LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform with over 850 million members worldwide. As such, it has become an invaluable tool for recruiters and human resource professionals to find and connect with qualified candidates.
One of the main ways recruiters use LinkedIn is by posting job ads on the platform. But how much does it actually cost to post a job on LinkedIn and get applicants to click on it? In this article, we’ll break down the LinkedIn job posting pricing model and the factors that impact cost per click.
LinkedIn Recruiter Job Posting Plans
LinkedIn offers three main paid plans for posting jobs:
- Recruiter Lite
- Recruiter Professional
- Recruiter Corporate
Each plan gives you a monthly allowance of job post credits that can be used to post and repost job listings. Here is an overview of the credit allowances:
Plan | Monthly Credits |
---|---|
Recruiter Lite | 25 credits |
Recruiter Professional | 175 credits |
Recruiter Corporate | 525 credits |
The credits allow you to post jobs and refresh them regularly to keep them active. Each initial job posting costs 1 credit. Refreshing or reposting a job costs 0.5 credits.
In addition to credits, the plans give you access to other LinkedIn Recruiter features like InMail messages, candidate search filters, analytics, etc. But the credits are what allow you to actively post job listings.
Cost Per Credit
The cost per credit depends on which LinkedIn Recruiter plan you choose. Here are the current credit costs for annual contracts:
Plan | Cost Per Month | Included Credits | Cost Per Credit |
---|---|---|---|
Recruiter Lite | $249/month | 25 credits | $9.96 per credit |
Recruiter Professional | $1749/month | 175 credits | $9.99 per credit |
Recruiter Corporate | $5799/month | 525 credits | $11.04 per credit |
As you can see, the Recruiter Lite plan provides the lowest cost per credit at $9.96. The Recruiter Corporate plan has the highest at $11.04 per credit.
For most small and midsize companies, the Recruiter Professional plan provides the best balance of cost and credits. At $9.99 per credit, it is affordable while still providing enough credits for active recruiting.
Factors Impacting Cost Per Click
While the base cost per credit gives you a starting point, your actual cost per click for a LinkedIn job post depends on several factors:
1. Job Post Optimization
Optimizing your job post with relevant keywords and an engaging, well-written description can draw more qualified applicants and increase clicks. Poorly optimized posts get lower engagement.
2. Job Title and Industry
Certain job titles and specialties tend to get more attention and response than others on LinkedIn. For example, tech jobs or leadership roles tend to attract lots of interest vs. more common titles.
3. Location
Jobs based in top metro areas and business hubs usually get more visibility and response than rural or remote positions.
4. Company Branding
Well-known companies and brands tend to attract more interest than obscure or unknown companies when posting jobs.
5. LinkedIn Audience Targeting
Using Recruiter to target and send your post to specific LinkedIn audience segments can improve visibility to the right people.
6. Application Process
Having an easy and streamlined apply process versus lengthy applications can impact application completion rates.
Average LinkedIn Job Post Cost Per Click
While your cost will vary based on the above factors, the average cost per click for a LinkedIn job post is estimated between $1 – $3.
This is based on typical Recruiter Professional plan costs and moderate job post optimization for an average company.
For top-tier companies posting very appealing roles, the cost per click can be at the lower end around $1. For obscure companies with very niche roles, cost per click may be at the higher end closer to $3.
Benchmark Ranges:
Company Type | Cost Per Click |
---|---|
Top-Tier Company | $1.00 – $1.25 |
Average Company | $1.50 – $2.00 |
Obscure Company | $2.25 – $3.00 |
No matter your specific cost per click, the key is optimizing your LinkedIn job post content and targeting to drive qualified candidate response and completed applications.
Tips to Reduce LinkedIn Job Post Cost Per Click
Here are some tips to help reduce your LinkedIn cost per click and get more bang for your buck:
1. Research and Leverage Keyword Optimization
Take time researching keywords job seekers use to find roles like yours. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your job post title, description and requirements.
2. Showcase Company Culture
Highlighting your employer brand, work environment and culture helps attract candidates who are a good cultural fit.
3. Quick Apply Integration
Enabling quick apply with your LinkedIn post reduces application friction and increases conversion rates.
4. Target Relevant Audiences
Leverage LinkedIn’s extensive profile data to target your post to audiences by skill, education, experience and other filters.
5. Refresh Post Regularly
Refreshing your post regularly pushes it higher in the LinkedIn feed and keeps it from going stale.
Conclusion
Posting jobs on LinkedIn is a highly effective way to connect with qualified, passive candidates open to new roles. While LinkedIn job posting does come at a cost, the investment often pays dividends in quality applicants compared to other channels.
With optimized targeting and compelling content, you can achieve a competitive cost per click of $1 – $3 to source relevant applicants on LinkedIn. Tracking response metrics and fine tuning over time further improves performance and ROI.