Recommendations can provide Search Engine Optimization (SEO) results — meaning, they will help you get found — both on LinkedIn as well as on search engines. Use industry-specific terminology in your Recommendations. Keywords included in LinkedIn Recommendations also receive emphasis in search engine results — especially searches within LinkedIn. When conducting a keyword search, all the keywords in a profile are indexed, and profiles with a high match of relevant keywords come up higher in the results listings. Although LinkedIn’s specific algorithms are secret, some experts suggest that keywords in Recommendations receive double the rankings of keywords provided in the profile itself.
How many Recommendations you have on your profile depends on how many contacts you have. A good guideline is 1-2 Recommendations for every 50 connections. Ideally, these will be a variety of individuals — not just supervisors, but co-workers, people you supervise, and clients/customers. Choose quality over quantity.
Recommendations should be built up over time. Because Recommendations have a date attached to them, don’t try to solicit all of your Recommendations at once. Don’t write and send your Recommendations all at once either. Recommendations are date-stamped, so the reader will be able to see when they were added to your page. It’s best if they are added gradually, over time.
In this post, we’ll review what to write in a Recommendation, and then show you how to actually make a Recommendation on LinkedIn. Finally, you’ll learn how to request your own Recommendations on LinkedIn.
Formula for a LinkedIn Recommendation
Before you write anything, take a look at your contact’s LinkedIn profile. Align your Recommendation with the individual’s LinkedIn profile. Tie in what you write with their headline, summary, and/or experience — reinforce the qualities they want to emphasize in the Recommendation you write. Look at the existing Recommendations they’ve received too.
Some things to consider include:
In general, you will want to showcase transferable skills, because these will be the most relevant for your contacts when they are using LinkedIn for a job search or business development.
The top 10 skills employers are looking for in employees are:
· Communication Skills (verbal and written)
· Integrity and Honesty
· Teamwork Skills (works well with others)
· Interpersonal Skills (relates well to others)
· Motivation/Initiative
· Strong Work Ethic
· Analytical Skills
· Flexibility and Adaptability
· Computer Skills
· Organizational Skills
These are the types of attributes you can focus on in your Recommendation. Next week, I will post a formula you can use to write a great Recommendation on LinkedIn.
How many Recommendations you have on your profile depends on how many contacts you have. A good guideline is 1-2 Recommendations for every 50 connections. Ideally, these will be a variety of individuals — not just supervisors, but co-workers, people you supervise, and clients/customers. Choose quality over quantity.
Recommendations should be built up over time. Because Recommendations have a date attached to them, don’t try to solicit all of your Recommendations at once. Don’t write and send your Recommendations all at once either. Recommendations are date-stamped, so the reader will be able to see when they were added to your page. It’s best if they are added gradually, over time.
In this post, we’ll review what to write in a Recommendation, and then show you how to actually make a Recommendation on LinkedIn. Finally, you’ll learn how to request your own Recommendations on LinkedIn.
Formula for a LinkedIn Recommendation
Before you write anything, take a look at your contact’s LinkedIn profile. Align your Recommendation with the individual’s LinkedIn profile. Tie in what you write with their headline, summary, and/or experience — reinforce the qualities they want to emphasize in the Recommendation you write. Look at the existing Recommendations they’ve received too.
Some things to consider include:
- What are they good at?
- What did they do better than anyone else?
- What impact did they have on me? (How did they make my life better/easier?)
- What made them stand out?
- Is there a specific result they delivered in this position?
- What surprised you about the individual?
In general, you will want to showcase transferable skills, because these will be the most relevant for your contacts when they are using LinkedIn for a job search or business development.
The top 10 skills employers are looking for in employees are:
· Communication Skills (verbal and written)
· Integrity and Honesty
· Teamwork Skills (works well with others)
· Interpersonal Skills (relates well to others)
· Motivation/Initiative
· Strong Work Ethic
· Analytical Skills
· Flexibility and Adaptability
· Computer Skills
· Organizational Skills
These are the types of attributes you can focus on in your Recommendation. Next week, I will post a formula you can use to write a great Recommendation on LinkedIn.
