Yes, you can charge for LinkedIn events, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind. LinkedIn provides users with the ability to create and manage events through the LinkedIn Events feature. While LinkedIn Events are free to create, organizers have the option to charge attendees a fee to register for their events.
What types of LinkedIn events can you charge for?
You can charge fees for any type of LinkedIn event, including:
- Webinars
- Online courses or workshops
- Virtual conferences or summits
- Networking events
- Fundraisers
Essentially, if you are hosting an event that delivers value to attendees, it is reasonable to charge a fee for participation. This gives you the ability to earn revenue while offsetting the costs of hosting and marketing your event.
How do you charge for LinkedIn events?
To charge attendees for a LinkedIn event, you need to integrate a third-party payment processing solution. LinkedIn does not have built-in payment capabilities for Events. Here are some options for processing payments:
- PayPal – Allows you to create a payment button or invoice to integrate into your event page
- Eventbrite – Lets you create paid events and manage ticketing and registration
- Stripe – Online payment processing platform with APIs and integrations for accepting payments
You will need to direct attendees off the LinkedIn platform to actually complete their payment through one of these providers. Be sure the solution you choose offers the features you need for your specific event type and audience.
Best practices for paid LinkedIn events
To maximize the success of a paid LinkedIn event, keep these best practices in mind:
- Set clear expectations – Let attendees know exactly what they will receive for their registration fee in the event description.
- Price accordingly – Consider your costs, audience, and the event format when pricing. Compare to similar events.
- Promote the value – Emphasize what makes your event worth paying for in all promotional messaging.
- Provide engagement options – Give attendees opportunities to actively participate and interact during the event.
- Deliver high-quality content – Ensure the information, resources, or activities you provide bring real value to attendees.
- Limit free spots – Only offer free spots selectively to key partners, sponsors, or affiliates to avoid devaluing your event.
Benefits of paid LinkedIn events
Charging for LinkedIn events can provide a number of advantages, such as:
- Revenue generation – Paid events allow you to earn money directly from registrations/ticket sales.
- Improved turnout – Attendees are more likely to show up when they have paid to register.
- Higher engagement – People who have invested in an event tend to be more actively involved and attentive.
- Valuable leads – Registrants provide their contact and payment details, giving you qualified leads.
- Production value – Revenue enables you to invest in high-quality logistics, content, speakers, and technology.
Overall, charging a reasonable fee for your LinkedIn event can significantly increase its perceived value while generating financial returns.
Risks and drawbacks
There are also some potential downsides to be aware of with paid LinkedIn events:
- Need to build an audience first – It may be hard to get registrations until you have established followers.
- Administrative work – Processing registration, payment, etc. requires more time and effort.
- Higher stakes – Attendees will have greater expectations for a paid event.
- Less organic reach – LinkedIn’s algorithms favor free events for visibility.
- Lower registration – Some people will be deterred from registering by a fee.
You can mitigate these risks by setting reasonable prices, providing real value, and promoting your events effectively. Also be sure you have the resources in place to deliver on what you promise attendees.
LinkedIn’s payment policies
If you do charge for LinkedIn events, be sure to comply with LinkedIn’s payment policies:
- All fees must be collected off platform – LinkedIn does not process payments.
- Don’t use LinkedIn member information for external payment purposes without consent.
- Abide by LinkedIn’s user agreement and other policies around payments and events.
- Ensure transparency by clearly listing fees in the event page and description.
Violating LinkedIn’s rules around payments could potentially result in being prohibited from creating future events, so be sure to inform yourself and remain compliant.
Alternatives to paid LinkedIn events
If you want to host events on LinkedIn but aren’t ready to charge registration fees, some alternatives include:
- Free events supported by sponsorships
- Freemium model with premium add-ons or upgrades
- Bundling events into paid subscriptions or memberships
- Invite-only exclusive events
- Donation-based events supporting causes
There are lots of creative options to deliver value through your LinkedIn events while also generating revenue. Over time, you may want to experiment with different models to see what resonates best with your audience and goals.
Conclusion
Charging attendees for LinkedIn events opens up significant monetization opportunities. However, you need to have a clear strategy and execution plan in place to make paid events successful. Consider the audience appetite, pricing, event format, promotion tactics, and logistical requirements. If done thoughtfully, paid LinkedIn events can be a highly effective way to engage your professional network while also earning money.