Endorsements are a simple way to recognise someone in your network for their expertise in a specific field with just one click. Including skill endorsements in your profile can help you rank higher on LinkedIn search, build your personal brand, and attract the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.
LinkedIn Endorsements vs. Recommendations
First, it’s important to know that skill endorsements are different from LinkedIn recommendations. An endorsement is a specific skill that a colleague or friend can back you on. A recommendation is a short note from a professional who recommends you for a job or project based on their experience with you.
Ways to get more LinkedIn endorsements:
Start by adding the skills that are most relevant to you
Unlike the example given below it makes sense to select just a handful of skills that you want to showcase. With many choices some people become overwhelmed with choice and instead of endorsing you will simply skip on by. Keep your skills as relevant as possible and with fewer choices for endorsement people viewing your profile will choose them more readily.
Endorse fellow professionals
Start with your closest colleagues, since these are the people who you know the best and are most likely to return the favour. For these colleagues, endorse the skills you’ve seen them demonstrate in the workplace and they will be sure to reciprocate. After endorsing your closest colleagues, endorse the skills of those you met at important functions or during your time spent at work, such as clients, vendors, or freelancers.
Ask for endorsements on LinkedIn
Show your connections how much you value their abilities before asking them to endorse you on LinkedIn. It’s recommended to endorse specific skills of your customers, partners and other entrepreneurs to demonstrate that you admire their work. Don’t ask them for an endorsement right away. What matters most is to be genuine in your approach. If you endorse others first, they may return the favor. You can also politely ask your clients to endorse your skills if they feel you deserve it. For example, you could do it as soon as you complete a project or receive positive feedback from customers.
Post content often
Many people are on LinkedIn but few post content often. This means if you do post updates to LinkedIn you’ll be getting onto the radar of your connections. If you’re sharing insightful quotes and quality content you’ll also be giving them a reason to endorse you.
Say Thank you
As you get more LinkedIn endorsements this presents great networking opportunities for you. Saying thank you to people who endorse you is a great way to take your relationship with them from being a cold contact to being a real connection. Not only will this lead to more endorsement (often times people you that for endorsing you once will endorse you again) it can also create other business opportunities.
How to ask for a recommendation on LinkedIn
You can go about requesting a recommendation on LinkedIn the same way you would an endorsement, though you may want to consider giving a bit of extra direction. When asking for a recommendation on LinkedIn, giving your colleague the top three things you’d like to be known for, and ask them which three things they’d like to be known for, too, so you can return the favour for anything you can authentically speak to.
Bonus Tip: Use Endorsements as a steppingstone
If you do not have many recommendations the thank you message you send after getting an endorsement is a great time to ask for one.
If you’ve stayed on the sideline when it comes to LinkedIn endorsements, why not step into the game? When your endorsements are selective, smart, and savvy, they can add incredible value to your current career or job hunt.
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