As a small business owner, you’re always on the lookout for ways to expand your network, connect with potential clients, and grow your business. One platform that has steadily proven itself as a powerful tool for professional networking is LinkedIn. With over 930 million members globally, LinkedIn has become more than just a platform for job seekers and recruiters—it’s a hub for businesses to market their services, connect with key decision-makers, and showcase expertise.
However, as a small business owner with limited resources, you might wonder: is LinkedIn Premium truly worth the investment? With different pricing tiers and extra features, LinkedIn Premium can offer much more than the free version of this classic social media platform. In this blog, we’ll break down what LinkedIn Premium offers, the benefits for small business owners, and whether it’s worth adding to your toolkit.
What is LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn Premium is a subscription service that provides access to additional tools and features not available in LinkedIn’s free version. It comes in four different plans: Premium Career, Premium Business, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter Lite. Each plan is designed to meet specific professional needs.
For small business owners, the Premium Business and Sales Navigator options are usually the most relevant. These versions offer advanced features like enhanced search filters, additional insights into company profiles, and the ability to send more InMail messages to connect with people outside of your network.
Key Benefits of LinkedIn Premium for Small Business Owners
1. InMail Messages: Reaching Beyond Your Network
With the free LinkedIn account, you can only message people you're already connected to. However, with LinkedIn Premium, particularly the Business and Sales Navigator plans, you can send InMail messages to users you’re not connected with. This allows you to reach potential clients, collaborators, or even investors without needing a direct connection.
As a small business owner, networking is crucial. InMail opens the door to opportunities that would otherwise be hard to access, such as connecting with industry leaders or decision-makers who can influence the success of your business.
2. Advanced Search and Filters
LinkedIn Premium offers an Advanced Search tool with additional filters that can help you narrow down your search for leads or potential collaborators. You can search by company size, seniority level, job function, and other specifics, making it easier to find the right people to reach out to.
This benefit can save you a significant amount of time when prospecting, allowing you to focus on quality leads that align with your business goals. Whether you're searching for new clients, partnerships, or employees, this feature streamlines the process.
3. See Who’s Viewed Your Profile
One of the more enticing features of LinkedIn Premium is the ability to see a complete list of who has viewed your profile over the past 90 days. While free users can only see a limited number of profile views, Premium subscribers can use this data to identify leads and potential clients who may be interested in their services.
Knowing who’s viewing your profile can help you spot potential leads and opportunities for follow-ups. If someone from a target company checks your profile, for example, you can reach out with a personalized message, increasing your chances of building a relationship.
4. Detailed Business Insights
LinkedIn Premium users have access to expanded insights into company pages, including employee growth trends, hiring patterns, and engagement data. These insights can be valuable for competitive analysis and market research, giving you a clearer understanding of what’s happening within your industry.
These insights can inform your marketing and outreach strategies. Understanding how your competitors are growing or identifying hiring trends can help you make smarter business decisions, from when to launch a new product to how to structure your hiring plan.
5. Learning Resources
LinkedIn Premium also provides access to LinkedIn Learning, an online learning platform that offers courses in areas such as leadership, marketing, finance, and business strategy. As a small business owner, staying up-to-date on best practices and emerging trends can help keep your business competitive.
Continuous learning is essential for long-term success, and LinkedIn Learning offers access to thousands of courses that can help you develop your skills or train your employees. Whether you're looking to master digital marketing or improve your leadership abilities, these courses provide a convenient way to enhance your expertise.
So… Should You Invest in LinkedIn Premium?
Now that you understand the benefits, the key question remains: is LinkedIn Premium worth the cost for small business owners? Here are a few considerations to help you decide:
Are You Actively Networking?
If your business model relies on building connections, whether it’s for lead generation, partnership building, or talent acquisition, LinkedIn Premium’s networking features can be extremely beneficial. The ability to send InMail messages and access advanced search tools allows you to connect with decision-makers who can help propel your business forward.
Do You Need Targeted Lead Generation?
Sales Navigator’s advanced tools for targeting prospects can be a game-changer if you're actively engaged in B2B sales. It allows you to find and connect with your ideal clients more easily, streamlining the process of lead generation.
Do You Use LinkedIn Regularly?
LinkedIn Premium is most valuable if you’re an active user. If you only check your LinkedIn account occasionally or don’t use it as a primary business tool, you might not get the full return on investment. On the other hand, if LinkedIn is a critical part of your marketing, networking, or recruiting strategy, Premium could help you get better results.
Are You Looking for Competitive Insights?
The business insights and company data provided by LinkedIn Premium can be invaluable for market research. If you're keen on staying ahead of competitors or understanding the landscape of your industry better, this feature could provide a significant advantage.
The answer to whether LinkedIn Premium is worth it for small business owners depends on how you plan to use it. For businesses that rely heavily on networking, lead generation, and staying competitive in a crowded marketplace, the features offered by Premium or Sales Navigator can provide a significant return on investment.
With the ability to connect with key decision-makers, access more detailed insights, and make the most of LinkedIn’s advanced tools, LinkedIn Premium can certainly be worth it if you use the platform strategically. However, if you're only a casual LinkedIn user, you might not reap the same benefits.
If you're still on the fence, consider taking advantage of LinkedIn’s free trial for Premium to test out the features and see how it works for your business. You can explore the tools and decide if it's the right fit for your goals.
Ready to grow YOUR business network with access to this generation's most advanced tech tools and social media platforms? Our award-winning digital marketing team at Fable Heart Media can help. We proudly offer complimentary consultations, so you can get some answers to your biggest burning marketing and advertising questions, as well as some local expertise on how to reach your leads and customers where they spend the most time. The road map to stellar ROI is available right here, it’s simply up to you to hop in your vehicle and make the drive.
Our blog page offers countless more insights on how to make the most out of your social presence as a small-to-medium sized business–don’t forget to stop by on your way out!
