Thread: Is Linkedin Premium worth it?

Not sure LinkedIn is worthwhile.
Mainly people showing off, promoting themselves, looking for the next job etc.
Companies use/abuse it for promoting new products.
Then there are the recruitment companies constantly offering me new positions....

I often leave an appointment and the contact, who I've just met for the first time, is wanting to link with me on LinkedIn.
I realise it's all about the size of your 'network' and how many 'likes' you get!

Maybe I'm getting old & grumpy.....well grumpier.

It seems to be 'Facebook for Engineers'.
I'm sure if you have the time and use it constantly it might be worthwhile. Everything on there is transient just like Facebook so you need to be looking every hour or so !!

As for Premium, probably worthwhile if you're recruiting people, also allows more searches.

As I'm in Sales it's useful for getting contact names in companies you're trying to do business with or seeing a contact's previous employers. Apart from that I 'follow' our competitors and a couple of other companies out of interest but then only log on every couple of weeks.

Stay with the free version.....

Colin

LinkedIn is now becoming more like Facebook as Colin suggests.
However Premium provides you access to lots of online training videos some with formal certification if that’s what you are after. Also if you are looking for a job you get greater access to various resources and a greater number of InMails, though I have never actually got a job through any of these resources.

I have Premium and I most likely don't use a fraction of the things that I'm entitled to, I pretty much do what the free version provides. The main reason I've kept it over the last two years is that as a Premium member I can see who's checking out my profile, which has been very useful.

Arapiles, Travelrover and Gromit,

I might be misinterpreting what Linkedin can do at either the free or the premium level. I thought it might be a platform where organisations or individuals can promote their services to a broader community?

I have the same thoughts that you do Arapiles - that I am only using only a fraction of what features might be available. Hence the reason behind this post.

I did find a Linkedin for Dummies book and it will soon be on its way to me. During the search for the book I found out there are multiple for Dummies with Linkedin as only part of the title. For example, Serdula, D. (2017) LinkedIn Profile Optimization For Dummies; van Beek, P (2018) LinkedIn Sales Navigator For Dummies. Both of these titles could be considered a bit long in the tooth now. From these other Linkedin titles there must be a lot more than I thought there was involved in the platform. Hopefully once the basic background book that I ordered arrives I can read it and make a more informed decision about whether or not to devote more time to Linkedin; or look for a better platform. Or other members of AULRO could be gun Linkedin users...

I have a webpage that I am working on. Having a link to it in a high traffic platform would only be a good thing. There is not much point having a webpage that links to what services are available if no one knows you are out there offering them. I am currently working for an employer in a paid job for two days a week. This means I have plenty of time to work on Evans Enterprises and try to make a go of it. Where to put the time an energy into in order to obtain good returns for the effort is the issue. How to promote yourself was not a big part of the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business that I completed last year. Oh due to the organisation's stellar performance the Federal government removed their endorsement as a registered provider for that course ... Go figure! The mob was the only local provider so it was not a case of being able to chose who I studied with. It was a case of either there or nowhere.

Kind regards
Lionel

As Travelrover says, the main benefit that I see of premium is access to the training courses (and also access to the certificates that prove you've completed the courses) and being able to see who has looked at your profile.
As a recently redundant engineer, using this training resource to get my requisite hours of continuous professional development for RPEng status is making up for not being able to access on the job learning.
It's also a necessary shop window these days to sell yourself while looking for work.

Originally Posted by DieselDan

As Travelrover says, the main benefit that I see of premium is access to the training courses (and also access to the certificates that prove you've completed the courses) and being able to see who has looked at your profile.
As a recently redundant engineer, using this training resource to get my requisite hours of continuous professional development for RPEng status is making up for not being able to access on the job learning.
It's also a necessary shop window these days to sell yourself while looking for work.

Hello Diesel Dan,

Thank you for your post. I should have added that I was looking at the possible effectiveness of Linkedin as a shop window to promote myself as a consultant. Or as a professional development provider. Alternatively, as an independent social researcher. Not so much as my wanting to attract recruiters to fill one of their job vacancies. For example, a Linkedin profile could possibly be used by a potential customer who wants to connect with a wellbeing consultant who could provide their organisation with a tailored wellbeing program. Things like how increased wellbeing improves staff productivity and retention.

I intend on 'monetising' the findings and tools developed within my PhD thesis and offer them commercially either via consultancy or professional development. I also miss doing social research. In essence, I am currently a very under-utilised resource. The main point is though that my PhD owes me - big time! It is time for it to go out and earn its keep.

Kind regards
Lionel

Hi Lionel, I think LinkedIn could work quite well for what you intend. Part of my redundancy package includes access to a career coaching service and "building your brand" to help sell yourself is one of the things they offer.
Since lots of things these days are filtered by AI, it's all about making sure you hit the right buzzwords, particularly in the description on your profile. So one of the books you mentioned, LinkedIn Profile for Dummies could well be worthwhile!!

Originally Posted by DieselDan

As Travelrover says, the main benefit that I see of premium is access to the training courses (and also access to the certificates that prove you've completed the courses) and being able to see who has looked at your profile.
As a recently redundant engineer, using this training resource to get my requisite hours of continuous professional development for RPEng status is making up for not being able to access on the job learning.
It's also a necessary shop window these days to sell yourself while looking for work.

Hi Dan,

When you complete the courses are you assessed or do you just get a certificate of completion ?
Probably not something I'd be doing but as a previously qualified trainer & assessor I'm just interested.

I get fairly regular emails giving details of who's looked at my profile with the free version but to be honest don't always open the emails.

As for selling yourself or your services you need to be posting & commenting on other peoples posts very, very regularly. Also you need to build a network as large as possible.
I'm sure it works for some people/companies if they devote the time to it.


Colin