LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 810 million members worldwide. In recent years, LinkedIn has introduced new features like LinkedIn Stories and LinkedIn Live to enable creators to share content more easily on the platform. This has led many creators to wonder – can you make money creating content on LinkedIn?
Do LinkedIn creators get paid directly by LinkedIn?
Currently, LinkedIn does not have a Partner Program or any way for creators to monetize their content directly on the platform. Unlike YouTube, Instagram or TikTok, LinkedIn does not share ad revenue or provide monetization options for creators posting videos, articles or other content.
There is no way for creators to get paid directly by LinkedIn for the content they produce at this time. LinkedIn does not pay creators for the views, likes, comments or shares their content generates. The platform does not have a tipping or gifting feature that allows followers to pay creators.
Can brands sponsor LinkedIn creators?
Yes, brands can sponsor content created by influencers and thought leaders on LinkedIn. This is becoming an increasingly popular marketing strategy on the platform.
Here are some ways brands collaborate with LinkedIn creators:
- Sponsored LinkedIn posts – Brands can pay creators to publish sponsored posts promoting the brand or its products/services.
- Sponsored content creation – Brands commission creators to produce written posts, videos or other branded assets to be shared on LinkedIn.
- Paid amplification – Brands pay creators to amplify sponsored content through paid LinkedIn ads.
- Affiliate marketing – Creators earn commissions by promoting the brand’s products/services and driving sales.
- Consulting/advising – Brands bring on LinkedIn influencers as consultants or brand advisors.
- Sponsored events/webinars – Brands sponsor creators’ online events on LinkedIn Live and share the costs.
- Paid speaking opportunities – Brands pay creators to speak at company events, conferences, etc.
Through these partnership opportunities, LinkedIn creators can monetize their audience and content even without LinkedIn’s official monetization programs. Many prominent LinkedIn influencers and creators earn substantial income through brand sponsorships.
What monetization features does LinkedIn offer?
While direct creator monetization options are limited, LinkedIn does offer some features that allow businesses and individuals to generate revenue on the platform:
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator – LinkedIn’s premium sales tool allows sales professionals to identify leads and engage with prospects. There are several paid subscription tiers.
- LinkedIn Jobs – Companies can pay to list job openings on LinkedIn and recruit candidates on the platform. Job listings can be boosted for greater visibility.
- LinkedIn Learning – Users can pay for premium online classes taught by industry experts on business, technology and creative topics.
- LinkedIn Marketing Solutions – Businesses can pay to promote content, run ads and analyze performance through LinkedIn’s marketing platform.
- Premium subscriptions – LinkedIn offers several paid subscription tiers for individuals that offer additional features.
While individuals can’t earn money directly from content creation yet, LinkedIn does offer paid products that enable businesses and professionals to monetize their presence on the platform in different ways.
Do LinkedIn creators make money from brand deals?
Yes, many LinkedIn creators are able to monetize their audience and content by partnering with brands for sponsored content and promotions. Some of the most common paid partnership opportunities include:
- Creating and promoting sponsored posts for brands.
- Producing branded video and written content.
- Promoting brands through LinkedIn Live videos.
- Sharing affiliate links and promo codes.
- Advising brands as a consultant or influencer.
- Speaking at corporate events and conferences.
- Collaborating on webinars and virtual events.
- Promoting content through paid LinkedIn ads.
The exact fees and terms for branded collaborations vary depending on the creator’s niche, audience size, rates, and type of partnership. Some LinkedIn influencers charge brands thousand of dollars for a single sponsored post or branded content partnership.
For many prolific LinkedIn creators, brand sponsorships make up a significant portion of their income related to content creation on the platform.
What other ways can LinkedIn creators earn money?
In addition to paid brand partnerships, LinkedIn creators have other options to monetize their audience and content, such as:
- Offering consulting, coaching and other professional services.
- Upselling audiences on high-ticket courses, programs or memberships.
- Publishing and selling books.
- Gated content with paid access.
- Affiliate marketing through other channels like blogs or YouTube.
- Paid speaking engagements and guest appearances.
- Crowdfunding through Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee, etc.
The most lucrative LinkedIn creators utilize a diverse income stream that isn’t limited only to the LinkedIn platform. Combining brand sponsorships with other monetization strategies allows top creators to earn a full-time living from their LinkedIn audience.
Do LinkedIn creators need a lot of followers to earn money?
Having a sizable following certainly helps, but it’s not strictly necessary to earn money as a LinkedIn creator. Some creators with relatively modest followings still earn healthy incomes from their content through quality brand partnerships.
More important than a huge follower count is:
- Creating high-quality, engaging content consistently.
- Establishing yourself as an expert in your niche.
- Building relationships and trust with your target audience.
- Understanding your audience insights and demographics.
- Effectively communicating your value proposition to brands.
While having hundreds of thousands of engaged followers makes monetization easier, it’s possible to earn thousands from brand deals even with followings under 50,000 or 100,000.
Tips for earning money as a LinkedIn creator
Here are some best practices for creators looking to monetize their LinkedIn audience:
- Consistently create high-quality, valuable content.
- Engage with your audience and build community.
- Understand your audience demographics and interests.
- Establish clear branding and positioning.
- Partner selectively with brands that are a natural fit.
- Diversify your income streams beyond branded content.
- Promote your partnerships through multiple channels.
- Provide reporting and analytics to demonstrate your value.
- Negotiate fair compensation aligned to your audience value.
LinkedIn creator monetization options compared to other platforms
LinkedIn currently offers far fewer direct creator monetization features compared to other major social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook:
Platform | Revenue Share | Native Tipping | Subscriptions | Merch | Affiliate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
YouTube | Yes | Yes (SuperChat) | Yes (Channel Memberships) | Yes | Yes |
Yes | Yes | No | Yes (Shops) | Yes | |
TikTok | Yes | Yes (Tips) | No | No | No |
Yes | Yes (Stars) | Yes | No | No | |
No | No | No | No | No |
LinkedIn has monetization features for businesses but has not yet rolled out direct earnings options for independent creators. This may change in the future as LinkedIn continues expanding its creator-focused offerings.
The future outlook for LinkedIn creator monetization
While LinkedIn currently lacks direct monetization, there are signs creator earnings opportunities will expand in the future:
- LinkedIn is investing heavily in creator-focused features like Stories, newsletters, and Live video.
- They are embracing influencer marketing more through programs like #LinkedInTopVoices.
- Public figures and creators are joining LinkedIn in greater numbers.
- LinkedIn is continuously rolling out new features at a faster pace.
- Executives have hinted at exploring creator monetization.
It seems unlikely LinkedIn will remain completely closed off to creator monetization long-term, given the trends on other social platforms. As LinkedIn continues evolving into a more creator-centric platform, new earnings opportunities will likely emerge for content producers. Serious LinkedIn creators should keep a close eye on new feature announcements.
Conclusion
Currently, there is no way for creators to earn money directly from LinkedIn through content monetization features. However, sponsored brand partnerships offer a lucrative path for creators to monetize their audience. As LinkedIn continues to court creators, direct monetization features may be on the horizon. For now, brand sponsorships present the clearest path to earn income as a creator on the platform.