Are you LinkedIn®?

Part 3 – LinkedIn® Recommendations

By Mary Mekelburg, Social Media Strategist/Coach

 

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While a lot of ‘cool’ things are happening in the world of communications and media, we recognize that transmission of information, which data we analyze and how, and connecting around the globe will never quite look the same again. Virtual trade shows, webinars, Skype and ‘Go To Meeting’ have been great solutions for companies looking to reduce their travel and expense budgets.

On November 5, 2009, FTA- Great Lakes held its first regional meeting at Lauterbach Group, our host member site. I believe all who attended will agree that in this time of challenges and pressure from tight margins, there’s nothing quite like shaking the hand of a colleague, and taking the opportunity to re-connect and share a few laughs. We inquire about business, health and family; offer assistance and exchange the most recent contact information. I challenge each of us to take it a step further. Do we have a colleague or acquaintance whose work ethic we can recommend from firsthand experience? That’s the ‘light bulb’, our signal to write a LinkedIn® Recommendation.

A LinkedIn® Recommendation can validate skills, serve as a testimony to a person’s work ethic, or endorse their expertise. It can serve as a checkered or caution flag when searching for a business partner or service provider; and gives credibility to the history entered into a profile. (It’s like reading the ‘comments’ under a book title on Amazon before buying or downloading it). As professionals in today’s workforce are said to change companies and career paths up to seven times during their life, the Recommendation that you accept to your LinkedIn® profile stays with you as long as you choose; regardless of where your connection works or lives. Recruiters regularly troll LinkedIn® to fill their customer orders; I have seen jobs posted to LinkedIn® that include a Recommendation requirement. People have asked me, ‘How many should I have?”. Six is the recommended base number. And the best way to get a recommendation is buy providing remarkable service in whatever you do.

Three types of recommendations are:

• Spontaneous: typically sparked by receiving or observing remarkable service
• You can Request a recommendation – for example at the end of a successful project
• Or you can Reciprocate: respond with a recommendation after receiving one

Write a Recommendation for your first degree connection:

1. From your LinkedIn® home page, go to ‘connections’ on the left.
2. Select the person’s name and go to ‘Recommend this person’ to the right of their profile.
3. Select the position; then the basis for your relationship and both of your titles at the time.
4. Write a short summary that includes reference to your working relationship; a line or two about the demonstrated skill, character trait or work ethic. When you are finished, click ‘SEND’.
5. An auto-generated email will notify the recipient, and redirect them to LinkedIn® where they can 1) accept and show, 2) accept and hide, 3) request a replacement, or 4) archive it.
6. Once a Recommendation is accepted, it is visible on both parties’ profiles.

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” Dale Carnegie

Part of that networking I talked about earlier takes place when we observe and listen to people around us; managers, people in support roles, worker bees, suppliers, etc. The nicest surprise and one of the most affirming things that can happen, is to receive an unsolicited Recommendation. Who can you recommend today?

In our next installment, we’ll talk about LinkedIn® Groups

Until next time,
Mary

About the Author:
Mary Mekelburg is a Social Media Coach. She has presented the mechanics and strategy of using LinkedIn to Small Business, in an academic setting and to job seekers. Having experience in the corporate world, non-profit and small business, Mary can relate to the needs, requirements and constraints of each; as well as propose strategies to help an individual or company stand out.  Mary has found that working with individuals on their own pc/laptop is an effective way to increase familiarity and build confidence in using Social Media.

Mary lives in Theresa, Wisconsin near the Theresa/Allenton Marsh with her husband Dick, and kitty, Jenga.  Mary most recently worked at QuadTech, a Quad/Graphics subsidiary where Mary spent the better part of three years immersing herself in the ‘how does it work?’ segment of package printing. She enjoys connecting with people, following Social Media trends closely, reading and bird watching. Connect with Mary at www.linkedin.com/in/marymekelburg.

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