LinkedIn

Unlock Career Success: Comparing and Choosing LinkedIn Account Types

lemlist team
LAST UPDATED
May 9, 2024
READING TIME
7 min.

Unlock Career Success: Comparing and Choosing LinkedIn Account Types

In the digital tapestry of today's professional world, LinkedIn emerges as an indispensable thread, weaving together career opportunities, business networking, and personal branding. Its significance has transcended beyond a mere platform for job seekers; it has become a cornerstone for industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone keen on professional development. With a variety of LinkedIn account types at your disposal, understanding the nuances of each becomes crucial to unlock the full spectrum of career success.

     
  • The Free LinkedIn Account: Often considered the gateway to the LinkedIn universe, the free account offers a wealth of features that lay the groundwork for professional networking and job hunting.
  •  
  • Advanced Features: For those looking to delve deeper, LinkedIn's premium tiers open up a world of advanced capabilities, tailored to different professional needs and aspirations.

Whether you're a fresh graduate taking your first steps into the job market, a seasoned professional seeking to expand your horizons, or a business aiming to amplify its brand, LinkedIn provides a platform to elevate your professional presence. In this guide, we will explore the labyrinth of LinkedIn account types, from the foundational free LinkedIn account to the specialized heights of premium offerings, ensuring that you make an informed decision that aligns with your career trajectory.

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Understanding the Basics: Your Free LinkedIn Account

Embarking on the journey of professional networking begins with the free LinkedIn account. This foundational tier serves as a launchpad for your career, enabling you to create a detailed profile, connect with colleagues, and explore a myriad of job opportunities. The free account is a robust tool for those starting to carve their professional niche or for seasoned experts to maintain an established network.

     
  • Navigating Your LinkedIn Profile: A well-crafted LinkedIn profile is your digital resume and personal brand rolled into one. It showcases your skills, experience, and professional achievements to potential employers and connections.
  •  
  • Maximizing Job Search: Leveraging the free account, you can search for jobs using basic filters, apply to positions, and receive job alerts tailored to your interests. The free account also allows you to join groups and participate in discussions, further enhancing your visibility and engagement within your industry.

While the free LinkedIn account is a powerful tool in its own right, it is but a glimpse into the platform's full potential. As you navigate through your profile and tap into the job market, remember that this is just the beginning. The free tier is your stepping stone to a world of advanced features that await in LinkedIn's premium landscape.

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Levelling-up with LinkedIn Premium: More than Just a Career Booster

For those seeking to amplify their professional presence and unlock advanced capabilities, LinkedIn Premium emerges as a powerful ally. This suite of enhanced services is designed to propel your career, sales, and recruiting efforts to new heights, offering a rich array of tools beyond the scope of a free account.

     
  • Premium Career Account: With a Premium Career subscription, users gain access to advanced job search filters, detailed insights into who viewed their profile, and the ability to directly message recruiters. This level of access can significantly increase your chances of landing your dream job.
  •  
  • Sales Navigator LinkedIn: Tailored for sales professionals, Sales Navigator equips you with sophisticated algorithms to discover and connect with potential leads. It offers a deeper level of search functionality and personalized algorithms to help you find the right prospects.
  •  
  • Recruiter Lite LinkedIn: For those in talent acquisition, Recruiter Lite is an essential tool. It provides advanced search filters to pinpoint ideal candidates, a larger InMail capacity, and tracking features to manage your recruitment pipeline efficiently.
  •  
  • LinkedIn Premium Business: Expanding your business network has never been easier with LinkedIn Premium Business. This tier offers unlimited searches in your extended network, business insights, and additional InMail messages, facilitating global connection and collaboration.

Each LinkedIn Premium account type is crafted to cater to distinct professional needs, whether it's a job seeker, a sales expert, a recruiter, or a business leader looking to expand their enterprise. The investment in a premium account can translate into a wealth of opportunities and a significant edge in the competitive business landscape.

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LinkedIn Learning: A Universe of Knowledge at Your Fingertips

As professionals strive for continuous improvement and skill enhancement, LinkedIn Learning stands out as a treasure trove of knowledge. This platform provides subscribers with unrestricted access to a vast library of educational content, ranging from bite-sized tutorials to comprehensive courses across various industries and disciplines.

     
  • Exploring LinkedIn Learning: With LinkedIn Learning, users can dive into thousands of expert-led courses designed to foster professional development. Topics cover everything from leadership and management to creative design, programming, and more.
  •  
  • Integrating LinkedIn Learning for Career Growth: Leveraging the power of LinkedIn Learning can significantly contribute to career advancement. By acquiring new skills and certifications, professionals can showcase their commitment to growth and stand out in the job market or their current workplace.

The integration of LinkedIn Learning into one's professional journey not only enhances individual skill sets but also offers the flexibility to learn at one's own pace. Whether you're looking to upskill, reskill, or simply explore new areas of interest, LinkedIn Learning is a dynamic resource that aligns with your career aspirations and educational needs.

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Exciting Premium Extras: Unfold InMail and Other Features

Delving into the realm of LinkedIn Premium unveils a suite of exclusive features that can transform the way professionals connect and communicate. Among the most notable of these is InMail, a powerful tool that allows direct messaging to anyone on LinkedIn, even if they are not a connection.

     
  • The Power of InMail: With a set number of InMail credits per month, Premium users can reach out to industry leaders, potential employers, or prospective clients without any prior connection. This feature breaks down networking barriers and opens up new opportunities for collaboration and career progression.
  •  
  • How Premium Accounts Differ: The variety of Premium accounts cater to different professional needs. From Premium Sales Navigator with advanced sales tools to Premium Career designed for job seekers, each account offers a tailored set of features. Understanding the nuances between them helps users choose the right package for their goals.

Whether it's leveraging InMail to initiate conversations with key decision-makers or utilizing the advanced search capabilities to find the right opportunities, LinkedIn Premium accounts provide a competitive edge. These extras not only enhance visibility and reach but also equip professionals with the tools needed for strategic networking and targeted outreach.

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Zooming into Specialized LinkedIn Accounts: Built for Niche Audiences

LinkedIn recognizes the diversity of its user base and the varied needs of different professionals. This understanding has given rise to specialized LinkedIn accounts such as Sales Navigator Advanced and other niche offerings that cater to specific segments of the professional community.

     
  • Unraveling Specialist Accounts: For those in sales and business development, LinkedIn Sales Navigator Advanced provides a set of sophisticated tools designed to enhance lead generation and foster meaningful business relationships. This platform offers advanced search capabilities, lead recommendations, and real-time insights into accounts and contacts.
  •  
  • Enjoy the Perks of Customized Subscriptions: Each specialized account comes with its own set of features and benefits, tailored to meet the unique demands of its users. Whether you're a recruiter, a sales professional, or an entrepreneur, LinkedIn has a subscription service designed to help you maximize your online professional activities.

By choosing a specialized LinkedIn account, users can leverage a more targeted approach to networking and business strategy. These accounts are built with precision to provide relevant tools and insights that align with the specific tasks and challenges faced by niche audiences, ensuring that every interaction on LinkedIn is as effective and efficient as possible.

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LinkedIn for Businesses: Scalable Solutions for Teams and Enterprises

As businesses grow and evolve, the need for scalable networking and talent solutions becomes crucial. LinkedIn offers a range of account types designed to support teams and enterprises in their quest to build a stronger professional presence and foster connections that lead to tangible results.

     
  • LinkedIn Account Types for Teams and Large Organisations: From LinkedIn Premium Business to LinkedIn Sales Navigator Enterprise, these accounts provide enhanced features like unlimited searches, more InMail credits, and advanced analytics. They are engineered to support collaboration among team members, streamline lead acquisition, and facilitate more strategic decision-making.
  •  
  • Inspiring Success Stories: Numerous case studies and testimonials showcase the transformative impacts of LinkedIn's business accounts. Organizations report improved visibility, higher engagement rates, and increased opportunities for growth after leveraging the platform's specialized business tools.

Whether it's through fostering internal collaboration, enhancing outreach efforts, or analyzing market trends, LinkedIn's business accounts offer a robust set of tools to help businesses of all sizes maximize their LinkedIn experience. By tapping into these resources, companies can better position themselves in the competitive landscape, ensuring that every connection and conversation adds value to their business objectives.

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Making the Shift: Transitioning Between LinkedIn Account Types

As professionals navigate their career journeys or as businesses evolve, the need to transition between different LinkedIn account types may arise. Understanding the nuances of upgrading or downgrading your LinkedIn account can help ensure that your professional tools stay aligned with your current objectives and future goals.

     
  • Guiding Readers Through the Account LinkedIn Upgrade and Downgrade Process: Upgrading to a LinkedIn Premium account is straightforward and can be done with a few clicks. However, downgrading requires consideration of the timing to align with the billing cycle, and understanding what features will no longer be available. It's important to review the benefits of each account type and assess how they match your career or business needs before making a change.
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  • Things to Consider Before Shifting: Before transitioning to a different account type, consider the long-term impact on your networking, job search, or lead generation strategies. Will the advanced analytics of a Premium Business account significantly benefit your team? Does the Sales Navigator align with your sales goals? Reflecting on these questions can help in making an informed decision that supports your professional aspirations.

Transitioning between LinkedIn account types should be a strategic move that propels you towards your professional targets. Whether it's taking advantage of Premium Career's job-seeking functionalities or utilizing Sales Navigator to boost sales performance, each LinkedIn account type offers unique advantages. By carefully considering your needs and the array of features available, you can select and switch to the LinkedIn account that best fits your career path or business strategy.

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Wrapping Up: Picking Your Perfect LinkedIn Account Type

Throughout this guide, we've explored the vast landscape of LinkedIn account types, each offering unique tools and benefits tailored to different professional needs. As we wrap up, it's essential to recap the critical points that will assist you in selecting the ideal LinkedIn account for your career or business aspirations.

     
  • Recapping the Essential Points on Different Types of LinkedIn Accounts: A free LinkedIn account can be a powerful tool for job searching and networking. However, for those looking to further their career or business goals, LinkedIn offers various Premium options, including Premium Career, Sales Navigator, and LinkedIn Learning. Each premium service is designed to enhance specific aspects of professional life, from job hunting to sales prospecting and skill development.
  •  
  • Encouraging Pursuit of the Right LinkedIn Premium Account Tailored to Readers' Aspirations: The decision to invest in a LinkedIn Premium account should be driven by your professional goals. Are you seeking to expand your industry knowledge through LinkedIn Learning? Could the in-depth insights provided by a Premium Business account help you grow your network? Or, are you a recruiter who could benefit from the advanced candidate search capabilities of Recruiter Lite? Choose the account that aligns with your objectives and offers the features that will most effectively help you achieve them.

Choosing the right LinkedIn account type is a strategic decision that can significantly impact your professional trajectory. By understanding the differences between the account types and assessing how each one can serve your specific needs, you can make an informed choice that supports your pursuit of career success. Remember, the right LinkedIn Premium account is out there waiting to unlock new opportunities and propel you towards your goals.

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Additional Guidance and Support

If you're looking for further clarification on the nuances of LinkedIn Premium accounts or require additional support, a wealth of resources is available to guide you. Navigating the world of LinkedIn's various offerings can be complex, but with the right information and assistance, you can confidently select the account that best fits your professional needs.

     
  • Providing a List of Additional Resources for Understanding LinkedIn Premium: LinkedIn itself offers comprehensive guides and FAQs that can shed light on the specifics of each account type. Additionally, numerous third-party websites, blogs, and forums provide in-depth reviews and comparisons that can help demystify the features and benefits of LinkedIn Premium services.
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  • Accessing Assistance from LinkedIn's Support Team: For personalized support, LinkedIn’s Help Center is an excellent starting point. You can reach out to the support team for direct assistance or navigate through a series of helpful articles that address common queries and concerns. Whether it's understanding how InMail credits work or figuring out how to switch between different LinkedIn Premium subscriptions, LinkedIn's support staff are there to help you make the most of your professional networking experience.

As you consider upgrading to a LinkedIn Premium account, remember that help is always at hand. Utilize the resources available to you and don't hesitate to contact support for any unresolved questions. With the right knowledge and tools, you can optimize your LinkedIn presence and take a significant step forward in your professional journey.

lemlist team
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G2 Rating
Price
Best for
Standout feature
Con
4.9
star
star
star
star
star
$30/mo
$75/mo
$2,999/mo
Large, distributed sales teams
AI evaluation precision, gamified KPIs
Lack of tracking system
4.6
star
star
star
star
star-half
Not publicly available
Sales operations and finance teams
Powerful configurability
Limited training resources and complex to navigate
4.4
star
star
star
star
star-half
Not publicly available
Mid-market and enterprise businesses
Comprehensive incentive management
Potentially high cost and steep learning curve
4.7
star
star
star
star
star-half
$15/user/mo
$40/user/mo
Enterprise: custom price
Complex sales structures and businesses of all sizes
Complex sales structures and businesses of all sizes
Steep learning curve
4.6
star
star
star
star
star-half
Not publicly available
Collaborative teams
Connected planning
Complexity and steep learning curve
4.6
star
star
star
star
star-half
Not publicly available
Companies with complex sales structures
Complex incentive compensation management (ICM) with high efficiency and accuracy
Complexity for smaller teams and potentially high costs
4.7
star
star
star
star
star-half
Not publicly available
Companies who want to automate commission calculations and payouts
Simplicity and ease of use
Lack of features like redirection
4.7
star
star
star
star
star-half
$30/user/mo
$35/user/mo
Custom: upon request
Businesses that need a comprehensive and user-friendly sales compensation management software
Ease of use and adoption
Lack of ability to configure the product based on user needs
4.8
star
star
star
star
star-half
Not publicly available
Companies with modern sales culture and businesses who want real-time insights
A built-in dispute management and real-time visibility
Users say it works slowly, customer support is slow
4.9
star
star
star
star
star
$30/user/mo
$50/user/mo
Smaller sales teams
Powerful automation
Lesser user base and average user interface
4.7
star
star
star
star
star-half
Not publicly available
Companies with scalable needs
Automated Commission Calculations
Lack of filtering by date, no mobile app
ERP vs. CRM
ERP
CRM
Summary
Backbone of a business's internal operations.
Backbone of customer-centric interactions and operations.
Goal
To centralize and streamline core business processes in a company.
To increase customer experience, satisfaction and loyalty, and boost sales.
Focus
Internal operations and processes across departments (finance, accounting, inventory, supply chain, HR, and sales).
All interactions with leads and customers.
Manages
Internal business data like financial data, inventory levels, production details, supply chain, HR info.
All customer data like contact info, purchase history, communication history, customer preferences and more.
Users
Finance, accounting, operations, supply chain, and HR departments.
Customer-facing teams like sales, marketing, and customer service.
Benefits
Streamlines operations, improves data accuracy, enhances decision-making, boosts collaboration, increases productivity.
Improves customer relationships, increases sales, strengthens customer service, personalizes marketing campaigns, provides insights.
Price
$150 per user per year on average.
$10 to $30 per user per month on average.
PRM Tool
Rating
Feature
Pro
Con
Mobile App
Integrations
Free Plan
Pricing
4.65
star
star
star
star
star-half
Org-wide alignment
User-friendly layout and database
Suboptimal as a personal CRM
square-check
Lack of tracking system
square-check
Team: $20/month
Business: $45/month
4.7
star
star
star
star
star-half
Social Media Integration
Easy contact data collection
No marketing/sales features
square-check
Lack of tracking system
square-xmark
7-day trial
$12/month
4.75
star
star
star
star
star-half
Block Functions
High customization capability
Not a dedicated CRM
square-check
Limited
square-check
Plus: €7.50/month
Business: €14/month
N/A
Open-source
Open-source flexibility
Requires extensive manual input
square-xmark
Limited
square-check
Self-hosted
$9/month or
$90/year
3.1
star
star
star
Simple iOS app
Ideal for non-tech-savvy users
iPhone only
square-check
iOS only
Limited
square-xmark
1-month trial
$1.49/month or
$14.99/month
3.6
star
star
star
star-half
Smart Contact Management
Feature-rich and flexible
Reported bugs
square-check
Rich
square-xmark
7-day trial
Premium: $13.99/month
Teams: $17.99/month
4.4
star
star
star
star
star-half
Customizable Interface
Customizable for teamwork
Pricey for personal use
square-check
Rich
square-xmark
Standard: $24/member
Premium: $39/member
4.7
star
star
star
star
star-half
Integrated Calling
Integrated Calling
Too sales-oriented & pricey
square-check
Rich
square-xmark
14-day trial
Startup: $59/user/month
Professional: $329/user/month
4.8
star
star
star
star
star
Business Card Scanning
Business Card Scanning
Mobile only
square-check
Limited
square-check
$9.99/month
4.45
star
star
star
star
star-half
160+ app integrations
Comprehensive integrations
No free app version
square-check
Rich
square-xmark
14-day trial
$29.90/month or
$24.90/month (billed annually)
Capterra Rating
Free Trial
Free Plan
Starting Price (excluding the free plan)
Maximum Price (for the most expensive plan)
Best for
4.5
star
star
star
star
star-half
square-check
14-day
square-check
€15/month/seat billed annually
€792/month/3 seats billed annually + €45/month for each extra seat
Versatility and free plan
4.2
star
star
star
star
square-check
30-day
square-xmark
But it offers reduced price to authorised nonprofit organisations
€25/user/month
€500/user/month billed annually (includes Einstein AI)
Best overall operational CRM
4.3
star
star
star
star
star-half
square-xmark
square-check
Limited to 3 users
Comprehensive incentive management
€52/user/month billed annually
Small-medium businesses and automation
4.5
star
star
star
star
star-half
square-check
14-day
square-xmark
€14/seat/month billed annually
€99/seat/month billed annually
Sales teams and ease of use
4.1
star
star
star
star
square-xmark
square-check
Limited 10 users
$9.99/user/month billed annually
$64.99/user/month billed annually
Free plan for very small teams up to 10
CRM goal
Increase the sales conversion rate for qualified leads from marketing automation campaigns by 10% in the next 6 months.
SMART Breakdown
1. Specific: It targets a specific area (conversion rate) for a defined segment (qualified leads from marketing automation).
2. Measurable: The desired increase (10%) is a clear metric, and the timeframe (6 months) allows for progress tracking.
3. Achievable: A 10% increase is possible based on historical data and potential improvements.
4. Relevant: Boosting sales from marketing efforts aligns with overall business objectives.
5. Time-bound: The 6-month timeframe creates urgency and a clear target date.
Actions
Step 1: Refine lead qualification criteria to ensure high-quality leads are nurtured through marketing automation.
Step 2: Personalize marketing automation campaigns based on lead demographics, interests, and behavior.
Step 3: Develop targeted landing pages with clear calls to action for qualified leads.
Step 4: Implement lead scoring to prioritize high-potential leads for sales follow-up.
Step 5: Track and analyze campaign performance to identify areas for optimization.
Outcomes
Increased sales and revenue
Improved marketing automation ROI
Marketing and sales alignment
Data-driven marketing optimization
Table
CDP Software
CRM Software
Approach
Data-centric
Customer-centric
Focus
Interactions across various channels and touchpoints, both online and offline.
Sales, marketing, and customer service interactions.
Functionality
Automatically collects, organizes, tags, and makes data available in real-time.
Helps businesses track customer interactions, sales pipelines, prospects, and service requests.
Goals
Personalized customer experiences across all channels.
Better customer relationships, streamlined processes, and improved profitability.
Benefits
Data integration, management, and accessibility, allowing for detailed analysis and segmentation.
Better communication within teams and with customers by organizing information about customer interactions and history.
Data Handling
Handles both identified and anonymous data, stitches together various data points.
Deals primarily with identified customer data.
Use Cases
Personalized marketing campaigns, targeted advertising, content customization across multiple channels.
Managing campaigns and leads, enhancing customer service, providing better customer support, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Examples
Insider, Bloomreach, Salesforce Marketing Cloud CDP
HubSpot, Salesforce Sales Cloud Lightning Professional, and Zoho CRM
CRM
Free plan
Best feature
Best for
Con
1. HubSpot CRM
square-check
Sales automation
Sales teams
Up to 1,000 contacts
2. Insightly
square-check
Custom fields
Basic needs
Not enough info about the free plan
3. Agile CRM
square-check
Deal and sales pipeline tracking
Small teams
Up to 10 users
4. Zoho CRM
square-check
Lead and contact management
Businesses of all sizes
Limited to 3 users
5. ClickUp
square-check
Unlimited tasks and unlimited members
Personal use
Up to 100MB storage
6. EngageBay
square-check
Live chat
Small and midsize enterprises
Up to 1,000 branded emails per month
7. Bitrix24
square-check
Unlimited users and 5 scrum teams
Big teams
Up to 5GB of cloud storage
8. FreshSales
square-check
Easy to use and simple setup
Beginners
Up to 3 users
9. Mailchimp
square-check
Very beginner friendly
Marketing teams
Send up to 500 branded emails per month
Type of Affiliate Marketing
Unattached
Related
Involved
Format
Paid advertising
Social media or YouTube channels
Dedicated website or blog
Focus
Quick income
Your niche
Your audience
Engagement with your audience
square-xmark
square-check
square-check
square-check
square-check
Very close connection with your audience
Pro
Little effort
Higher credibility thanks to your niche
Long-lasting and scalable
Con
Paid ads cost a lot
Potential for bias since you don’t use the thing you promote
Require time, effort, and dedication

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