How do I hide my LinkedIn premium badge?

If you're thinking about whether or not you should be showing off your LinkedIn premium badge on your LinkedIn profiles, then this article will help you decide which option suits you best!

We've all seen people with LinkedIn premium badges proudly displayed in their profile pictures and we assume that these are full-time employees (or freelancers) from companies big and small - but what exactly is it? And why would anyone want to display such a coveted badge?

In short, LinkedIn premium badges are awarded based upon certain criteria set out by LinkedIn. A member must have worked in a company with 500+ employees within the last two years, while being employed there for at least 6 months. In addition, they'll need to have achieved either level 5 or higher in their career management or leadership roles. They can also earn another premium badge if they work in a company with 100+ employees but less than 500.

The aim behind this is to allow them to showcase their experience and expertise within those respective sectors. However, some users may feel uncomfortable displaying their credentials because they fear that other potential employers might view them negatively. We'll discuss each scenario below.

Can premium LinkedIn see anonymous viewers?

This isn’t something that LinkedIn itself offers advice on, so it depends entirely on where you live and where your prospective employer lives too. If you’re applying for positions in the UK or US, chances are good that any employers who come across your LinkedIn profile won't even realize that your account has a premium badge attached to it.

However, if you’re looking for employment outside the UK or US then you could run into problems. Most likely, you’ll need to remove the LinkedIn premium badge before sending your CV to a foreign recruiter. That said, just remember that many recruiters will still accept applicants via email rather than using LinkedIn. So if you send your resume through a third party service like Indeed, Monster etc., then you may find yourself running into trouble when trying to hide your LinkedIn premium badge.

Can LinkedIn Premium members see private profile?

As mentioned above, the only way to ensure that your premium LinkedIn badge remains hidden is to delete your profile completely. You cannot edit your privacy settings once you've created a new profile. This means that if you want to remain invisible to everyone except current and past colleagues or clients, then deleting your profile is your best bet.

Of course, this comes with its own risks, especially if you use the same name elsewhere online. As well as losing access to your personal details, you risk having your name associated with bad reviews, comments and complaints left elsewhere on the internet. Of course, you can always create a different username if you wish, but bear in mind that doing so will affect your ability to search for open positions.

Can you anonymously look at someone's LinkedIn?

It sounds crazy, but yes, you can actually check out someone else's LinkedIn profile without revealing your identity to them. To do this, simply go to their page and click on ‘view details’ next to their picture. Once you've done this, you'll be able to read their summary and see their connections, including those whom they follow.

You can also click 'follow' to add them to your own feed. Be careful though—you never really know who you're following until you've clicked 'follow'. Some LinkedIn users will keep followers under wraps, meaning that they aren't aware that you've been added to their list.

Remember that most LinkedIn users will be very protective of their privacy, so tread lightly here!

What does the blue LinkedIn badge mean?

There are several ways to earn a Blue LinkedIn badge. Firstly, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements outlined above. Secondly, you'll need to spend at least 2 hours per week working towards your goals. For example, you might write articles and blog posts related to your industry, develop training courses and lead group discussions around topics relevant to your field of study. Thirdly, you'll need to reach at least 3 levels in your Career Management or Leadership role. Finally, you'll need to have spent at least six months working in a position with a company size between 100 and 500 employees.

The point of all this is simple—it shows that you have the right kind of qualifications and skills needed to succeed in a particular sector. Employers will often use this information to make decisions regarding hiring, promotion and pay rises. As such, it's important that you choose a title that reflects your achievements accurately.

So, what do you think? Should you be hiding your LinkedIn premium badge? Or should you flaunt it and let others know that you're worth your weight in gold? Tell us your thoughts down the comments section below!

1. How can you remove your LinkedIn profile picture

Firstly we'll go through how to remove your LinkedIn profile picture.

Log in to your account using your email address and password.

Click on Edit Profile & Settings under My Account.

Scroll down until you see 'Profile Picture' and click on it.

You'll now have an opportunity to change your current profile photo from a standard image to a square version with no borders.

To upload another photo, simply drag and drop it into the box below the existing file type selection options.

Once uploaded, select Save Changes next to it to save the new photo.

Your new profile picture will appear on your LinkedIn profile immediately after uploading.

It doesn't matter what size you choose for your new profile picture - just make sure it's large enough to fit within the available space.

Removing your LinkedIn profile picture – step 2

Now let’s take a closer look at removing your LinkedIn profile picture completely.

Navigate back to your profile page.

Underneath the main header bar, find the section titled ‘Edit Your Profile Information’ and expand it.

Scroll down until you see the heading called ‘Change Photo’.

Below this, there are three links labelled ‘Upload New Photo’, ‘Choose File’ and ‘Cancel’.

Select Upload New Photo and browse to locate the new profile picture you wish to use instead of the default LinkedIn profile picture.

When you've found the location where the new photo was saved, select Open.

A pop-up window will ask you to confirm whether you want to replace your current profile

If you're like most people, you've probably already heard about it – LinkedIn's new premium service called "Gold". But what exactly are its features? And how much does it cost? Let me explain...

In case you haven't yet seen this article or video from LinkedIn (which explains everything pretty well), here's a quick overview of how LinkedIn Gold works:

It costs $29 per month, which equates to around £19 / AU$34 / €24. That's less than half the price of Facebook's paid membership plan ($99 / £79 / AU$129). You'll need to pay up front for two years before you start getting access to all the features – but once you're signed up, you'll be able to enjoy some awesome benefits including:

- A personalised dashboard where you can keep track of all your notifications and messages

- Access to more advanced search tools

- More ways to connect with others through groups and events

- Your own custom domain so you can use your real name when searching for work opportunities

The key difference between LinkedIn's free version and the premium version is that only the latter will allow you to add unlimited connections. If you want to stay connected with everyone at work then you'll definitely want to upgrade!

But let's say you aren't interested in connecting with every single person in your company or industry; there's no reason why you shouldn't still sign up for LinkedIn Gold. In fact, many companies now actively encourage employees to become members because having a LinkedIn page gives them extra credibility when applying for jobs online, especially ones requiring references. So even though we may never actually meet face-to-face again, we might just find ourselves working together one day...

Here's our guide into the world of LinkedIn's premium offerings and whether or not you should join up.

How do you get the badge next to your name on LinkedIn?

You won't initially notice any changes to your LinkedIn profile unless you make one yourself - and even then it takes several weeks for these updates to appear live on your profile. By default, anyone who clicks on your name will be taken straight to your profile page - but if you'd prefer to direct them elsewhere, simply click the dropdown arrow beside your name > Profile Settings & Privacy and select 'Hide My Company Information'. This option hides any details relating to your current employer/employers along with your location and age information.

However, if you'd rather leave the whole thing visible (and get rid of those pesky ads too) then head back to your profile settings and change the visibility setting to Public. There's nothing stopping you from making your LinkedIn public after signing up for Gold either.

How do you get a blue check on LinkedIn?

A Blue Checkmark indicates that you have verified your identity via email address verification, telephone number validation, or government issued ID card. Once you verify your identity, you'll receive a notification confirming that you successfully completed the process. You can view your complete record of verified identities under 'My Verified Identities' within your Account menu.

Once you've received your first blue check mark, you'll automatically qualify for other perks such as being able to upload 100MB of files, adding 3 images to your profile, and sending 10 invitations to friends. To unlock these additional privileges, you'll need to earn another three checks.

What do the different colors mean on LinkedIn?

Red = Connected or Unconnected

Orange = Connecting

Yellow = No Connection Request Received

Green = New Message Sent

Blue = Viewed Profile

Purple = Followed Or Mentioned

Pink = Following

Gray = Notification

White = Blocked

Black = Private Mode

So far we've covered how to hide your LinkedIn premium badge, how to get a blue checkmark, and finally how to tell if someone has viewed your LinkedIn profile without logging in. Now let us take a look at what each color means…

Red = Connected or Unconnected

This red dot signifies that you have made contact with the user whose profile you were viewing. For example, if you clicked on a friend's profile (or theirs clicked on yours!), then your connection status would turn green instead of red. Similarly, clicking the inbox button beside a message sent to you would automatically open the inbox window displaying the sender's profile.

Orange = Connecting

When you hover over a specific username in the sidebar, you'll notice a small orange circle next to their name indicating that they're currently trying to reach out to you. Clicking this circle will reveal a popup box letting you choose whether or not you wish to accept the invitation.

Yellow = No Connection Request Received

As soon as you log in to LinkedIn, you'll begin receiving requests from other users wanting to connect with you. These requests are displayed in yellow, and can be accepted or declined depending on your preferences. Accepting a request enables you to send an instant reply to that individual, while declining removes the connection request altogether.

Green = New Message Sent

Any time you send a new message to another LinkedIn member, you'll receive a confirmation pop-up telling you whether or not the recipient read the message. Green dots indicate that your message was delivered, whereas red dots signify that your message wasn't opened.

Blue = Viewed Profile

If you visit a colleague's profile page, you'll instantly recognize the blue square logo next to their name. As long as you aren't logged out of your LinkedIn account, hovering over this symbol will display the visitor's full name and photo alongside their headline. Hovering over the image itself will give you options to save the picture onto your desktop or share it with a link.

Purple = Followed Or Mentioned

To follow someone else on LinkedIn, simply click the Follow button located below their profile picture. When following someone, you'll immediately gain access to both their posts AND their followers list. However, you must wait until the follower accepts your request before you can view his profile.

Pink = Following

To follow someone on LinkedIn, simply click the pink heart icon above their profile picture. This action initiates the follower request, allowing you to browse the profiles of the individuals you're interested in learning more about. After accepting the request, you'll be able to view their entire feed, plus the photos and videos they've uploaded to their profile.

Gray = Notification

Whenever someone comments on one of your posts, shares something interesting, or sends you an update, you'll receive a notification informing you of the event. This notification appears as a gray bubble floating over the relevant content. Simply click the notification to view the original comment, update, or share.

White = Blocked

When you block someone on LinkedIn, they cannot view your profile anymore. They can however continue to send you emails, invite you to group discussions, and otherwise interact with you using the site.

Black = Private Mode

Clicking the black lock icon will cause your LinkedIn profile to disappear completely from the internet. Users attempting to view your profile will be directed to a generic error screen stating that they are unable to locate you. While this feature isn't available right away, it's possible that LinkedIn could be introducing it in future versions of the app.

In short, LinkedIn's Gold service offers plenty of exciting features that could help boost your career prospects. Whether or not you decide to purchase the package depends entirely upon your needs, so let's break down some pros and cons to ensure you make an informed decision...

Pro: More options for finding new contacts

Con: Additional monthly fees required

Pro: Better ability to filter results based on keywords

Con: Potential privacy concerns due to increased exposure

Pro: Increased opportunity to promote your business

Con: Expensive

Should I buy LinkedIn Gold?

Personally speaking, I think that LinkedIn's Gold service is worth every penny. At least for now, it seems to offer better value than Facebook's paid plans, particularly given the wide range of cool features that come included. Even if you never intend to use any of these services, you'll still benefit from the valuable insights that LinkedIn provides into your competitors, peers, and colleagues.

Ultimately, deciding whether or not to subscribe to LinkedIn Gold boils down to one simple question: Do you want to spend money on advertising your business/career interests? If yes, then you'll likely appreciate the added convenience offered by LinkedIn's premium service.

Otherwise, stick to the free version of the website and reap the rewards that come with being part of the largest professional community on earth.

If you're looking to make your LinkedIn profile more attractive (or just want to be less obvious), then you might consider hiding some or all of it from public view. However, before doing this, bear in mind that while you may think you are being discreet about what you've done on LinkedIn, other people will still be able to find out about it – so there’s no guarantee that you'll keep your identity completely secret. 

So let me explain why you would want to go down the route of making yourself appear less active on LinkedIn and whether using Private Mode is enough to hide your LinkedIn activities from prying eyes.

First up, here's everything you need to know about LinkedIn Premium Membership (also known as 'Gold' membership) and its benefits. We'll come back to this later, but first things first...

How do I hide my activity on LinkedIn 2022?

You can only hide certain parts of your profile, including your company details, skills and experience. You cannot choose to remove these sections altogether, however, which means anyone with access to your LinkedIn profile can easily uncover information such as where you work and what role you play within it. To avoid this problem, you could try changing your display name, email address, phone number(s), location, and any other contact details to ensure they match those used on your CV. This won't stop others finding out about your employer – but it does mean that the person viewing your profile isn't immediately aware you use LinkedIn professionally.

To change your personal settings, click Edit Profile & Settings " Privacy Preferences " Hide My Activity On Linkedin. Here you can decide which parts of your LinkedIn profile you wish to conceal from the general public, including your current position, employment history, education history, skill sets, and much more.

Click Save Changes. Once saved, clicking View All will reveal hidden content, allowing you to check exactly what is visible to the world versus what you have chosen to share. If you haven't already got LinkedIn Premium, you can pay $6 per month (£5.50/€6.00/A$9.90). That gives you access to additional features like customisation options, advanced search filters, enhanced recommendations, and even discounts on courses and training through Coursera and Udemy.

Is private mode actually private LinkedIn?

Yes! Although you may assume that turning off Public Search (see below) hides your posts from public view, you'd be wrong. Your status updates, comments, connections, invites, groups, and messages remain online until deleted. But you don't necessarily want to delete every single message you send either because many companies monitor employee performance via monitoring tools -- and deleting all of your LinkedIn communications might cause problems. So instead, try keeping your most recent conversation open so you can pick up right where you left off.

This doesn't mean you can't control visibility. By default, LinkedIn displays your profile and your entire inbox, whereas you can restrict viewing to specific areas of interest. Clicking More Options under Account shows you the different ways to manage visibility. From here, you can select Who Can See Me and What They Can Do With Their Visibility Settings. These controls allow you to set restrictions on who sees your profile, your company page, group memberships, invitations sent, and more.

But remember: once you've turned off Public Search, you CANNOT re-enable it. So if you want to share something again, you'll have to create another posting.

What happens when you turn on private mode on LinkedIn?

When you turn on private mode on LinkedIn, your profile, connection requests, messages, messages, and notifications disappear from the public eye. Anyone trying to connect with you, invite you to join a group, request permission to follow you, or leave a comment will receive a notification asking them to resend their request.

However, if you do nothing else, you can simply switch to private mode in the future and revert to the way you were previously. You won't lose any of your data, nor will you have to worry about sharing sensitive information accidentally (as long as you aren't working outside of LinkedIn). And since your new privacy setting persists beyond the time you activate it, you won't have to repeat the process each time you log into LinkedIn.

And lastly, if you ever decide to go public again, switching back to non-private mode is easy too. Simply head to the same link above, click Edit Profile & Settings and uncheck the box next to Hide My Activity On Linkedin.

How can I look at someone's LinkedIn without them knowing?

While we recommend staying away from showing other people your LinkedIn profile, sometimes it might be necessary. For example, if you're applying for a particular role and want to demonstrate how well you fit the bill, having a peek at someone's LinkedIn profile is a great idea. In fact, it's probably better than a cold call - especially if they've recently applied for the same role.

In order for you to see someone's LinkedIn profile, you must first become a follower of theirs. Then, after following them, visit their profile and click Followers to open their list of followers. Now scroll down past everyone else and click Get Access to see their full profile.

You can also gain access to profiles belonging to people you're connected to, although you'll need to ask them for permission first. Just click Connections on their profile and click Request Permission to Follow. When you receive approval, you'll automatically gain access to their profile.

Another option is to use LinkedIn Advanced People Searches, which lets you browse the profiles of anyone you've been introduced to within LinkedIn. Open up the app and sign in if needed, then navigate to Jobs and Careers > Find Clients and Contacts. Type in the name of the person you want to view, and LinkedIn will give you a complete breakdown of their career path, key achievements, and relevant contacts.

As always, you should never share any confidential information during conversations unless you're sure that the person involved has agreed to it beforehand. And always make sure you're clear about the terms of service associated with whatever feature you're exploring.