In this guide, we dive into the key differences between LinkedIn Premium vs Sales Navigator. Also, we will fully examine their subscription plans and pricing, ideal target audience, and use cases, as well as provide in-depth information on each platform’s tools and functionalities.
We then compare both plans, highlighting their similarities and differences, helping you choose the right solution for your needs. Finally, we provide tips on maximizing your ROI and the effectiveness of each subscription plan, as well as discuss alternative sales and networking tools to consider.
The main difference between Sales Navigator vs LinkedIn Premium is that the navigator is mainly focused only on the sales part, while Premium is designed to improve the personal profile and job-seeking features.
LinkedIn is a professional networking site that allows users to connect with others in their industry, search for jobs, garner recommendations, and more.
One of the ways LinkedIn monetizes its platform is through its premium offerings – LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator. These services provide additional features that cater to different needs.
LinkedIn Premium aims to help professionals who are looking for career opportunities or to expand their networks, while Sales Navigator is tailored to sales professionals seeking new prospects and managing their sales pipeline. In this article, we will explore the features, subscription options, and pricing of LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator.
LinkedIn Premium is a subscription plan specially designed for job seekers, professionals, and businesses. It offers a variety of benefits and features that aid in personal branding, networking, and job hunting. Some of the key benefits include:
- InMail Messages: LinkedIn Premium subscribers can send direct messages to people outside of their network using InMail. This allows members to communicate with potential employers, business partners, or other professionals they would like to connect with.
- Who’s Viewed Your Profile: Premium members have access to a more detailed view of who has visited their profile. This feature can help pinpoint potential job opportunities or connections and also provides insights on how to improve visibility on the platform.
- LinkedIn Learning: Premium members gain access to LinkedIn Learning, an online library of video courses covering various topics such as technology, creativity, business skills, and more. Users can enhance their skills, earn certifications, and stay current in their industries with LinkedIn Learning.
- Job Insights: Premium users receive personalized job recommendations and can learn more about their potential employers. They also receive salary insights to negotiate better job offers.
- Open Profile: This feature makes the LinkedIn profile visible to all LinkedIn members, even those not connected. This ensures that a wider audience can access the user’s professional profile and help create professional opportunities.
Read our guide and decide if LinkedIn Premium is worth it.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a specialized subscription plan designed for sales professionals. It offers an array of tools to find leads, build relationships, and drive sales. Some key features include:
- Lead Recommendations: Sales Navigator suggests potential leads based on several factors, such as industry, company size, job function, and more. This helps sales professionals identify potential customers more efficiently.
- Advanced Search Filters: Users can run highly-targeted searches to identify potential prospects in specific industries, locations, or within a certain company.
- Real-time Sales Updates: The tool helps subscribers stay informed on potential leads by providing real-time updates on job changes, company news, and shared articles.
- CRM Integration: Sales Navigator can be integrated with top CRM platforms such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and HubSpot, allowing sales professionals to manage their contacts and leads seamlessly within their CRM.
- Team Collaboration: Features like TeamLink and Shared Lead Lists allow collaboration among team members using Sales Navigator, making it easy to share insights and work together on prospecting efforts.
Maybe not so critical, but good to know: Sales Navigator doesn’t have a built-in Dark Mode.
Subscription Plans and Pricing
LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator are offered as separate subscription plans, and their pricing depends on choosing a monthly or annual billing option. Here is a summary of their subscription tiers:
- LinkedIn Premium:
- Premium Career: Suited for job seekers at $39.99/month.
- Premium Business: Aimed at business professionals looking to expand their network at $59.99/month.
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator:
- Professional: Designed for individual salespeople at $99.99/month.
- Team: Built for sales teams and organizations at $149.99/month per user.
While both LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator offer valuable features to their target audiences, they cater to different needs and objectives. It’s essential to evaluate which subscription plan best aligns with your professional goals – be it finding a new job, networking, or generating and managing leads for your sales team.
If you decide to get the annual package of any plan, you’ll get a great discount with it as well.
LinkedIn Premium is designed for professionals, job seekers, business owners, and anyone who wants to maximize the potential of their LinkedIn account by unlocking the platform’s additional features. LinkedIn Premium serves as a great tool for the following target audiences:
- Job Seekers: Those seeking new job opportunities can benefit significantly from LinkedIn Premium’s exclusive features, such as seeing who’s viewed your profile, direct messaging recruiters or hiring managers, and gaining access to advanced search filters that help you identify opportunities that suit your skills and interests better.
- Professionals and Freelancers: LinkedIn Premium gives professionals and freelancers extended access to their industry network, a more robust profile view count, and a deeper look at their competitive landscape. This is helpful for those who want to expand their reach to establish professional relationships, forge new connections, or find new clients.
- B2B and B2C Business Owners: As a business owner, you can leverage LinkedIn Premium to access analytics, gain insights into competitor performance, and expand your customer base. This is particularly valuable for those in the B2B space, where LinkedIn can play a significant role in lead generation and brand awareness.
Sales Navigator is a specialized sales tool offering a dedicated premium experience to sales professionals by providing advanced prospecting capabilities, robust CRM integration, and tailored lead recommendations.
Sales Navigator caters to the following target audiences:
- Sales Professionals: Sales Navigator is equipped with algorithms that understand user behavior and offer personalized company and lead recommendations. Sales professionals can take advantage of the advanced search filters, get insights, and track companies they’re interested in – ultimately helping in closing more deals.
- Account Managers: Sales Navigator’s deep integration with various CRM tools enables account managers to track their client’s activity, receive alerts when clients change roles or companies and easily maintain relationships that result in upsells or better customer retention.
- Sales Teams: Sales Navigator’s Team edition comes with collaborative features such as shared lead lists, deals, and notes, allowing sales teams to work more efficiently and harmoniously.
You can also use the sales navigator for FREE.
Comparing Use Cases and Benefits
While both LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator provide value to different individuals, they have distinct use cases and benefits.
LinkedIn Premium is primarily suited for job seekers, professionals, freelancers, and business owners looking to expand their professional network, boost their visibility, and gain insights into their industry. Its added benefits include job insights, a more extensive network, and direct messaging capabilities.
On the other hand, Sales Navigator targets sales professionals, account managers, and sales teams. It provides advanced prospecting tools, tailored lead recommendations, robust CRM integration, and helps in building relationships with clients, leading to better sales outcomes.
It’s essential to evaluate your specific professional goals and needs before deciding between LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator. If you are focused on growing your network, finding job opportunities, or staying informed about industry trends, LinkedIn Premium is likely a better choice.
If your primary objective is to accelerate sales performance and build better client relationships, Sales Navigator would be the ideal choice. Regardless of your selection, both options can contribute significantly to your professional growth and success.
LinkedIn has evolved from a basic networking site for professionals to a full-fledged resource offering job seekers, employees, and companies access to advanced tools and resources.
One of its most popular offerings is LinkedIn Premium, a subscription-based plan with several different options to choose from, depending on your particular needs.
Now, let’s explore the various features that come with a LinkedIn Premium subscription and how they can enhance your professional experience on the platform.
Advanced Search Capabilities
One of the main perks of LinkedIn Premium is its powerful search capabilities. Premium subscribers enjoy access to advanced search filters that extend beyond basic profile keywords, making it easier for them to identify and connect with relevant professionals in their field.
Some of these advanced filters include company size, job function, years of experience, groups, and more. This level of granularity can be especially helpful for job seekers looking to target specific organizations or professionals with certain skill sets.
With a premium account, you can view complete profiles of your third-degree connections, which allows you to see how you might be connected to someone through your extended network and discover more potential connections.
InMail Messages and Messaging Tools
As part of the LinkedIn Premium subscription, users get access to InMail messages. InMail messages allow you to send direct and private messages to other LinkedIn users, even if they are not your 1st-degree connection.
This feature comes in handy when looking to make new connections or when reaching out to potential employers or job candidates.
The number of InMail messages you receive each month depends on the type of premium account you subscribe to — the higher the level, the more messages you get.
If you don’t use all your allotted InMail messages in a given month, they roll over to the next month, with a maximum accumulation of three months’ worth.
Access to LinkedIn Learning and LinkedIn Salary Insights
LinkedIn Premium members gain access to LinkedIn Learning, a platform that offers thousands of online courses ranging from professional skills development to software tools and creative work applications.
With topics like leadership development, data analytics, graphic design, and more, you can use LinkedIn Learning to improve your job skills and, in turn, make yourself a more competitive candidate in the job market.
Salary insights are another valuable Premium tool. LinkedIn collects salary information from its user base, enabling Premium members to access detailed data about the salaries of professionals in various fields, locations, and with different levels of experience.
Having this knowledge can help you negotiate a competitive salary, whether you’re applying for a new job or seeking a raise with your current employer.
Profile Features and Boosting Profile Visibility
LinkedIn Premium offers features that can help your profile stand out. Premium members enjoy a profile badge indicating their premium status, which signals that you are an active and invested user. Additionally, your profile is displayed with a gold premium banner when you appear in search results, which can help improve your visibility to potential connections.
As a Premium member, you also gain access to Profile Stats, which provide insights into who’s viewed your profile and their job title, industry, and location.
Having this information can help you tailor your profile content and outreach strategy to be more aligned with your target audience.
Job Seeker Tools and Insights
Finally, LinkedIn Premium offers a suite of job-seeking tools designed to help you land your next opportunity. With Premium, you can see how many applicants have applied for a job you’re interested in and gain access to insights about the skills and expertise of other applicants. Plus, when you apply for a job, your application is highlighted as a “Featured Applicant,” giving you an edge over non-premium users.
In addition to these tools, you get access to a list of companies where your connections work, which can provide valuable context and networking opportunities.
With a strong understanding of your target employers and the decision-makers within those organizations, you can effectively showcase your skills and experience to make a solid impression in your job search.
In summary, a LinkedIn Premium subscription can provide a competitive edge and access to valuable tools and features for professionals looking to enhance their experience on the platform.
Investing in Premium is worth considering if you’re in search of a new job or simply looking to gain advanced tools to grow your professional network and expand your skill set.
Sales Navigator is a LinkedIn tool designed to help sales professionals find, engage, and manage prospects more effectively. It offers various features and functionalities that streamline the sales process and improve relationships with potential customers.
When comparing Sales Navigator vs LinkedIn Premium, you can see how the navigator is mainly focused on the sales part, while premium focuses on profile optimization.
In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the key aspects of Sales Navigator, including lead and account recommendations, advanced search capabilities, relationship-building tools, CRM integration, and the mobile app.
Lead and Account Recommendations
One of the advantages of using Sales Navigator is the ability to provide personalized leads based on your sales criteria. The platform uses LinkedIn’s extensive database of over half a billion professionals. Its powerful data analytics has capabilities to identify potential customers that align with your target audience.
These recommendations are updated daily and can be accessed directly from your Sales Navigator homepage. You can also customize the recommendations by adjusting various filters, such as industry, job function, company size, and more. This will ensure that you’re only receiving leads and accounts that are most relevant to your business.
In addition to personalized recommendations, Sales Navigator allows you to save leads and accounts. You will be able to easily monitor their activity and stay up-to-date on important news and updates. This feature helps you nurture your prospects and engage with them at the right time. Resulting in an increased chance of a successful sale.
Advanced Lead and Account Search
Sales Navigator offers advanced search functionality that enables you to find leads and accounts with greater precision and accuracy. With over 20 search filters, you can easily refine your search using factors such as title, company, location, and more.
This advanced search capability is particularly useful for sales teams that operate in specific niches or industries. It allows for a more targeted approach to identifying potential customers.
Additionally, the platform’s predictive search algorithms will also suggest potential leads and accounts based on your previous search activity. This will further streamline your prospecting process.
Client Relationship Building Tools
Building and maintaining strong relationships with your clients is a crucial aspect of successful sales. Sales Navigator offers various tools that facilitate this process. One critical feature is the ability to view a lead’s or account’s LinkedIn profile without leaving the Sales Navigator platform. This enables you to gain valuable insights into their professional background and interests.
Another helpful tool is the InMail messaging system, which allows you to send personalized messages directly through LinkedIn. This feature is particularly useful for establishing an initial connection and initiating conversation with prospects that may not be responsive through traditional means of communication.
Other features available in Sales Navigator include the ability to track your prospect’s recent activity, engagement with InMails, and more. This helps you gauge their interest in your product or service and determine the most opportune time for follow-up.
CRM Integration and Tracking
Sales Navigator can easily be integrated with the most popular CRM systems, such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and HubSpot. This integration offers several benefits, including allowing you to access valuable LinkedIn insights and data within your CRM. It results in eliminating the need to switch between platforms constantly.
Having all your prospect information in one place also facilitates better collaboration. Also, it improves the overall visibility of sales activities, progress, and performance.
By integrating Sales Navigator with your CRM, you can also track and log your interactions with potential customers. This ensures that no critical touchpoints or communication are missed.
Sales Navigator mobile app offers a convenient way to access all the platform’s features and functionalities right from your smartphone.
It is available for both iOS and Android devices. The mobile app allows you to receive real-time lead and account updates, send and receive InMail messages, and more.
The Sales Navigator mobile app also offers seamless integration with your phone’s contact list, enabling you to quickly add new prospects and sync your LinkedIn connections with your CRM or vice versa.
With the mobile app, you can also easily share content, articles, and updates with your prospects directly through LinkedIn. This will further demonstrate your expertise and thought leadership within your industry.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a powerful and versatile tool for sales professionals looking to improve their prospecting and relationship-building efforts.
Its advanced features, intuitive design, and seamless integration with existing CRM systems make it an essential addition to any modern sales team’s arsenal.
LinkedIn offers two Extended that provide a range of additional features to users: LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator.
The choice between the two typically depends on an individual’s objectives and requirements related to career growth, networking, and sales.
Similarities Between the Two Platforms
Both LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator serve as extended versions of the standard LinkedIn platform, offering additional features and capabilities to cater to different professionals. Some of the similarities between the two packages include:
- Access to a greater number of profiles: Both platforms allow users to view and connect with a larger number of profiles. This will give you a wider range of potential connections and opportunities for networking.
- Expanded search capabilities: Premium and Sales Navigator users are able to utilize advanced search filters that help narrow down and refine their searches, making it easier to find and connect with the right people.
- More InMail messages: Both packages provide users with a higher number of monthly InMail credits, enabling them to reach out and communicate with connections without necessarily being linked to them.
- Who’s Viewed Your Profile: Both platforms offer the ability to see a list of people who have viewed your profile, providing you with more insights and potential networking opportunities.
- Learning Resources and Webinars: Users of LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator have access to regular webinars, e-learning materials, and other educational resources
Key Differences in Features and Functionality
While both LinkedIn Premium vs Sales Navigator share some similarities, they are ultimately designed to cater to different objectives. The following are the key differences between the two platforms:
- Objective: LinkedIn Premium is tailored for professionals looking for career opportunities while improving their online presence. It is also helpful while developing professional skills, or expanding their network. Sales Navigator is specifically designed for sales professionals and teams seeking to generate leads, strengthen sales pipelines, and more.
- LinkedIn Learning: Premium users gain access to LinkedIn Learning, which offers a vast library of courses and learning resources. Sales Navigator does not include access to LinkedIn Learning.
- Lead Generation Tools: Sales Navigator provides sophisticated lead generation tools, including lead recommendations, account targeting, and personalized lead list creation. These features are not available with LinkedIn Premium.
- CRM Integration: Sales Navigator offers integration with several popular Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools like Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365. It allows sales professionals to seamlessly manage and track their sales efforts. LinkedIn Premium does not offer CRM integration.
- Customer Support: Sales Navigator provides a higher level of customer support, with priority response times for its users. Premium customers receive standard support.
- Pricing: LinkedIn Premium is generally less expensive than Sales Navigator, reflecting the difference in features and functionality.
Choosing the Right Solution for Your Needs
To determine whether LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator is the right choice for you, consider your professional objectives, requirements, and the tools you need to achieve them. If you are a professional looking to advance your career, boost your online presence, or gain access to valuable learning materials, LinkedIn Premium may be the right choice for you.
On the other hand, if you are a sales professional or part of a sales team, Sales Navigator provides a host of features aimed at improving lead generation, customer acquisition, and sales performance. For individuals or teams involved in sales activities, Sales Navigator would be a more suitable option.
Maximizing ROI and Effectiveness
Both LinkedIn Premium vs Sales Navigator are powerful tools to help accelerate your business growth. Also, they will increase brand visibility, and drive revenue. To maximize your return on investment (ROI) and effectiveness using these tools, you should follow best practices and strategies.
- Optimize your profile: Invest time in creating a complete, compelling, and professional LinkedIn profile. Include high-quality images, a comprehensive summary, and detailed descriptions of your work experiences, skills, and education. Use relevant keywords to appear in search results and enable the Open Profile option to be visible to non-connections.
- Leverage InMail: With LinkedIn Premium, you get a certain number of InMail messages per month. Use InMail to expand your network by reaching out to potential clients, partners, or mentors. You can also craft personalized messages and highlight your shared interests or experiences.
- Use the advanced search features: LinkedIn Premium offers refined search filters to help identify prospects or competitors. Based on the results, you can tailor your marketing strategies accordingly. Take advantage of filters such as location, industry, company size, and job function to target relevant professionals.
- Who’s Viewed Your Profile: Premium allows you to see your profile’s complete list of viewers, including those outside your network. Use this information to identify potential leads or new connections. Reach out to those professionals with a personalized connection request or follow up with them for further engagement.
- Participate in LinkedIn Groups: Join and actively participate in LinkedIn Groups relevant to your industry, expertise, or target audience. Share insightful content, engage in conversations, and offer valuable advice to showcase your expertise and establish credibility.
- Set up your search preferences: Sales Navigator allows you to customize your search parameters based on your target audience and ideal prospects. Set up your preferences to ensure you receive relevant lead and account recommendations.
- Save leads and accounts: Use the Lead and Account Saving feature to organize your prospects and manage your sales pipeline. Monitor their updates, news, and activities to identify sales opportunities and tailor your outreach accordingly.
- Utilize TeamLink: If you have a Sales Navigator Team or Enterprise account, leverage the TeamLink feature to uncover warm introductions through your team’s connections. This can help open doors to new prospects and accelerate deals.
- Engage with insights and content: Sales Navigator provides valuable insights, content, and articles related to your saved leads and accounts. Utilize this information to engage with prospects and facilitate meaningful conversations.
- Combine Sales Navigator with LinkedIn Campaign Manager: For businesses running LinkedIn advertising campaigns, integrating Sales Navigator with LinkedIn Campaign Manager can help enhance targeting and retargeting capabilities, improving overall campaign performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Sales Navigator primarily focuses on sales professionals, offering advanced lead and account targeting, CRM integration, and access to LinkedIn’s PointDrive. LinkedIn Premium caters to a broader audience, providing features like InMail, expanded profile visibility, and access to LinkedIn Learning.
Sales Navigator is specifically designed for sales professionals, offering advanced features like lead recommendations, customized searches, and sales alerts. Sales Navigator is more suitable for sales teams seeking an edge in prospecting and lead generation than LinkedIn Premium.
Sales Navigator offers integration with CRM platforms like Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics, allowing seamless synchronization of prospect data. LinkedIn Premium does not provide CRM integration, making Sales Navigator a better choice for professionals using CRM tools.
LinkedIn Learning is available exclusively with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions. Sales Navigator subscribers do not receive access to LinkedIn Learning and would need a separate Premium subscription to access online courses.
Both Sales Navigator and LinkedIn Premium offer InMail messaging to connect with members outside one’s network. Sales Navigator, however, provides more monthly InMail credits and a team-based pooled InMail feature, valuable for sales professionals seeking to engage with prospects.
