As a small business owner and entrepreneurship consultant, I often get asked about whether LinkedIn Premium is worth the investment.
While Premium unlocks helpful features, the costs can add up, especially for bootstrapped entrepreneurs and solopreneurs. If you find yourself not using Premium enough to justify the price, canceling is quick and straightforward.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide tips from my experience helping small businesses maximize LinkedIn along with actionable steps for canceling Premium.
A Deep Dive Into LinkedIn Premium
First, let‘s take a closer look at what exactly LinkedIn Premium offers and typical pricing plans:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Career | $29.99 | $239.88 | InMail Credits, Profile Insights, Advanced Search |
| Premium Business | $59.99 | $479.88 | InMail Credits, Profile Insights, Advanced Search, Company Brand Statistics |
| Premium Sales | $64.99 | $519.88 | InMail Credits, Profile Insights, Advanced Search, Lead and Company Insights |
According to LinkedIn‘s self-reported numbers, over 10 million members pay for Premium subscriptions. However, third-party data suggests only around 7% of users opt for Premium plans.
This indicates many LinkedIn users ultimately decide the features are not worth the ongoing costs.
When Premium Is Worth It
Premium can provide great value for certain professionals like recruiters, salespeople, and marketers who rely heavily on networking and prospecting.
For example, Premium‘s InMail credits allow recruiters to directly contact passive candidates open to new roles. Sales professionals can use profile analytics to qualify prospects.
Example of Premium Profile Insights
For the average user though, Premium may be overkill. The free version of LinkedIn still packs a powerful punch if you use it strategically.
Maximizing Free LinkedIn
Here are some ways to maximize LinkedIn even without a Premium subscription based on my experience as an entrepreneurship consultant:
- Populate your profile completely – Treat it like an enhanced resume and include all relevant experience, skills, certifications, publications, etc. This will make you more findable.
- Engage consistently – Comment on posts, share content, and join Group conversations. This increases your visibility.
- Build an engaged follower base – Follow back those who follow you and interact with your network regularly. Quality beats quantity.
- Participate in niche Groups – Become a thought leader in your industry‘s Groups. Establish yourself as an expert.
- Follow target companies – Get job opening alerts and company news to stay on their radar.
- Use advanced filters – Even without Premium, you can filter job searches and Groups directory by keywords, location, industry, etc.
With some effort and strategy, you can build an influential presence and strong network on LinkedIn without having to pay.
Step-by-Step: How To Cancel Premium
If you decide Premium isn‘t giving you enough extra value, canceling is straightforward. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
On LinkedIn Desktop:
- Click on your profile picture and select Premium.
- Click Manage subscription.
- Click Cancel subscription.
- Confirm cancellation on the pop-up.
On LinkedIn Mobile App:
- Tap your profile picture.
- Select Premium.
- Tap Manage premium account.
- Tap Cancel subscription.
- Confirm cancellation.
You can also cancel through iTunes if you subscribed on iOS. Your Premium access remains until the billing cycle completion.
After Cancellation: What To Expect
Once you cancel Premium, here‘s what to expect:
- Grace period: You‘ll have full Premium access until your billing cycle ends.
- No refunds: LinkedIn does not offer refunds for partial subscription periods used already.
- Downgrade or pause: You can also downgrade to a lower-tier plan or "pause" Premium for up to 12 weeks instead of fully canceling.
- Reactive Premium: It‘s easy to resubscribe in the future if you want Premium again.
- Focus on organic growth: Shift focus to engaging your network and posting regularly without relying on Premium features.
Expert Tips for Maximizing Free LinkedIn
As an entrepreneurship coach, I recommend focusing on organic growth and engagement once you cancel Premium. Here are some of my top tips:
- Complete your profile fully: Treat it like an online resume and include all expertise, publications, volunteering, languages, etc.
- Engage consistently: Post updates, share articles, and comment on connections‘ posts daily. Increase visibility.
- Join targeted Groups: Pick 2-3 niche Groups in your industry and engage daily by reacting, commenting, and posting. Establish expertise.
- Follow companies: Get notifications when target companies post jobs or news articles. Stay on their radar.
- Build an engaged follower base: Follow back those who follow you. Engage supporters by liking and commenting on their content. Prioritize quality connections.
- Participate in LinkedIn events: Attend virtual LinkedIn events like talks or workshops to widen your reach.
The key is regular, organic engagement. Premium is not required to build an influential presence.
FAQs About Cancelling Premium
Here are answers to some common questions about canceling LinkedIn Premium:
Can I get a refund if I cancel mid-cycle?
Refunds are rarely given but you can try contacting customer service if you canceled very early in your billing cycle.
What happens to my Premium features when I cancel?
You‘ll have access until the end of the billing cycle. Then your account downgrades to free membership.
Is it possible to temporarily pause my Premium rather than fully cancel?
Yes, you can pause for up to 12 weeks per year without having to permanently cancel your subscription.
How do I reactive Premium after canceling?
Reactivating is easy. Just visit your Premium settings and choose a plan to resubscribe and renew billing.
Key Takeaways
While LinkedIn Premium has some helpful networking tools, it‘s possible to maximize your presence with just a free account through organic engagement. If you decide the costs of Premium outweigh the benefits, cancelling is quick and straightforward. The key is being strategic with how you use LinkedIn without relying on Premium features.
I hope these tips have been helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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