’s like having access to a professional people search engine.
Who’s Viewed Your Profile
One of the most useful Premium features is the ability to see who has viewed your profile recently. You get insights into who is looking you up from different companies. This can alert you to networking opportunities and companies that might be interested in hiring you. It also helps you understand how your brand presence is developing on LinkedIn.
Additional Job Search Features
For those actively searching for a new job, LinkedIn Premium provides some helpful assets. You can view the full list of applicants on job postings to size up the competition. Premium also lets you access salary data which gives you a benchmark for negotiations. Some other key job seeking features include:
Application Insights
See how your application is performing compared to other candidates. Learn whether the hiring manager has viewed your application.
Interview Prep
Research who you’re meeting and what they care about. Study typical interview questions and model answers.
Inactive Job Search
Set your profile to signal you’re not actively job seeking but open to opportunities. This avoids alerting your current employer.
Expanded Learning Resources
For those looking to build new skills and enrich their expertise, LinkedIn Premium includes an expanded library of professional courses. You get unlimited access to thousands of expert-led courses covering in-demand business, technology, and creative skills.
Some key learning benefits include:
Thousands of Courses
Choose from over 15,000 courses across business, creative, and technology topics. Taught by industry experts.
Skill Assessments
Validate your skills by taking assessments and earning verifiable certifications. Showcase these on your profile.
Audio Courses
Learn on the go with downloadable audio courses. Listen during your commute or free time.
Custom Recommendations
Get suggested courses based on your current job, skills, and interests. Targeted to your growth areas.
Unlimited Access
Take as many courses as you want for one monthly fee. Build a personalized learning plan.
Business Insights
For business professionals, LinkedIn Premium supplies news, data, and insights tailored to your industry and role. This can help you identify trends, opportunities, and competitive intelligence. Some key business benefits include:
News curated for You
Stay in the know with customized news recommended based on your preferences and profile. Surface relevant industry news.
Professional News
Get news selected by LinkedIn’s editors to track trends and developments across major industries. Stay on top of what’s impacting your business.
Company Pages
Follow Company Pages to get news, product updates, and job postings. Keep up with brands important to you and your career.
Trending Content
Discover viral content that is popular among professionals like you right now. Spotlight trends and hot topics.
Export Data
Export millions of profiles to Excel to uncover sales leads and conduct competitive research. Compliant with LinkedIn’s ToS.
| LinkedIn Premium Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Enhanced Profile | Showcase your professional brand and accomplishments |
| Expanded Networking | Connect with more relevant people and organizations |
| Advanced Search | Precisely target your searches to find ideal contacts and opportunities |
| Who’s Viewed You | See who is researching you to expand your network |
| Job Seeker Insights | Gain competitive advantage in your job search process |
| Learning Resources | Develop in-demand skills through expert-led courses |
| Business Insights | Get news and data tailored to your industry and role |
Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It?
Whether LinkedIn Premium offers enough value to justify the cost depends on your individual needs and career objectives. For most professionals, the enhanced networking and profile visibility alone can make the upgrade worthwhile. The added job search features also give you an edge.
However, if you only use LinkedIn sporadically, you may not get enough out of Premium to warrant the price. The free account may suit your purposes. With a Premium account running $29.99-$59.99 per month, it represents a real investment.
But for active LinkedIn users focused on networking, brand-building, recruiting, and career development, the Premium features tend to provide excellent value. This is especially true for anyone who leverages LinkedIn as a core part of their professional toolkit.
Free Trial
If you’re on the fence about upgrading, LinkedIn does offer one free month of Premium access. This allows you to test drive the additional features first-hand before committing. Many users end up getting hooked after experiencing Premium and decide the benefits are worth the monthly fee.
Student Discount
For those currently enrolled in college or university, LinkedIn offers a heavily discounted Premium price. This makes Premium much more affordable if you’re a student focused on networking and job searching.
Premium Business Accounts
For teams and companies, LinkedIn also provides Premium packages for businesses. This includes features like expanded employee profiles, additional analytics about your company page, and recruiting and advertising tools.
The Bottom Line
Here are some key questions to consider when assessing if LinkedIn Premium may be beneficial for your professional needs:
– How actively engaged are you on LinkedIn currently? Do you see it as critical to your professional success?
– Are you looking to network with new contacts, promote your professional brand, and/or search for a job?
– Is investing in your professional development through courses and certifications valuable at this stage?
– Do you want access to customized industry news, data, and insights?
– Are you a student who could take advantage of the discount pricing?
– Is your company already using LinkedIn for recruitment, branding, or lead generation where a Premium business account could optimize your presence?
If you answered yes to several of these questions, LinkedIn Premium may offer compelling benefits well worth the monthly subscription cost. The expanded capabilities can take your career and company impact to the next level.
Conclusion
LinkedIn Premium provides users looking to maximize their professional networking and opportunities on LinkedIn with a robust set of enhanced capabilities and features. With Premium, you can extend your reach, develop valuable skills, and gain insights to help position you for the next step in your career or business. While not right for everyone, for frequent LinkedIn users focused on elevating their professional brand and prospects, Premium delivers ample added value worth the investment for many. Test driving a free month can help inform your decision if the upgrade may be beneficial for amplifying your professional success through the world’s largest online professional network.
