LinkedIn Premium can be worth it for small business owners and marketers, but it depends on your specific needs and goals. Here’s a quick overview:
- Cost: $59.99/month for Premium Business, $99.99/month for Sales Navigator Core
- Key features: InMail messages, advanced search, profile visibility boost, competitor insights
- Best for: Networking, lead generation, sales prospecting, hiring
Is it right for you?
| You should buy if you’re: | You should skip if you’re: |
| Actively networking | A casual LinkedIn user |
| Generating leads | On a tight budget |
| In sales, looking for prospects | Already well-connected |
| Job hunting in a competitive market | Not focused on B2B |
Bottom line: Try LinkedIn’s free Premium trial to see if it helps you reach your business goals. If you’re not using LinkedIn for serious business growth or job hunting, the free version might be enough.
Remember: LinkedIn Premium is a tool. Ultimately its value depends on how effectively you use its features to support your business objectives.
LinkedIn Premium: Is a LinkedIn Subscription Worth it?
LinkedIn Premium Plans and Costs
LinkedIn’s Premium plans are designed for different professional needs. Let’s look at the options and costs to help you decide if they’re worth it for your business or marketing.
Types of Premium Accounts
LinkedIn offers four main Premium accounts:
- Premium Career
- Premium Business
- Sales Navigator
- Recruiter Lite
For small business owners and marketers, Premium Business and Sales Navigator are usually the most useful.
Cost Breakdown
Here’s what you’ll pay for the most relevant plans:
| Plan Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | What You Get |
| Premium Business | $59.99 | $575.88 | 15 InMail credits, unlimited people browsing, business insights |
| Sales Navigator Core | $99.99 | $958.88 | 50 InMail credits, advanced lead and company search |
| Sales Navigator Advanced | $149.99 | $1,300 | More advanced search filters, larger lead lists |
LinkedIn often offers a free month to try Premium subscriptions. It’s a good way to test the features before you buy.
Premium Business vs Sales Navigator: What’s the Difference?
Both can help small businesses and marketers, but they’re designed for different goals:
Premium Business is for networking and general business growth. It’s great if you want to:
- Expand your professional network
- Browse profiles without limits
- Get business insights
Sales Navigator is built for sales pros and lead generation. It offers:
- More advanced search tools for finding prospects
- Lead recommendations
- Real-time updates on accounts
If you’re all about lead generation and sales, Sales Navigator might be your best bet. But if you’re more focused on growing your network and business in general, Premium Business could be the way to go.ee months.
Is It Worth the Money?
Let’s cut to the chase: Is LinkedIn Premium worth it for your small business? It depends on how you use it.
Costs vs Benefits
Here’s what you get with LinkedIn Premium:
| Feature | What It Means for You |
| InMail Messages | Reach out directly to potential clients |
| Advanced Search | Find leads faster |
| Profile Visibility | More eyeballs on your business |
| Business Insights | Spy on your competitors (legally) |
If you’re all about networking and finding new leads, these features could pay off big time.
But if you’re not using LinkedIn to grow your business, stick with the free version.
Monthly or Yearly?
You can pay monthly or yearly. Here’s the breakdown:
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly | You Save |
| Premium Business | $59.99 | $575.88 | $143.88 |
| Sales Navigator Core | $99.99 | $958.88 | $241.00 |
Yearly plans save you cash, but only if you’re in it for the long haul. Not sure? Start monthly.
Is It Working?
To know if Premium is worth it, keep an eye on:
Overwhelmed by Digital Marketing?
Just released: my new book to help small businesses, entrepreneurs, and marketers master digital marketing in today’s digital-first world.
Drawing on my Fractional CMO experience, Digital Threads simplifies complex strategies into clear, actionable steps for success.
Transform your business today—grab your copy! Click the cover or button below to buy on Amazon.
- How many new connections you’re making
- How often people respond to your InMails
- If you’re finding better leads
- How much time you’re saving on research
Pro tip: LinkedIn offers a free month of Premium. Use it. Test everything. See if it’s worth your money.
A Forrester study found that Sales Navigator delivered a 312% ROI over three years for some companies. Your results may vary, but it shows what’s possible if you use these tools right.
Main Premium Features
LinkedIn Premium packs a punch with tools that can boost your networking and business growth. Let’s look at the key features that can make a real difference for small business owners and marketers.
Using InMail Messages
InMail is LinkedIn’s way to reach out to anyone on the platform, even if you’re not connected. Here’s the scoop:
- Premium Business: 15 InMail credits per month
- Sales Navigator: 50 InMail credits
But it’s not just about how many you can send. It’s about making them count. Here’s how:
- Craft a personal subject line (like “Coffee chat? Seeking industry insights”)
- Keep it short and sweet, focusing on value
- Use InMail to follow up on declined connection requests
Better Search Tools
Premium’s advanced search filters are like a GPS for finding the right contacts. You can zero in on:
- Company size
- Job function
- Years of experience
- And more
This laser-focused approach saves time and helps you spot the best leads.
Who Views Your Profile
Ever wonder who’s checking out your LinkedIn profile? Premium gives you the full picture:
| Feature | Free Account | Premium Account |
| Profile view insights | Last 5 viewers | Full list of viewers |
| Insight duration | 90 days | 365 days |
This info is gold for understanding who’s interested in your business and tailoring your outreach.
Checking Out Competitors
Premium lets you peek behind the curtain of other businesses in your field. You can:
- See how you measure up against similar pros
- Spot industry trends
- Find potential partnerships or opportunities
For instance, you might notice a competitor is beefing up their team in a certain area. That could signal a new market focus you should know about.
How to Use Premium Features
LinkedIn Premium packs a punch for small business owners and marketers. Here’s how to squeeze every drop of value from these features:
Growing Your Network
Premium’s advanced search and InMail are your secret weapons for networking:
- Find the right people with advanced filters
- Reach out to anyone with InMail
- Build relationships by engaging with their content
Finding New Customers
Premium helps you spot and connect with potential clients:
| Feature | What It Does |
| InMail | Send 15-50 personalized messages monthly |
| Who’s Viewed Your Profile | Follow up with interested folks |
| Advanced Search | Pinpoint decision-makers |
Pro Tip: Tailor your InMail messages using info from the recipient’s profile. It’s a game-changer for response rates.
Market Research Tips
Use LinkedIn’s data goldmine for market insights:
Get involved in industry groups. Keep tabs on your competitors. Use Sales Navigator to spot company changes and growth trends.
Hiring Better People
Premium can turbocharge your recruitment:
Use advanced search to find candidates with the exact skills you need. Reach out to passive candidates with InMail. Check “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” to spot interested potential hires.
Who Benefits Most?
LinkedIn Premium isn’t for everyone. But for certain businesses, it’s a goldmine. Let’s break it down.
Service Businesses
If you’re selling services, LinkedIn Premium can be your secret weapon:
- Use InMail to bypass gatekeepers and chat directly with decision-makers.
- See who’s checking out your profile and follow up.
- Find your ideal clients with advanced search filters.
B2B Companies
For B2B, LinkedIn Premium is all about finding leads and building partnerships:
| Feature | What It Does for B2B |
| Sales Navigator | Finds potential leads |
| Company Insights | Reveals prospect’s business challenges |
| Extended Network | Lets you reach further into your network |
Marketing Consultants
Marketing pros can use LinkedIn Premium to show off their skills and attract clients:
- Share content to get noticed. Premium users who do this are 4x more likely to get service requests.
- Let anyone message you with Open Profile.
- Stay sharp with LinkedIn Learning’s 22,000+ courses.
Mohit Vishwakarma, a marketing consultant, has a tip: “Check who’s viewed your profile. It’s like seeing who’s interested in you. Then, reach out to them. Be natural and offer value.”
The key? Use LinkedIn Premium strategically. It’s not about having fancy features. It’s about using them to hit your business goals.
Other Options to Consider
Before you jump into LinkedIn Premium, let’s look at some other ways to boost your online presence and networking. These options can work alongside or instead of a LinkedIn Premium subscription.
Making Free LinkedIn Work Better
You can get a lot out of LinkedIn’s free version if you use it right:
- Optimize Your Profile: Use keywords in your headline and summary. This helps people find you.
- Engage Often: Share updates, comment on posts, and join group discussions.
- Write Long-form Content: Use LinkedIn’s publishing platform to show what you know.
- Get Your Team Involved: Ask your employees to share company content. This spreads your reach naturally.
Other Business Networks
LinkedIn is great, but don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Here are some other platforms to consider:
| Platform | What It’s Good For |
| Facebook Groups | Industry talks, B2C networking |
| Twitter Threads | Sharing thoughts, industry news |
| Meetup | In-person networking, building community |
| Expanding into European markets | |
| Slack Communities | Industry-specific networking |
Facebook Groups: These are great for community-driven discussions. Many industries have active Facebook groups where you can share ideas and build relationships.
Twitter Threads: Twitter is perfect for quick insights and joining industry chats. Use hashtags to find relevant conversations.
Meetup: Want to meet people face-to-face? Meetup is your go-to for local, in-person events in your industry or business community.
Xing: If you’re looking to grow in Europe, especially in German-speaking countries, check out Xing. It’s like LinkedIn, but with a European focus.
Slack Communities: Many industries have their own Slack channels. These are great for quick chats, job opportunities, and collaboration with peers.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn Premium is especially valuable for professionals in sales, marketing, and job seeking. Key benefits include:
- InMail Access: Direct outreach to clients, partners, and prospects.
- LinkedIn Learning: Broad professional development across fields.
- Profile Insights: Gauge visibility and outreach effectiveness.
- Unlimited Searches: Find candidates and connections with ease.
- Professional Investment: At $60/month, it provides a networking and job application edge.
Pro Tip: Try LinkedIn’s 30-day free trial to see if Premium meets your needs.
For specific goals, advanced tiers can add value:
- Sales Navigator ($99.99/month): Ideal for lead generation, with some companies seeing a 312% ROI.
- Recruiter Lite ($170/month): Enhanced search and InMail for recruiting top talent.
- Premium Business ($59.99/month): Tools for network growth.
When Free LinkedIn Is Enough
Not using LinkedIn for serious business growth or job hunting? The free version might do the trick. You can still:
- Optimize your profile with keywords
- Engage with your network
- Share content and join group discussions
![How to Write an Epic LinkedIn Summary [with 9 Writing Prompts and 9 Tips]](https://nealschaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/andreas-klassen-gZB-i-dA6ns-unsplash-768x512.jpeg)
I amnon Premium account. Since i am in the process of searching a job, I have to reach out / invite for connecting to multiple people. It says that I have hit my weekly quota and not letting me do anything.
Last week the same problem happened. Thought that Monday will enable but it has given me the same error on the first day of the week..
Please help
You MUST contact LinkedIn Customer Support for help. This website is in no way affiliated or related to LinkedIn. Thank you!
Hello there! Nice work, thanks a lot!
I am wondering, having currently downgraded to FREE, if the algorithm that decides how much/often to show my content to the platform, has downgraded that… I have benefitted from many posts in the past that received thousands of impressions, and now, most of the time, with no obvious change in quality of content, many receive only tens or a few hundred impressions.. What do you think?
Hi Claire, I actually think Creator Mode, more than a paid account, influences impressions in the LinkedIn Newsfeed. Are you on Creator Mode?
Had a LinkedIn account for about two years. In the long run it didn’t seem to assist in job searches and or applications. I closed my page down in August.
Everyone has a different experience and there are many factors which can influence success on the platform…
Same here. Had it for 2 years and I closed the account. It is an absolute waste of time. You have to pay in order to have your profile promoted. Never got a good job offer as a simple member, with this account I was invisible to recruiters.
I am a Family Physician attempting to turn the medical and scientific communities on their head. I have developed a new disease model that explains our current epidemic of obesity and common psychiatric disorders. I frequently reach out to academics and clinicians who might be interested in my ideas. Would Premium be helpful for me?
Hi Dr. Wilson, Premium might help make it easier and quicker to do what you want to do, but you don’t necessarily have to have it to do what you want to do. Let me ask you: Where do you think Premium might help you? If you can’t answer that you probably don’t want to invest in it. Hope this helps!
I am on LinkedIn in and am actively seeking for a job? I have being on LinkedIn with no job yet people are celebrating news positions everytime. Which premium will land me a job?
Premium does not land you a job. A combination of personal branding, showcasing your skills and experience on your profile, networking in your industry, and applying is the solution in my opinion. There are also factors like luck and timing that we cannot control…
Hi,
I have a LinkedIn career and recently I received a notification that I have reached the commercial use limit and that I should upgrade to a premium account. This has totally confused me as I thought career is already a premium account and that I already had an unlimited search permission. Is there anything that linkedIn has changed recently regarding commercial use limits? Thank you!
Can I submit an #openforwork query within a specific industry using Premium, or do I need Recruiter Lite, or is this even possible?
What do you mean by “submit an #openforwork query”? Are you talking about doing a search? Hiring someone? Please clarify so that I can help you. Thanks!
Hi Neal, I’m interested in signing up for LinkedIn Learning but I also see it is a feature of Premium membership. So how is it both different? Do I get access to all courses from Premium membership itself?
LinkedIn Learning is $29.99 a month. LinkedIn Premium is $59.99 a month which includes LinkedIn Learning, Does that make sense now?
Which Linkedin service would you suggest for prospecting?
I would start with the minimum LinkedIn Premium service and start from there.
I recently signed up for Sales Navigator, but I don’t think the extra features are worth it for me, and I want to go back to LI Premium. Do you have any guidance on how to “downgrade” my subscription? I can’t figure it out from the LinkedIn site.
Do I cancel my Sales Navigator account and then re-sign up for LinkedIn Premium? And is it called LinkedIn Premium or LinkedIn Business. I feel that LI has done a lot to confuse the situation in the last few months.
Thanks for any guidance.
Hey Nils, sorry to hear about your poor experience. The premium service is actually referred to both as Premium Business as well as just Business. I am on that plan and I am able to upgrade to Sales Navigator, but perhaps they consider these 2 separate products and therefore won’t allow you to downgrade. You can’t go wrong by cancelling and signing up again – they will always take your money! Hope this advice helps!
Thanks Neal – that’s just what I needed to hear. I will go ahead and “downgrade” myself.
My pleasure!
Thanks for outlining the benefits of LinkedIn Premium. I agree the things you mention are valuable, but at nearly $40 per month it’s still too expensive for an unemployed person with no income. Even at the annual-billing rate, that’s still over $320 a year I’m not sure I can spare. How is someone with no income expected to afford this?!
Thanks for your comment Matthew and I totally understand. I believe it takes a leap of faith: If I can find a job 1 month earlier using LinkedIn Premium, that is one months of salary that I have gained using the product, so paying $40 is very little. That is the mindset you need to have to get potential ROI from using it. Hoping my explanation makes sense!
Thanks for the well written segment. Do you know if sales navigator option includes those features available in premium career membership such as competitive intelligence for job applicants and being a featured applicant?
Hey Edward, thanks for your comment and sorry for the delay! LinkedIn recently rolled the career product into the general Business product, and as of today I can confirm that Sales Navigator contains all of the features that the general Business product has for job seekers. You can confirm this for yourself here: https://premium.linkedin.com/. Hope the info helps!