LinkedIn Premium: To pay or not to pay
The author is a frequent LinkedIn user and, like many others, has often considered upgrading to the Premium version. After conducting a thorough comparison, he’s here to share his insights
Given the demands of my job, I rely on LinkedIn more often than Facebook or Instagram. After a decade of using LinkedIn, I have often considered upgrading to the Premium version.
The question is, "Is LinkedIn Premium worth it?" The answer, like many things in life, depends on your individual circumstances and needs. Let's examine the costs and benefits to make an informed decision.
For most professionals, the cost doesn't offer enough value to justify paying for it. Many of its features can be replicated or even outdone by free alternatives
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LinkedIn Premium offers different tiers tailored to various professional needs: job seekers, recruiters, and salespeople. The price ranges from Tk2,000 (smart job search) to well over Tk14,000 (finding qualified candidates) per month, depending on the selected plan. This substantial cost often raises the immediate question: Is there a way to access LinkedIn Premium for free?
Yes, there are ways to get LinkedIn Premium without paying. Students who subscribe to Amazon Prime Student are eligible for six months of free LinkedIn Premium. Additionally, new LinkedIn Premium users can avail themselves of a 30-day free trial. These options provide a risk-free way to explore the premium features.
Probably not a good idea
The value of LinkedIn Premium depends heavily on how much you pay and what you use it for. However, for most users who are not getting it for free, the prevailing opinion from industry insiders is that LinkedIn Premium often doesn't justify the cost. Here's why it may not be worth the expense:
Personalised messaging without premium: One of LinkedIn Premium's main features is sending InMails to people outside your network. However, you can do something similar for free. By clicking "Connect" and adding a personal message, you can reach out to anyone without paying for InMails.
InMails are not guaranteed to be seen: Despite the impression that InMails are more likely to be read, there is no guarantee. Many LinkedIn users are not highly active, meaning your InMail could go unnoticed. Conversely, most professionals check their work emails frequently.
Search and profile view limitations: Heavy LinkedIn users might find themselves hitting a limit on searches and profile views. LinkedIn Premium removes these limits, but there are workarounds: i) Create a secondary LinkedIn profile to extend your search and view capabilities. ii) Use Google to search LinkedIn profiles by entering search terms such as site:linkedin.com "job title" location. iii) Utilise the 30-day free trial strategically during periods of intense job searching.
The misleading premium statistics: LinkedIn claims that job seekers with LinkedIn Premium are twice as likely to be hired within 30 days. However, this statistic can be misleading. Since LinkedIn earns more from recruiters than job seekers, there's little reason for them to favour Premium subscribers in search results. Instead, this figure might reflect the urgency of those paying for Premium to land a job quickly, rather than any real advantage offered by the service itself.
However, for most professionals, the cost doesn't offer enough value to justify paying for it, as many of its features can be replicated or even outdone by free alternatives.
While LinkedIn Premium offers enhanced features, they are often not necessary for effective networking, job searching, or recruiting. Free tools and strategic use of LinkedIn's existing functionalities can provide similar benefits without the hefty price tag. Therefore, unless you can access LinkedIn Premium for free, it may be wiser to save your money and explore other options that deliver the same results at no cost.
