How to use LinkedIn Endorsements?

[Martin Brossman]

How to use LinkedIn Endorsements 

Now you can give and receive Endorsements in the Skills and Expertise section of LinkedIn, and it’s important for you to take some time to understand this. Endorsements are different from Recommendations. Recommendations require more commitment and to me still carry more weight.
You must be connected to the person to give them an Endorsement or a Recommendation.

Here are several steps I suggest:
1) Go to your own Skills and Expertise section and make sure you entered your skills that you want to be endorsed on. Some people did not know what this section was and just put interests or something like “Using the Internet”. That would be fine if you are just starting out, but if you are a CEO and still designate learning the Internet as a skill you are proud of, I am not sure that looks very good. When you type in a skill, you will then see LinkedIn will start auto filling it. I would first pick one of the auto fills unless none match your skill, and then enter the new skill.

2) Make sure to go and “Endorse” anyone that has already given you an Endorsement.Pick the areas you have experienced that they are good at and it is OK not to pick the ones you just don’t have enough information on to rate.

3) Next reach out to important people in your network and give them an Endorsement, unless you already did so from step 2.

4) Check in from week to week on how this changes, and remember you can move your Endorsements up or down on your page by clicking the tab.

Recommendations are also still very important and keep giving them to people that have done outstanding work or provided you with outstanding value. Just remember they moved where to go to  give someone a recommendation. It is now under "send a message" on their profile. Below is my friend Tom Golden's profile with the drop down box showing what to select to give him a recommendation. 

If you find this useful let us know in the comments area or share a story of success. Also Greg Hyer and I are available for on-site training in LinkedIn for your team. Learn more and hear our podcast at: LinkingIntoSales.com. We are also on iTunes (make sure to leave a comment if you like a show). Greg Hyer and I offer on-site and web based training on how to get the most out of LinkedIn. 

I also want to deeply thank the over 200 people that have given me Endorsements. You were my top priority to give endorsements to first!

Martin Brossman
On Linkedin: http://Linkedin.com/in/martinbrossman
On Facebook: http://Facebook.com/martinwbrossman
On Google +: http://BrossmanOnGP.com

My Business Website: ProNetworkingOnLine.com

[Pat Howlett]

Great info! Featured.

[Martin Brossman]

Thanks so much!

[Greg Borchardt - Web Designer]

Thanks Martin for writing and posting this. I have done a lot of endorsing lately!

[Martin Brossman]

Good job Greg!

[Gary Storm]

You always provide good advice in easy to understand ways. Thanks

[Karen Tiede]

What I'm finding interesting about endorsements is the nuance they add to my understanding of what it is my connections actually DO, in the sense of what fills their work day. Some people are all techy, with computer languages and hardware terms and stuff I recognize but wouldn't be able to use. Others are all social, with training and leadership and people-related skills. Some are bio-research. And then of course, there's the odd "politics" or "trees" or "juggler" or "fire performance" to make it really interesting.