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 LinkedIn Premium: What Is It? Is It Worth It for Freelancers?
Santiago Sanchez

Santiago Sanchez

8/1/2024

LinkedIn has established itself as a leading social network for networking and career growth. But its benefits go far beyond with the addition of LinkedIn Premium, which is designed for various needs.

The question is, is LinkedIn Premium a worthwhile investment for freelancers? That's what you'll find out today.

In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at whether LinkedIn Premium is worth it, exploring what it is, how it works, its features, and advantages. This will give you an idea of how you can enhance your freelance career.

LinkedIn Premium for Freelancers: Is It Really Worth It?

LinkedIn Premium: What Is It and How Does It Work?

LinkedIn Premium is a paid version of the LinkedIn social network, offering advanced features that are not available in the free account. These features are aimed at businesses and professionals looking to optimize their career or improve their processes.

This way, they can make the most of their experience on the platform.

How Does It Work?

LinkedIn Premium offers four plans:

1. LinkedIn Premium Career

2. LinkedIn Premium Business

3. LinkedIn Sales Navigator Core

4. LinkedIn Recruiter Lite

Therefore, you need to subscribe to one of them, keeping in mind the goal you want to achieve. Once you do, the social network gives you access to the advanced features or tools corresponding to the selected plan.

The functions range from advanced search tools to access to LinkedIn's extensive course library.

This is one of the reasons why LinkedIn Premium is considered worthwhile, but let's take a closer look at its benefits.

Advantages of LinkedIn Premium

Freelance professionals have the opportunity to use LinkedIn to find jobs. But with the Premium subscription, they can maximize their presence and effectiveness on the platform.

LinkedIn Premium Benefits:

Access to InMail Messages  

You can send direct messages to people outside your LinkedIn network. This facilitates communication with potential clients or employers, giving you more opportunities to create valuable connections.

The number of available InMails per month varies by LinkedIn Premium plan:

  • LinkedIn Premium Career: 5 InMails per month

  • LinkedIn Premium Business: 15 InMails per month

  • Recruiter Lite: 30 InMails per month

  • Sales Navigator Core: 50 InMails per month

The higher the subscription value, the more InMails you will get. Of course, each plan favours a different type of target, keep this in mind.

Profile visibility and analysis

You will get detailed information on who has visited your profile. This can give you insights into interest in your profile, which will help you identify potential opportunities.

This is a benefit that applies to any plan, but with varying viewing periods.

That is, in the Premium Career, Business and Sales Navigator Core, information about who has viewed your profile is available 365 days a year. Whereas for the Recruiter Lite membership, it's the last 90 days.

Advanced Search Tools  

By subscribing to Recruiter Lite or Sales Navigator Core, you have the ability to use detailed filters to find people, companies, or specific jobs. This speeds up the search process and ensures it is more efficient.

LinkedIn Learning  

Your access to the extensive library of online courses will be unlimited on any of the plans. 

This benefit covers a wide range of skills and topics of the highest quality. From personal development to technical and business skills.

With LinkedIn Learning you can learn how to get a job, optimise sales, make better hires and much more.

With all these advantages, don't you think LinkedIn Premium is worth it? Of course it is.

Apart from learning, you have great opportunities to grow as a freelancer in this social network of professionals.

LinkedIn Premium: An Option for Every Need

The four versions of LinkedIn Premium are designed to cater to different professional needs. Therefore, each offers specific features to help maximize effectiveness on the platform.

LinkedIn Premium Plans

Purpose

Price (USD/month)

LinkedIn Premium Career

For those seeking a job and wanting to stand out to recruiters.

$29.99

LinkedIn Premium Business

Ideal for those looking to expand their network and optimize their personal brand.

$59.99

LinkedIn Sales Navigator Core

Designed for sales professionals who need to generate and follow leads.

$99.99

LinkedIn Recruiter Lite

For recruiters and HR experts to find candidates for specific positions.

$180

Prices are subject to change.

Is LinkedIn Premium Career Worth It for Job Hunting?

Yes, LinkedIn Premium Career is worth it for job hunting, much like using Upwork for finding freelance work. The plan features can help you land job opportunities faster, giving you a competitive edge over other professionals.

In addition to the benefits mentioned earlier, with this version, you can:

Stand Out with "Featured Applicant"  

This tool ensures your application is shown above other candidates, increasing your chances of being seen and considered by employers.

Compare Your Profile with Others  

It offers information about other applicants to evaluate your skills and experience against those applying for the same jobs. This will help you identify areas for improvement and adjust your profile to stand out better.

Get Salary Information  

In addition to using LinkedIn Premium to search for jobs, the Career plan offers the possibility to filter searches by salary.

Job offers on the social network usually include salary ranges, but with LinkedIn Premium Career, you have more detailed access to this data. This provides a more accurate overview and helps you to adjust your expectations.

That's why it's worthwhile for freelancers. Also, if you look at LinkedIn Premium Career pricing, you'll see that it's the cheapest.

Differences Between LinkedIn Premium and LinkedIn Free

LinkedIn offers two service levels, free and paid, resulting in several differences between them.

LinkedIn Free vs. LinkedIn Premium Comparison Chart:

Feature

LinkedIn Free

LinkedIn Premium

LinkedIn Learning

Not available

Unlimited access to over 21,000 courses.

Connections and Messages

Limited to direct connections

Direct messages to people inside and outside your network.

Who Viewed Your Profile Information

Up to the last 5 viewers

All viewers in the last 90 or 365 days.

Information About Applicants

Not available

Detailed comparison with other candidates

Professional Development

Basic, no advanced tools

Advanced tools to enhance your profile.

Job Search and Results

Limited

Unlimited search with advanced filters.

Price

Free

Starting at 29.99 USD/month, with a one-month free trial.

LinkedIn Free provides basic tools for establishing connections and job searching. LinkedIn Premium, on the other hand, offers features capable of enhancing your visibility and professional opportunities.

It’s similar to comparing platforms like Upwork vs. Fiverr, as it all depends on what you want to achieve from the platform.

Expert Tips for LinkedIn Premium Accounts

Some experts suggest that the free version is suitable for most users for standard use. However, they recommend LinkedIn Premium for roles that demand a high level of networking, such as sales and human resources.

They also agree that it is crucial to learn how to use the free account effectively before investing in a Premium plan.

For instance, Keith Grover advises starting with the free account to understand its functionalities and develop strategies. He also suggests investing in training to maximize its use and considering LinkedIn Premium only when you reach its limits and see a clear return on investment (ROI).

Meanwhile, Donna Serdula states that the choice between the two accounts depends on your budget and goals. If you're looking for clients, candidates, or building your credibility, LinkedIn Premium is worth it. If you're just browsing out of curiosity, the free option will suffice.

Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It for Freelancers?

For all the benefits it offers, LinkedIn Premium is definitely worth it. Whether you want to expand your network, find new job opportunities, or stand out to potential clients, these benefits can be very useful depending on your professional goals.

In any case, DolarApp helps you manage your finances efficiently. You can take advantage of favorable exchange rates to pay for your LinkedIn Premium subscription in dollars without incurring high conversion costs.

Additionally, it is an excellent option for receiving or transferring money to international clients. So, regardless of your decision, DolarApp is a perfect ally.

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