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The Two-Edged Sword of LinkedIn Recommendations

By Donna Gilliland on Apr 19, 2012 in LinkedIn, Uncategorized

Write Genuine Recommendations

LinkedIn’s Definition

A recommendation is a comment written by a LinkedIn member to endorse a colleague, business partner, student, or service provider. People interested in hiring or doing business with someone often consider recommendations in making their decisions.

The two-edged sword of a LinkedIn Recommendation

Never give a recommendation on the sole basis of expecting one in return. Granted, giving a recommendation can result in receiving a recommendation. However, you don’t want to be recommended by someone who doesn’t know anything about you personally and or doesn’t know anything about the quality of your work or product. Should you get such a recommendation, don’t post it. You want all things to be credible where you are concerned.

Your recommendation puts your word on the line

When you give a recommendation it is your word that is on the line – remember that. An ethical person will not request friends and/or colleagues to write ingenious recommendations for them, nor will the ethical person do so for another. For those who follow this practice, it will become evident over time and result in a damaged reputation. If the person is not what they appear to be, then you will know it when you do business with them for the first or second time.

Asking for Recommendations

We all know if we are truly good at what we do and whether or not others concur. Reach out to those who you have done business with you and have built a solid reputation. These need to be connections that know you and/or your work first hand. Make certain they are recommending you on what they know about you. In order to clarify further, I mean that many of your connections may know of you but they do they really know about you?

Should I take stock in recommendations I read on profiles?

It is my belief that recommendations (like testimonials on your website) are valuable. They can provide insight that can help you one decide whether to hire or not to hire. 

When I look at the profiles of business connections on LinkedIn, one of the areas I look at are the recommendations. I want to know what others think of their work.

Remember these things and you will go far…

  1. Do the right thing and the right things will come your way.
  2. Never give a recommendation of anyone’s work if you have not witnessed their work first hand.
  3. Decline giving recommendations when requested if you don’t know anything about the person and/or their work.

I would love to hear from you. Leave your comments.

To your continued success,

~ Donna Gilliland

http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/DonnaGilliland

About the Author

Donna Gilliland is the Founder of MOSTraining, Inc. She is a certified and award-winning instructor. Donna provides training and consulting in Office and Social technologies. When Donna isn't teaching she is writing about what she teaches - she is a writer for OfficePro magazine.
  • http://www.nickpattersonfreelance.com Nick Patterson

    Always timely advice. An untrue recommendation does more harm than good for everyone concerned. Thanks!

    • Donna Gilliland

      Greetings Nick,

      Thanks for reading the article. I am glad you found it helpful.

      LinkedIn recommendations can increase credibility. It gives those who visit your profile a window into what others think about your work.

      To your continued success,

      ~ Donna

  • http://resonancecontent.com Rachel Parker

    Great post — thank you, Donna! One thing I don’t like about the new Endorsements feature is that it’s way too easy, and I find myself getting endorsements from people I’ve never even heard of, let alone worked with. Because of that, I hope LinkedIn never gets rid of the more formal Recommendations.

    And I love your #1 tip: “Do the right thing and the right things will come your way.” So true in life as well as in business!!!

    • Donna Gilliland

      Greetings Rachel and thank you for reading my article and providing your feedback.

      I have to agree with you on the Endorsements. That is on my list of articles to write about. An Endorsement is a quick method of saying you have first-hand knowledge of the person’s skill you are endorsing. If you don’t then it is not appropriate to endorse. More about that in a future article. :)