The #1 Myth of Paying For LinkedIn

BY: Lindsey McMillion Stemann

It’s that new pair of shoes that you are so excited to wear tomorrow. Sure, you hope that people compliment you on them, but even then, it isn’t about that. It’s about feeling good, looking good and having confidence. Am I right?

Over time though, the shoes get worn out and they don’t look as crisp and fresh as they once did…And that’s okay because we understand that’s the nature of getting something new and using it. I always thought when this happened to my shoes that I only had two options:

  • Pretend they aren’t getting old and keep wearing them to an embarrassing state (“but they’re my favorite”) or
  • Chuck them (trash or donate).

Enter: My husband. He taught me something that many of you likely already know and that is: There’s actually a third option. You can spruce up those worn kicks by giving them a little extra TLC. Use an old toothbrush and stain remover, then toss them in the washing machine. Even with high heels, I can do the same thing by taking them to a shoe repairer to give them new life. Nearly good as new.

When my husband did this for the first time earlier in our marriage, I was blown away! I would have lost the bet that he had not just bought brand new shoes—that’s how great they looked! Before, I thought my only solution was opening my wallet and buying another pair of shoes, but it turns out that isn’t the case.

Okay…So, where am I going with this and how in the world do shoes relate to LinkedIn?

Over the past almost eight years I’ve trained thousands of people on how to increase their knowledge on LinkedIn to impact their [fill in the blank]… Revenue by getting more times at bat, candidate pipeline to hire top talent, career in engaging with potential employers the right way. One misconception that I consistently hear each year is:

I NEED TO PAY FOR LINKEDIN PREMIUM TO HAVE A BETTER PROFILE:”

My friend, this is just not true. I’m sorry if you have been leaning on that myth to be your excuse for having a mediocre LinkedIn profile, but it is important for you to know the truth. Your misunderstanding could be the thing holding you back from having an amazing presence on the most prominent online platform in the world!

So, let me remind you that you DO NOT HAVE TO PAY for any level of premium (yes, there are multiple paid subscription options) in order to have an incredible profile that is:

  • A true reflection of your credibility and reputation
  • Completely built out the right way to increase your chances of showing up in search results when someone is looking for a professional like you
  • A standout to capture viewer’s attention and keep them there

There are many things in life we cannot control. Our LinkedIn profile is not one of them. Stop settling for a bland, outdated, incomplete profile. Revisit it and bring out the toothbrush to give it new life.

That proud and confident feeling is within reach.

Feeling uninspired or lost on where to start? Get access to our free “Rock Your Profile” guide. I’m here to help.

As Principal of McMillion Consulting, Lindsey McMillion Stemann is a speaker, writer and prospecting trainer. She focuses on using LinkedIn as a business tool with financial advisors and has worked with thousands of professionals and teams to help them drive revenue for their businesses.

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