Do not Pay for LinkedIn Premium Subscriptions - YET

Based on my years of experience, do not pay for LinkedIn Business Premium or Sales Navigator... yet I see it happen all the time People subscribe to Premium LinkedIn or even more to Sales Navigator, hoping it will give them an advantage in their sales or business development role. It could, but for most people, it won't. LinkedIn Sales Navigator currently costs $79.99 per month LinkedIn Premium Business currently costs $44.99 per month There are 20%+ discounts for Annual Payments These are reasonable expenses for the value of the subscriptions. However, no matter how much the cost, it is a waste of money if you are not creating value using LinkedIn as a Business Tool already. The analogy I have is you don't spend money on new tools if you don't already know how to use the basic tools. I love creating cool wooden crafts. I started with an old table saw, an older Mitre saw, and a hand router. I spent a year experimenting with creating wooden signs, birdhouses, bat houses, benches, and lots of other wooden projects with these tools. I got good at using them. I knew to go to the next level I would need better tools. I bought a new Compound Mitre saw. It's cool. I love that it is accurate and powerful. I have discovered new ways to use it when cutting all kinds of different angles. I also bought a new Table saw. It has a bigger table and a more powerful motor. I've had it for almost a year and I have learned new ways to use it with a sled and custom jigs. Then, I bought a CNC machine to carve wooden crafts. I have spent over a year learning how to use this new tool. I'm really mastering this tool. My point - I learned how to create wood crafts with the basics before I bought the new tools. I did not want to bet on new tools making me a superstar creating my wood crafts. By waiting to buy them I amplified my skills that I spent time developing again with the basic tools. Back to LinkedIn, Sales Navigator and Premium Business Subscriptions If you are not getting significant views of your LinkedIn Profile - you are not ready for a Premium Subscription. If your current LinkedIn Network is not creating referrals for you - you are not ready for a premium LinkedIn Subscription. If your engagement on LinkedIn is not creating interest in what you do - you are not ready for a premium LinkedIn Subscription. If you have not invested in guidance from a proven LinkedIn Strategist, don't spend money to subscribe to premium LinkedIn tools, yet. LinkedIn Sales Navigator and even Premium Business provide different tools that can only create more value when you have nailed the basics.