LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that allows users to connect with other professionals, find jobs, promote their business, and more. LinkedIn offers several account types, including a free basic account and paid premium accounts that provide additional features and benefits.
LinkedIn Free vs Premium Accounts
With a free LinkedIn account, you can create a profile, make connections, join groups, follow companies, and search and apply for jobs. However, free accounts have limited functionality compared to premium accounts.
LinkedIn offers three paid subscription options for premium accounts: Career, Business, and Sales Navigator. Each premium account unlocks additional features such as:
- Unlimited profile views
- Advanced search filters
- InMail messages to contact anyone on LinkedIn
- See who’s viewed your profile
- Insights on who’s searching for you
Premium accounts also remove ads and provide other benefits tailored to either boosting your career, promoting your business, or enhancing sales prospects. Prices range from around $30-$100 per month depending on the plan.
Premium Badges and Symbols
LinkedIn uses special badges and symbols next to a user’s name to indicate if they have a premium account. Here are the different premium symbols:
Open Profile Badge
The open profile badge is a small blue icon that looks like a torso with arms outstretched. This indicates the user has a premium Career account and allows anyone to view their full profile without being a direct connection.
Business Plus Badge
The Business Plus badge is a hexagonal shape with a darker blue background and light bulb icon. This symbol means the user has a premium Business account.
Sales Navigator Badge
The Sales Navigator badge is a hexagon with a darker blue background and a person icon. It signifies the user has a Sales Navigator premium account.
Recruiter Badge
The recruiter badge is a hexagon with a lighter blue background and a person-in-square icon. This indicates the user has a Recruiter premium account.
Benefits of Premium Symbols
Having one of the LinkedIn premium badges or symbols next to your name provides several advantages:
- Shows you have a premium, paid account which looks more professional
- Lets people know they can view your full profile without connecting (if Career account)
- Signals you have additional capabilities like sending InMail messages
- Attracts more profile views, connection requests, and messaging
In summary, premium account holders get access to more LinkedIn features plus a special badge to highlight their upgraded status. The symbols help premium users stand out and reinforce they are serious, active networkers on LinkedIn.
Types of Premium Plans
Here is an overview of LinkedIn’s three main premium account options and their key features:
LinkedIn Career Premium
- Open Profile – Let anyone view your full profile
- Profile highlights – Showcase top skills, experiences, etc.
- Premium profile badges – Open Profile, Featured, and other badges
- InMail messages – Contact anyone, even if not connected
- Resume builder – Turn profile into a resume
- Salary insights – See salary ranges for roles
- Interview prep – Get tips and practice for interviews
- Career and job search coaching
LinkedIn Business Premium
- Business profile badges – Business Plus, #OpenToWork, etc.
- Automatic lead capture – Grab contact info from profile views
- Unlimited InMail messages
- Analytics and insights on content and page views
- Post sponsorships – Promote posts in followers’ feeds
- Premium profile management tools
- Expanded search filters – Location, company size, etc.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator Premium
- Lead recommendations – Discover relevant prospects
- Advanced search filters – Seniority, location, keywords, etc.
- TeamLink – Share profiles and accounts with coworkers
- InMail messages
- Reminder alerts for following up
- Sales insights – How you rank vs. competitors
- Profile alerts – Get notified when key contacts update profiles
Plan | Price per Month | Best For |
---|---|---|
Career | $29.99 | Job seekers |
Business | $49.99 | Business owners, entrepreneurs |
Sales Navigator | $79.99 | Sales professionals |
Signing Up for Premium
To upgrade to a premium LinkedIn account, follow these steps:
- Log into your LinkedIn account
- Click on your profile photo and go to Settings & Privacy
- Click on the Get a Premium Career, Business, or Sales upgrade option
- Select the premium plan you want to purchase
- Enter your payment information to activate premium features
You can start with a free one month trial. After the trial ends, your monthly or annual payment plan will automatically renew each billing cycle. Premium access starts immediately after signing up so you can enjoy the benefits right away.
Is Premium Worth It?
Deciding if a paid LinkedIn account is worth the investment depends on your career stage and how you use LinkedIn.
For most job seekers, the Career premium plan can provide a competitive edge during your job search. The open profile, resume builder, interview prep tools, and advanced search filters make finding and landing a new job easier.
Business owners who want to generate leads, traffic, and new business from LinkedIn will get the most value from the Business premium features like lead capture, post sponsorships, and expanded analytics.
Sales professionals who rely on LinkedIn for connecting with prospects and closing deals will see a high return from Sales Navigator premium with its lead recommendations, TeamLink sharing, and profile alerts.
Ultimately, if you actively leverage LinkedIn as an integral part of your career or business strategy, the premium features are likely worth the monthly or annual investment.
Conclusion
LinkedIn premium account holders get special symbols like the open profile, business plus, and sales navigator badges next to their name indicating their upgraded status. These premium symbols can help users stand out, reinforce their professional brand, and unlock additional capabilities to boost their career or business.
The most common LinkedIn premium plans are Career, Business, and Sales Navigator – each designed with specific features tailored for job seekers, entrepreneurs, or sales professionals. For frequent LinkedIn users in these roles, the premium offerings can provide a worthwhile return on investment.