How to Give and Get LinkedIn Endorsements [Steps & Tips]

Ever scrolled through LinkedIn and thought, "Wow, everyone's an expert here!"

Seriously, you’d think half the planet were top-tier gurus in their fields. But how do you separate those who actually know their stuff from those who just googled a few fancy buzzwords? Good question!

That's where LinkedIn recommendations and endorsements come in handy. Think of them as the online version of your friend saying, "Yeah, they're legit!"

Now, let's talk endorsements first.

What Exactly is a LinkedIn Endorsement?

Simply put, endorsing someone on LinkedIn means you're publicly saying, "Yup, they've got this skill, trust me!" When someone endorses you, it's like having a mini cheerleader squad validating your abilities (minus the pom-poms).

Why should you care? Well, endorsements do three awesome things:

• Boost Your Credibility: Potential clients and recruiters feel way more confident seeing your skills have been endorsed by actual humans. (Bots don’t count here!)
• Win Favor with LinkedIn's Algorithm: LinkedIn loves profiles with endorsements. It's kind of like Instagram loving those influencers with thousands of likes. So get endorsed, and let the algorithm magic boost your visibility.
• Open Doors: Endorsements help people connect with you for your specific skills. More skills endorsed = more visibility = more opportunities. Simple math!

You can also tweak how endorsements appear or even switch off notifications if you’re getting too popular (tough life, right?).

How to Endorse Someone on LinkedIn (without breaking a sweat)

If you’re wondering, “How do I even endorse someone?” Relax, it’s easy:

1. Visit their profile and scroll down to their skills.
2. Click the skill you'd like to endorse.
3. A little pop-up will appear—quickly rate how good they are and mention how you know they’re awesome.
4. Submit. Done! (Wasn’t that easier than deciding what to watch on Netflix tonight?)

Remember, endorsing others is good LinkedIn karma. It builds relationships and usually means people will return the favor (but no promises if you endorsed them for ‘Underwater Basket Weaving’).

Need Some Endorsements Yourself? Here's How to Get Them:

• Just Ask! Seriously, if you’re sitting around hoping someone magically decides to endorse you—you're probably gonna be waiting a while. So, slide into their inbox (politely!) and remind them how awesome you were in that last project together.

Example:

"Hey [Colleague's Name], remember our wild adventure launching that crazy-good campaign? Mind endorsing my ‘marketing wizardry’ skill on LinkedIn? Cheers!"

• Keep Your Profile Fresh: Update your LinkedIn regularly—new projects, promotions, awards, the works! Make sure your skill list is accurate, or someone might wonder why you’re suddenly an expert in ‘Quantum Physics’.
• Say Thanks: Got an endorsement? Drop a quick thank-you message. It feels good, shows appreciation, and reminds them you exist (win-win!).

Quick tip: Avoid buying endorsements. LinkedIn’s detectives are surprisingly good at spotting this shady stuff, and losing your reputation isn’t exactly career-boosting.

Asking for Endorsements: The Right Way

Here’s how you approach different people:

• Ex-Colleague: Jog their memory first. Something like, “Hey, remember those late-night pizza-powered sessions at [Company]? Mind endorsing my ‘team collaboration’ skill? Thanks, legend!”
• Current Colleague: Keep it casual and friendly—think coffee break, not formal meeting.
• Manager: Don’t panic! Managers usually appreciate being asked (it’s like telling them, “Your opinion matters because you’re awesome!”)
• Client: If you just rocked a project together, now’s the perfect time. “Enjoyed crushing our recent campaign goals! Could you endorse my ‘results-driven wizardry’?”

Automate Your Endorsements (Because, Why Not?)

Want to automate your LinkedIn outreach? Say hello to Leadplay! With Leadplay.io, you can create drip campaigns effortlessly, automate your LinkedIn endorsements and recommendations, and look like a networking genius—all while sipping your latte.

Trust me, life’s easier with Leadplay handling the heavy lifting.

There you have it—a foolproof, fun guide to LinkedIn endorsements. Go forth, endorse wisely, and remember: keeping it genuine always wins.