When we started our Linkedin Strategy on Recommendations, I suggested your make Recommendations a critical part of your Linkedin Job Searching Profile.   Now you are ready to begin getting those important Recommendations to help your job search.

Ways to Get Recommendations

1.  In a previous post I suggest you create a plan to identify the type and number of Recommendations you need to support your job search.   See (http://successfulmarketingtools.com/wordpressblog/413/types-of-linkedin-recommendations/)

2.  I’ve found a good  method is to email or call a colleague and offer to exchange Recommendations.  They supply one for you and you supply one for them.  In this way, you can specify what each person would like in a Recommendation.   You can always send an email outside of Linkedin to start this process.  This is an easy way to quickly generate Recommendations.  

3.  In our next Linkedin Strategy for getting a job, (Expanding Your Network), I will show you how to expand your network of Linkedin contacts.  You will find as you expand your networkd, you will develop a fresh group of potential Recommendations. 

4.  Linkedin provides you a simple process for getting Recommendations.  For some Recommendations, you may need a two step process.  The person who could give you a wonderful Recommendation may not be on Linkedin.  So first go through the process of having them join Linkedin so they can give you a Recommendation.  

The Process

To start the process go to your Profile page, Recommendation Section, and click on  Get Recommended.  You will be brought to a new page.  Then click on Request Recommendation. Here you will be asked to choose what you want to be recommended for? (Experiences and Schools)  Find the option that best suits your purposes. 

Linkedin places the appropriate Recommendation with the particular Experience.  If you are getting Recommendations to high light a particular skill, choose the category that is more relevant for that particular skill.

Then you are asked who you want to ask for the recommendation?  You can ask up to 200 Linkedin participants.  You then are invited to create your message.  Even if you are sending a Recommendation request to a number of Linkedin participants at one time, they each will receive an individual invitation with their names in the heading.

The Content of Your Recommendation Invitation

In a previous post, I shared with you’re the formula for making powerful Recommendations. (http://successfulmarketingtools.com/wordpressblog/404/a-formula-for-powerful-recommendations/)   Review those notes and keep them in front of you as you begin inviting Linkedin connections to give you a Recommendation.

This is a critical step for getting Recommendations.  People will give you want you want, if you ask them.  Left on their own people will generalize and give you glowing remarks that may have little to do with your goals for Linkedin.  Share with them what you would like to hear from them.   Ask them to be specific, talk about your strengths and responsibilities and the specific results or benefits you produced.  Use the formula for power Recommendations.

This may make you feel uncomfortable because you are asking other persons to do you a favor.  Why not ask them to do the favor that will benefit you the most?  A simple statement like, “It would be helpful if you could tell people about, XYZ and how you achieved XYZ because of my efforts.” People appreciate any guidance you give them.  It makes their job of writing a Recommendation that much easier.

Revisions—The Extra Step

When you receive a Recommendation, you are given the opportunity to make revisions.  Use this opportunity.  If there are revisions you would like, ask the person to make them and suggest what you want done.  Take this extra step.  People will cooperate especially if you share with them what you are trying to accomplish on Linkedin.   In a job interview, I once checked some references the person gave and when they were not glowing comments, I moved on to other candidates.  You want your Recommendations (since you help create them) to put you in the best possible light.

Manage Your Recommendations

Clicking on Get Recommendations will also show you a page that keeps track of Recommendations made and received.  You are given several ways to manage your Recommendations.  

Ongoing Recommendations

I tell small business owners to make getting testimonials for their business as ongoing effort in their business.  You can never have too many customer testimonials.  I give the same advice about Recommendations.  You can never have too many Recommendations.  Always be getting new Recommendations to keep your Profile fresh and relevant.  

Remember each time you add a new one all your connections are notified that you have received a new Recommendation.  If you did this once a month, your name would be visible in front of your connections. (Al Hanzal has received a new Recommendation)  Your connections will see it and many would click on it to see what it says.  All while you are sleeping!!

To be continued, your comments are welcomed…

Al Hanzal

2. Linkedin Recommendations Strategy

Do not take the task of getting Linkedin Recommendations casually!  When you started your Linkedin job search, I suggested three major strategies.  

1. Develop a Job Searching Profile on Linkedin
2. Create powerful Recommendations for your Linkedin Profile 
3. Expanding your Linkedin contacts.  

The Recommendation section on Linkedin pages is the second most viewed part on any Linkedin page.  You want your Recommendations to fully support your job searching goals.  Think of your Recommendations as pillars that support your Linkedin bridge.  

In this strategy, we will cover the following five areas:

• Why are Linkedin Recommendations so important
• The structure of a powerful Recommendation
• Types of Linkedin Recommendations you can use
• How to give a Linkedin Recommendation
• How to get powerful Linkedin Recommendations

Why Are Linkedin Recommendations So Important

You may ask the question, “Why do I need Linkedin Recommendations?  I completed a Job Search Profile, why do I need Recommendations?”

You have already answered your question.  YOU have completed your Profile.  People expect you to say good things about yourself.  What they also want to hear what other people think about you and the work you have done.  Like your job resume, people expect you to high light your skills and experiences.  They also want to check out your references.  

In a world filled with distrust for political leaders, for major industries, for business leaders, credibility is hard to find.  You are a stranger to the reader.  They want to know whether you have a track record of success.  Whether you can produce the promises you make.   They recognize they are taking a risk by potentially hiring you or recommending you for a job in their company.  They would like to minimize that risk as much as possible, so they want to hear from others on how you perform.   Recommendations give you credibility.  

There are two additional reasons why Recommendations are important to your job search.  

Social Networking Programs

The Linkedin program is one of the many internet social networking programs.  Dave Evans in his wonderful book, Social Media Marketing, One Hour a Day, says the real power of social media programs comes with the consideration phase of the buying process.  He says there are three steps in the buying process: awareness, consideration and the purchase.  Social media programs allow consumers to share their experiences about products.  These experiences carry a larger weight than traditional media when people are considering a particular purchase.  

He shares his own experience of trying to decide between a PC and a MAC computer.  He went to his social networking program and asked for people’s advice.  Many people shared their experiences with both types of computers. Their information helped him decide which computer to purchase.

In a job search, you are selling yourself to a business and others.  A company considers you as one of many possible “buying” options.  They can use the Linkedin Recommendations as a way of helping them make their “buying” decisions.  More and more social networking programs are being used by prospective employers for this very purpose.  Recommendations helps you stand out from others.

Linkedin Bonuses

You get additional help for your job search from Linkedin when you use the Recommendation process.  Here are three bonuses that come with Linkedin Recommendations.

1. Statistics show that after the Profile, Recommendations are the most read section on a Linkedin page. People want to know what others are saying about you.  If your page does not have Recommendations, they wonder, “What’s wrong with this person?”

2. When you give a Recommendation to another person in Linkedin, your Recommendation is automatically noted on the right side of your Linkedin page.  It is also found on the page of the person receiving the Recommendation. Both of these items give you more visibility and an additional touch point for search engines.  It also shows others that you are a person who knows how to give to others.

3. Each time you receive a Recommendation, an automatic alert is sent to all of your connections.  If you have 50 connections on your Linkedin Program and add a new Recommendation, 50 people automatically get notified about it.  You get added exposure with your connections with very little direct effort.

Conclusion

Securing powerful Linkedin Recommendations is one of the best things you can to foster your job searching process.

To be continued, your comments are welcomed…

Al Hanzal