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October 2011
How to Enhance Your LinkedIn Profile with Recommendations
When your LinkedIn profile displays recommendations from others, you are three times as likely to get inquiries through LinkedIn searches. Recommendations are a great way to increase your credibility, regardless of whether you're searching for a job.
As long as your LinkedIn profile remains active, you should continue to add new references. Include endorsements from a cross-section of everyone you've done business with:
- clients and customers
- business partners, colleagues, and co-workers
- supervisors and managers
- employees and people you've supervised
- teachers and fellow students
Recommendations you receive are listed at the bottom of your profile in the "Experience" section.
One of the key elements to creating a "100 percent complete" profile is having at least three recommendations. When I reviewed my profile, I discovered that it was 95 percent complete. I needed one more recommendation to achieve the 100 percent mark.
I am a teacher, writer, consultant, and project manager. Rather than attempting to gather recommendations for all the components of my job, I decided to tackle them one at a time.
I browsed my list of LinkedIn connections and found 20 people who had recently taken one of my social media marketing workshops. All of them had told me in person that they enjoyed my class, so I suspected they'd be willing to write me a recommendation.
The secret to obtaining a LinkedIn recommendation:
Make it easy for the endorser to recommend you. Instead of e-mailing them, use the "Request Recommendations" tool within LinkedIn.
- To do this, click the "Profile" tab and the "Recommendations" link.
- From the Recommendations Management page, click "Request Recommendations."
From there, choose the specific job or school for which you want a recommendation, and select up to 200 connections to request recommendations from.
Next, write your message, which LinkedIn automatically customizes with each recipient's name and sends as an individual e-mail to that person.
Customize the Subject Line
LinkedIn's Subject line defaults to, "Can you endorse me?" I personalized my Subject line: "Would you recommend my workshop teaching on LinkedIn?" Then I composed my request:
"I'm writing a series of columns about LinkedIn for my local business journal. My next column will explain how to create a 100% complete LinkedIn profile. When I checked my profile, it shows 95% completion -- I need one more recommendation to reach the 100% mark.
"Would you be willing to submit a brief (1-2 sentence) LinkedIn recommendation about your experience in the social media workshop(s) I taught? I'd be ever so grateful!"
Within two hours, I had received six new recommendations, and additional recommendations trickled in over the next few days.
Show or Hide Recommendations
As I collected recommendations, I discovered that they don't automatically display on your profile. You must first accept each one, and then choose whether to show or hide it on your profile.
To manage your recommendations, go to the "Recommendations" page and click "Received Recommendations."
Skim through your jobs listing. Recommendations associated with a particular job will be marked "Visible" or "Hidden."
Click "Manage" to show or hide individual recommendations.
Return the Favor
LinkedIn recommendations thrive on the "you scratch my back; I'll scratch yours" philosophy. When you accept a recommendation, LinkedIn prompts you to recommend that person in return. If you feel comfortable endorsing that person, go ahead. It's a nice way of saying thank you.
Even better, recommend someone without them asking you to. Chances are, they'll return the favor.
Let's Connect on LinkedIn
If you'd like to connect with me on LinkedIn (or write me a recommendation), here's a link to my account):
Blogging Bistro Company Page on LinkedIn:
If the thought of setting up a LinkedIn account and customizing your profile gives you the heebie-jeebies, call us at 425.244.4242. We'll set it up for you. We also provide one-on-one coaching to help you make the most out of your social marketing. Contact us now: info@bloggingbistro.com
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