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Can LinkedIn Gold members see who views their profile?



Can LinkedIn Gold members see who views their profile?


LinkedIn says this in its Help Center FAQ: "If you’re not a Premium member, some of these features are unavailable." But that's only half true! You can still check who views your profile or even block others. It just won't be as easy as it used to be.

When I was first introduced to LinkedIn years ago, there were two ways to manage who could access your personal information. On one hand, you could pay $100/year to unlock all of the features available to everyone. Or, you could join the gold tier membership which costs $500 per year -- but includes a lot more than just viewing profiles. For example, gold members also get unlimited searches, advanced analytics, and custom reports. There are also several other benefits like enhanced security, priority support, and discounts at partner sites. And with LinkedIn's recent acquisition of Lynda, gold members will now gain access to thousands of courses taught by industry experts.

But what about those people who aren't willing to spend money and want to know exactly who sees their profile? Well, it turns out there are still plenty of options. Let me explain...

What does the blue LinkedIn symbol mean?

The blue symbol means anyone who isn't a paid subscriber can view your public profile. If you're paying attention, you might notice that the blue icon doesn't appear next to your full name. That's because LinkedIn has changed things up so that if you've opted into sharing your background info publicly, then anyone else can view it too. So while you may think other people cannot see who looks at your profile, that depends entirely upon whether or not you've chosen to share it publicly.

What does a yellow LinkedIn symbol mean?

A yellow LinkedIn symbol means that any person looking at your profile page can send private messages to you via email. This applies to both users with accounts and non-users alike. This feature is useful for connecting with new contacts and finding out more details about them. However, the downside is that you'll receive unsolicited emails from strangers. In addition, this feature allows LinkedIn to track where visitors come from -- so keep that in mind before sending out invitations.



What does the 3rd+ mean on LinkedIn?

3rd+ refers to the number of total connections you have within the network. The higher the number, the better. As we mentioned earlier, gold members enjoy increased search capabilities, customized reporting tools, etc., but most importantly, they gain access to a large pool of potential candidates. With every connection comes a chance to expand your professional network, and since LinkedIn uses algorithms to suggest connections based off commonalities, having lots of connections helps make sure you connect with quality professionals.

1st 2nd & 3rd on LinkedIn

"First" is the highest position a user can achieve on LinkedIn. These positions include being a CEO, CFO, VP, Director, Manager, Engineer, Architect, Scientist, Professor, Researcher, Author, Journalist, Consultant, Trainer, Coach, Entrepreneur, Student, Intern, and Volunteer. Each level offers different perks such as additional visibility, special privileges, and improved communication channels.

2nd consists of Senior Managers, Executives, Directors, Professionals, Experts, Professors, Researchers, Scientists, Engineers, Architects, Advocates, Authors, Journalists, Educators, Trainers, Coaches, Consultants, Entrepreneurs, Students, and Volunteers. While the majority of these levels offer similar perks, each one offers unique opportunities depending on the type of work you do. For instance, being a professor gives you the ability to teach students online classes, whereas being an author grants you the privilege to write books.

Lastly, 3rd is made up of Professionals, Employer Branding Leaders, Influencers, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, Social Media Stars, Public Figures, Celebrities, Thought Leaders, Creators, Writers, Bloggers, Photographers, Filmmakers, Designers, Artists, Musicians, Singers, Actors, Models, Athletes, Performers, Politicians, Activists, Scholars, Thinkers, Scientists, Technologists, Visionaries, and Inspirations. Not all of these jobs require a degree, but rather a passion for the job itself.

What is 1st 2nd and 3rd on LinkedIn?

As we discussed above, LinkedIn ranks individuals according to three main categories: First, Second, Third. Although this ranking system varies slightly between countries, here's the breakdown:

First: CEOs, CFOs, VPs, Directors, Managers, Professionals, Experts, Professors, Researchers, Scientists, Engineers, Architects, Advocates, Authors, Editors, Publishers, Educators, Teachers, Trainers, Coaches, Advisors, Mentors, Founders, Investors, Entrepreneurs, Students, Interns, and Volunteers.

Second: Chief Sales Officers, Vice Presidents, Sales Managers, Associate Managers, Account Executives, Supervisors, Marketing Managers, Advertising Managers, and Regional Sales Managers.

Third: Specialty Managers, Associate Managers, Account Executives, Project Managers, Production Managers, Field Service Representatives, Field Operations Managers, Customer Support Reps, Technical Support Represenatives, Web Content Management Team Leads, Programmers, Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, Software Engineers, IT Administrators, Information Security Analyst, Network Administrator, System Administrator, Database Administrator, Systems Integration Engineer, Application Developer, Infrastructure Engineer, Enterprise Applications Developer, Data Warehouse Operative, Computer Operator, Cloud Solutions Specialist, SysOps Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Mobile Apps Developer, Java Developer, PHP Developer, ASP.NET Developer, Ruby on Rails Developer, iOS App Developer, Android App Developer, JavaScript Developer, Python Developer, CSS Designer, Graphic Artist, Motion Graphics Designer, Game Tester, Audio Mixer, Videographer, Sound Editor, Video Producer, Radio DJ, Music Composer, Film Composer, Photographer, Writer, Fashion Designer, Interior Decorator, Actor, Model, Makeup Artist, Singer, Musician, Entertainer, Performer, Athlete, Sportsperson, Playwright, Screenwriter, Poet, Novelist, Filmmaker, Director, Cinematographer, Producer, Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher, Librarian, Tutor, Lawyer, Attorney, Physiotherapist, Dentist, Surgeon, Podiatrist, Optometrist, Audiologist, Ophthalmologist, Chiropractor, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Veterinarian, Zookeeper, Astronaut, Space Shuttle Pilot, Flight Test Pilot, Air Traffic Controller, Military Officer, Nurse, Doctor, Pharmacist, Veterinarian, Physical Therapist, Speech Pathologist, Veterinary Technician, Medical Assistant, Paramedic, Emergency Room Attendant, Fire Fighter, Police Officer, Crime Scene Investigator, Forensics Expert, Forensic Anthropologist, Criminal Justice Instructor, Detective, Prison Guard, Judge, Prosecutor, Advocate, Law Firm Partner, Corporate Executive, Administrative Professional, Human Resources Manager, Employee Relations Manager, Financial Advisor, Insurance Agent, Real Estate Broker, Mortgage Banker, Loan Processor, Investment Banker, Fund Raiser, Political Campaign Organizer, Policy Maker, Environmentalist, Greenhouse Grower, Farmer, Biologist, Nutritionist, Botanist, Horticulturist, Agronomist, Arborist, Animal Caretaker, Zoo Keeper, Aquarist, Wildlife Rehabilitator, Hunter, Fisherman, Tracker, Ranger, Naturalist, Scoutmaster, Explorer, Guide, Tour Leader, Archaeological Excavator, Geologist, Surveyor, GIS Analyst, Landscape Architect, Civil Engineering Contractor, Construction Supervisor, Construction Worker, Carpenter, Painter, Plumber, Electrician, Mechanic, Machinist, Welding Inspector, Sheet Metal Fabricator, Machine Shop Owner, Toolmaker, Welder, Shipbuilder, Marine Engineer, Naval Constructor, Nuclear Power Plant Operator, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Aircrew, Aviation Ground Staff, Avionics Technician, Navigator, Pilots, Flight Control Engineer, Flight Deck Crew Member, Helicopter Pilot, Combat Search And Rescue, Commercial Drone Pilot, Disaster Relief Coordinator, Disaster Victim Identification, Emergency Response Coordinator, Lifeguard, Park Ranger, Park Superintendent, Forest Ranger, Conservation Warden, Bait Shoper, Fish Finder, Seeker, Watercraft Captain, Yacht Master, Jet Ski Racer, Boater, Sea Cadet, Swimmer, Lifesaving Hero, Surfboard Rider, Skier, Snowboarder, Snowmobile Driver, Motorcycle Rider, Rally Car Driver, Racecar Driver, Dirt Bike Racer, Motocross Racer, Bicycle Racer, BMX Racer, Track Cyclist, Triathlete, Cross Country Runner, Marathon Runner, Discus Thrower, Shot Putter, Pole Vault Throwing Champion,

The question of whether or not you should pay for LinkedIn was asked and answered in the comments section of this article back in January 2020. You’re probably wondering what happened there. I know I am! But let me explain…

In case you missed it, we received some feedback that our post on “How to Stop LinkedIn From Telling Someone Who Viewed Their Profile That They Did So Anonymously” was misleading because you could still be tracked by third parties after logging off. We wanted to clarify as best we could but couldn’t change the headline due to copyright issues with one of the images used. It just wouldn’t fit.

But now, thanks to our friends at Forbes, we have more information about LinkedIn's privacy policies regarding viewing profiles anonymously versus publicly. And while this doesn’t answer all questions - like how long you are being tracked - it certainly gives us a better understanding of why paying for LinkedIn might make sense. 

So, what do you get on a premium membership LinkedIn?

LinkedIn Premium offers access to additional features such as customizing your professional summary and adding a headshot photo to your profile. This means having a personal brand online will allow you to stand out among others in your industry.

It also allows you to create lists of contacts based on specific criteria including mutual connections, location, company affiliation, education background, job title, etc. In addition, you can use LinkedIn Groups to collaborate with colleagues and build relationships with potential clients.

You also gain access to advanced search tools that help connect with professionals, companies, and organizations. And finally, you receive alerts whenever new jobs appear that match your skillset so you never miss out on opportunities.

What does a premium LinkedIn account get you?

One thing most people agree upon is that LinkedIn is a great way to network and discover business partners. There are over 500 million users worldwide and only 20% of them actually purchase a paid subscription. The rest rely on LinkedIn advertising to generate revenue.

According to LinkedIn itself, its top five sources of ad revenue include:

- Sponsored Content Ads (32%)

- Company Pages & Influencer Campaigns (24%)

- Promoted Updates (21%)

- Job Alerts (16%)

- Advertisers/Ad Networks (5%)

That said, according to LinkedIn research conducted in 2019, the average person spends around 7 minutes per day using social media platforms. Of those seven minutes, approximately 50% of time is spent on Facebook. Another 25% of time is spent on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, Pinterest, Reddit, TikTok, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram.

According to LinkedIn, 70% of consumers trust reviews posted on sites like Yelp, Trip Advisor, Booking.com, Amazon, and eBay. However, less than half of these same customers would read a review written by someone in their own field.

Additionally, 75% of consumers say they prefer interacting directly with brands via email rather than reading reviews, blog posts, videos, or articles. Only 30% of consumers check social media regularly. The remaining 10% of consumers either skip checking social media altogether or do very little.

Given this data, it makes sense to spend money on LinkedIn. If you want to succeed today, you must take advantage of every opportunity available to grow your audience. With a few clicks, you can reach thousands of targeted prospects, regardless of where they live, work, or go to school.

Another benefit of spending money on LinkedIn is that you can track who views your profile and keep tabs on competitors. Plus, you can create multiple accounts under different identities to hide any negative reviews or complaints.

Why do people have LinkedIn premium?

I think the main reason people join LinkedIn is to stay relevant in the workplace. As mentioned above, there are hundreds of millions of active users worldwide, which is pretty impressive. According to Statista, there were 631 million users in 2019 alone. Considering that number continues to increase each year, it shows that LinkedIn is here to stay.

If you're looking to advance professionally, building your personal brand is key. By creating a strong digital footprint, you'll be able to showcase yourself as a leader in your industry and attract employers seeking talent.

As far as concerns about privacy, all businesses collect customer data. What matters is whether or not you share yours. For example, it may seem harmless enough to upload a picture of your dog to Facebook, but if you then ask for advice from your dog's owner, it could end up getting back to them. Or worse yet, if they decide to sell your contact info to another service provider, you've given away valuable marketing material.

There are plenty of ways to protect your identity and avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. Here are several tips to consider before posting anything on public forums:

- Never give out your full name, address, phone numbers, date of birth, Social Security Number, credit card information, bank details, or login credentials to anyone. These things can easily be found through Google searches.

- Use caution when sharing sensitive information. Be sure to delete any inappropriate content once shared.

- Don't forget to remove links from old websites. When you leave a website, always click "back" instead of "forward." Doing so will prevent your history from showing up in search results.

- Change passwords frequently. Keep a password manager handy to save yourself from losing important documents. Also, write down the answers to security questions to ensure you remember them.

- Update your passwords often. Make sure you have unique ones for everything.

- Consider setting up two-factor authentication to add another layer of protection.

These steps won't guarantee safety against hackers, but they can minimize risks associated with providing too much information.

Do you really need LinkedIn premium?

For starters, even if you aren’t interested in selling your services or products, LinkedIn is still useful for networking and finding future employees. Plus, you can leverage your profile to promote your business.

If you already have an established presence on LinkedIn, you should definitely upgrade to a premium account. Not only will you unlock extra functionality, but you'll also be able to track who views your profile and keep tabs on competitors.

If you haven't created an account yet, you can try signing up for a free trial. Once you start seeing ads pop up on your screen, you'll understand the value of upgrading.

LinkedIn recently changed its privacy policy which will allow all users of the site to see who viewed their profiles. This means that anyone viewing your LinkedIn page no matter whether or not they are a member of the service can now easily discover this information – even if it's just by searching Google using the phrase "viewed [yourname]".

The change was announced in April 2020 but only went into effect at midnight on May 23, 2021. It applies to both paid and unpaid accounts. The new feature allows those who pay for access to see exactly what others do when they visit their profile – including details such as gender, age range, job title, industry, company size, location, education level, languages spoken, number of connections, etc., according to LinkedIn itself.

While some may be more concerned about being stalked than others, there’s one group of people who seem to take particular umbrage over this decision – the millions of paid users who have opted for a Premium membership. They argue that while they're willing to part with $25 per month for additional features like custom domain names, enhanced email management tools, and advanced analytics, they should also get the option to keep their personal data private.

So let's break down exactly why this might be so important to them. But first, we need to look at what LinkedIn actually says...

What can people with LinkedIn premium see?

People with a paid Premium subscription can see certain things listed under the Account tab within their Profile Settings. These include:

- Number of Followers - Total number of people following you on LinkedIn

- View Count - Shows the total number of times your post was shared across LinkedIn platforms

- Views All Posts - How often your posts were seen by everyone else on LinkedIn

- Connections - Total number of people you follow on LinkedIn

- Groups You Are Following - List of groups where you've been invited to join

As well as these basic metrics, paid subscribers gain access to:

- Custom Domain Name - Allows you to set up a URL for your LinkedIn profile that includes your own brand instead of the generic.linkedin address

- Advanced Analytics - Provides deeper insights into how your content performs online

- Enhanced Email Management Tools - Lets you manage multiple emails addresses directly from your LinkedIn inbox

- Personalized Landing Pages - Can create unique landing pages for each type of visitor on LinkedIn

- Ability to Edit Your Headline & Bio - A way to make changes to your headline and bio before sharing publicly

And finally, people with a paid account can also use LinkedIn Search to filter results based on:

- Gender

- Age Range

- Job Titles

- Industry Categories

- Company Size

If you're wondering why any of the above would be useful and relevant, here's why...



What does LinkedIn symbol next to name mean?

A lot of us know that LinkedIn uses a special icon next to our names to indicate the kind of connection we have with another person. If you receive a request from someone asking you to connect, then they'll typically send you a link via email containing a preview image of their profile. That picture contains the same LinkedIn icon indicating their relationship status to you.

In most cases, the icon consists of two arrows facing either left or right. However, there are exceptions where LinkedIn decides to add something extra to the mix. For example, I'm a Platinum Member on the site and therefore have access to more advanced features. So I received a message from a stranger requesting me to connect because he had noticed that I was a member of several professional organizations. When I clicked through to his profile, I saw the same icon used to signify that I am connected to him. This indicates that he's a Senior Manager.

However, if someone sends me a message asking me to connect and they aren't already a friend on LinkedIn, it doesn't necessarily tell me what their current position is. Instead, I'd see a different icon showing what their relationship status is to me. In this case, it appears that they're a Friend.

What does LinkedIn logo next to name mean?

Another thing that comes up quite frequently is the LinkedIn logo next to our names. Sometimes we'll come across messages saying "Followed" and sometimes "Connected." What does this actually mean?

It depends entirely upon whom you're messaging! Here's a breakdown of what you could encounter depending upon your relationship status:

- Followed: Someone followed you on LinkedIn.

- Connected: Someone added you as a contact on LinkedIn.

- Accepting Request: Someone sent you a request to connect on LinkedIn.

- Blocked: Someone blocked you on LinkedIn.

- Unfollowed/Unconnected: Someone unfollowed you on LinkedIn.

You can learn more about how to interact with your followers and friends on LinkedIn.

2nd and 3rd meaning next to name on LinkedIn

When you sign up for a LinkedIn profile, you usually fill in a form stating your occupation and possibly a few keywords associated with your career field. As soon as you click submit, LinkedIn gives you the option of specifying how close your second and third positions match.

For example, if you specify Finance&Accounting Director as your primary role and Marketing Lead as your secondary, then LinkedIn automatically fills in the blanks below your name with the words Second and Third respectively.

Many of us ignore the box until later on, assuming that LinkedIn will figure it out for us anyway. And for the vast majority of us, it seems to work fine. However, there are still a handful of people who prefer to leave the fields blank. Then, when they check their LinkedIn feed they notice that LinkedIn hasn't filled in the blanks correctly.

When this happens, LinkedIn will prompt you to enter the correct information. But unless you want to go back and edit your original entry, you'll probably just end up leaving the boxes empty again. After all, what's the point in making an effort if nobody knows that you did it in the first place?!

3 tips for keeping LinkedIn updated about your LinkedIn activity

1. Check your LinkedIn notifications regularly

Notifications are a great way to stay informed about everything happening on LinkedIn. By default, every time you log onto LinkedIn, your home screen shows you all the latest updates regarding your subscriptions, contacts, networks, and news items posted on your behalf.

But you can turn off specific types of alerts by going to 'Settings' then selecting 'My Notifications'. From here you can select the options you wish to opt out of receiving.

2. Create a calendar reminder

One of the best ways to ensure that LinkedIn keeps track of your activity is by creating a calendar reminder. Once you've created one, simply schedule it to pop up whenever you open LinkedIn. At first glance, you may think that this won't help you too much since you can see everything that's happened on LinkedIn in real time. However, having a reminder popping up once a week reminds you to update your profile.

It also helps you remember to reply to those requests coming in from strangers. Plus, you never know when LinkedIn might miss something. On top of that, it lets you remind yourself to complete tasks that haven't yet made it onto your list.

3. Use LinkedIn Desktop App

Finally, if you really hate working on LinkedIn via browser, you can download the official app. There are plenty of reasons to stick with the desktop version, mainly involving customization. With an iPhone or Android device, you can customize the interface to fit your needs.

On top of that, you can save articles, videos, podcasts, and other media straight to your phone or tablet. Another advantage is that you can always share files between devices. Even better, you can synchronize your documents, photos, and calendars. Finally, you can upload images and PDFs directly to your LinkedIn profile.

There are lots of benefits to downloading the full-version of LinkedIn. And after signing up for a 30 day trial, you can decide for yourself whether or not it makes sense to continue paying for the monthly fee.

How to stop LinkedIn from telling someone you viewed their profile

We mentioned earlier that LinkedIn wants to give you the ability to see who visits your profile. Unfortunately, this isn't possible for people who don't have a paid membership. But fear not, there's a solution that works for everyone.

First, head to the My Info section located at the bottom of your profile. Underneath your last name, you'll see three links labeled Hide Visitor Statistics. Click the middle button, then select Yes.

Once you've done this, LinkedIn will ask permission to hide your stats from public view. Next, click OK and enjoy watching visitors scroll past your profile.


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