Unlock Your Career Potential: A Comprehensive Guide to LinkedIn Learning's Cost & Benefits

As the workplace constantly evolves through new technologies, skills gaps, and processes, continuous learning has become vital for advancing any career. Luckily, LinkedIn's online learning platform makes upskilling incredibly accessible.

What is LinkedIn Learning?

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) is an on-demand library of over 16,000 expert-led video courses covering an extensive range of professional development topics. Now a fully integrated piece of LinkedIn, the platform leverages this industry connection to deliver timely, relevant training.

Course Categories & Types

With new courses added weekly, the breadth of subjects spans leadership and management, marketing, IT, creative skills like graphic design and photography, data science and analysis, personal development and much more. Training is available in the forms of:

• Comprehensive courses with chapters and learning paths
• Quick instructional videos
• Expert Q&A sessions
• Downloadable exercise files and practice assets

Top Competitors

While several MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) providers exist like Coursera, Udacity, and edX, LinkedIn Learning stands out for its career-focused curriculum directly applicable to current workplace skills. However, it does face competition from:

• Pluralsight: Similar catalog focused on technical and creative skills
• SkillShare: Lower cost with user-created courses
• Udemy: Individual affordable courses from instructors worldwide

Cost & Access Options

LinkedIn also offers a one month free trial. Following the trial, basic individual access to LinkedIn Learning costs $39.99 per month or $19.99 per month with an annual subscription. Access is also included with a LinkedIn Premium account. 

However, many companies provide access as an employee benefit, colleges/universities often include it in tuition fees, and many public libraries grant free access to members with an active library card. 

For example, California residents can access LinkedIn Learning courses for free via state-funded access through participating public libraries. 

Top Course Recommendations:

For professionals interested in personal branding, thought leadership, career development or general business skills, here are some top LinkedIn Learning courses:

• Creating Your Personal Brand by Lida Citroen
• Advance Your Thought Leadership (Learning Path)
• Developing a Feedback Mindset to Accelerate Your Career
• Strategic Thinking by Dorie Clark

LinkedIn Learning also allows you to gain certifications which you can - and should! - add to your LinkedIn profile.  

With courses averaging just 1-2 hours with convenient mobile viewing, LinkedIn Learning makes continuously upgrading your skills an efficient way to future-proof your professional brand.

Have you tried LinkedIn Learning? What courses do you recommend? Let us know on social media (links below). 

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At New Terra Digital, we understand that each person’s LinkedIn experience, goals, and current strategies are unique and offer strategy sessions where you lead the conversation. If you’d like to schedule a 30-minute session, you can do so here. 

Also, we offer numerous resources and guidance through our social media channels and newsletters - LinkedIn, Instagram, Newsletter sign up.