LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that unlocks additional features beyond the free version, such as expanded search filters, unlimited InMail messages, and premium insights about who’s viewed your profile. One way to get LinkedIn Premium for a discount is through a referral from a current Premium subscriber.
What is LinkedIn Premium and what are the benefits?
LinkedIn Premium provides access to features that go beyond the free version of LinkedIn. Here are some of the key benefits of LinkedIn Premium:
- Search filters – Narrow your searches by location, company size, seniority level, and more.
- InMail messages – Send unlimited messages directly to anyone, even if you’re not connected.
- Profile views – See full details on who has viewed your profile.
- Learning courses – Access over 16,000 expert-led video courses.
- Salary insights – View estimated salary ranges for specific job titles.
- Interview preparation – Get tips and practice for upcoming interviews.
- Premium badges – Display badges on your profile to showcase your skills and expertise.
Having access to these features can help you conduct more effective job searches, build your professional brand, network smarter, stay up-to-date on skills, and get actionable insights to advance your career.
How much does LinkedIn Premium cost?
Here are the current monthly and annual subscription costs for LinkedIn Premium plans:
Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price |
---|---|---|
Premium Career | $29.99 | $239.88 (saves $60/year) |
Premium Business | $44.99 | $359.88 (saves $90/year) |
Premium Sales | $64.99 | $539.88 (saves $130/year) |
As you can see, the annual subscription offers considerable savings compared to paying month-to-month. Premium Career is the basic paid plan, while Premium Business unlocks additional features like Company Pages and Lead Builder, and Premium Sales provides sales-specific tools.
How do LinkedIn Premium referrals work?
LinkedIn allows Premium subscribers to send referral invites to connections. When the invitee signs up for a paid Premium account, both the referrer and the new subscriber get one month of Premium access for free.
The steps for the referral process are:
- A current Premium member sends a referral invite from their account dashboard.
- The invite recipient receives an email with a link to activate the free month of Premium.
- The recipient clicks the link and signs up for any paid Premium plan.
- Both the existing Premium member and the new subscriber get 1 month added for free.
Referrals can only be sent to 1st-degree connections on LinkedIn. If the recipient is already a paying Premium subscriber, they are ineligible to be referred. The free month is applied after any current subscription period ends. Each Premium account can only claim a maximum of 12 free referral months per year.
How do I find people to refer?
Here are some tips for finding connections who are good candidates to refer for Premium:
- Look for those who are actively job searching or open to new roles.
- Target connections who frequently engage with your content and posts.
- Consider connections who have recently changed jobs or companies.
- Look for high-potential individuals early in their careers.
- Focus on contacts interested in building their brands.
- Check out who has viewed your profile recently.
A customized Premium invitation highlighting the most relevant benefits is more likely to get accepted. Personalize the message to explain how Premium can help them achieve their professional goals based on what you know about their interests and focus.
What’s the benefit of referring Premium?
There are a few advantages to referring connections to LinkedIn Premium:
- Free month for you – Each successful referral earns you a free month of Premium access.
- Help your network – You’re sharing a valuable career tool with your connections.
- Strengthen relationships – It shows you want to proactively help others succeed.
- Grow your reach – Your connections will gain access to Premium features to better engage with your content and brand.
With the free month incentive, the referral program enables you to regularly refresh your Premium membership. And being known as a valuable referral source strengthens your professional relationships and presence.
How do I ask for a LinkedIn Premium referral?
If you want to get referred for Premium, you have a few options to request a referral:
Direct outreach
The most straightforward approach is to directly ask your connections who are current Premium subscribers if they would be willing to send you a referral link. Make sure to call out why you’re interested in Premium’s benefits and how they could help you in your career.
For example:
Hi [name], I hope your week is going well! I wanted to ask if you would be open to referring me for a free month of LinkedIn Premium through your account? I’m interested in unlocking Premium features like viewing profile visitors and sending InMail messages as I’m exploring some new career options. Let me know if you’d be willing to send me a referral link – I’d really appreciate it!
Post in relevant LinkedIn Groups
Some LinkedIn Groups related to careers and professional networking can be appropriate places to politely ask if any Premium members would be willing to refer you. Just make sure the group’s rules allow referral requests before posting.
Share a status update
Posting a status on your LinkedIn profile highlighting that you’re looking for Premium referrals is another option. This surfaces your request to your overall network. Just keep the ask polite and focused on the value rather than asking for freebies.
For example:
I’m interested in upgrading to LinkedIn Premium for networking insights and access to online courses. If any of my connections are current Premium subscribers and would be open to referring me for the free month promo, I’d greatly appreciate you sending me a referral link! Please let me know.
Comment on relevant posts
When connectors share LinkedIn posts about Premium or their career insights, politely commenting that you’d welcome a referral invite can work. Just make sure your ask is quick and relevant rather than seeming overly opportunistic.
The key is to make your referral request direct but polite. Share why you’re interested in Premium and how it can help you achieve specific career or business goals. With some personalized outreach, you may be able to secure a Premium referral link from your professional network.
Conclusion
Getting a LinkedIn Premium referral link enables you to unlock Premium’s career-advancing features for a free month. With search filters, Interview Prep, InMail messages, and more, Premium can provide valuable insights to help you meet your professional goals. The referral program incentivizes Premium subscribers to share the service with connections for mutual benefit. Politely reaching out via direct messages, posts, or comments is the best way to request a referral from your network. With some personalized outreach emphasizing the value to you, you may be able to secure a free month of LinkedIn Premium access through the referral program.