![\"Social](\"https:\/\/www.marketingforsuccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/Social-Media-LinkedIn.jpg\" "\\"Social")
<\/a>\u201cI think you should see Dr. Smith.\u00a0 He\u2019s got quite a reputation as a lumpologist,\u201d she says.<\/p>\nConfident that your trusted family physician has your best interests at heart, off you go to see Dr. Smith.<\/p>\n
While he\u2019s poking and prodding at your shoulder, you ask, \u201cDr. Smith, how did you meet Dr. Jones?\u201d<\/p>\n
He says, \u201cWell I\u2019ve never actually met Dr. Jones. But I do follow her interesting postings in an online discussion group on Linkedin.\u201d<\/p>\n
Your confidence begins to slip. \u201cYou\u2019ve never met her?\u00a0 Did you talk to her on the phone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, no, not actually,\u201d says Dr. Smith. \u00a0\u00a0\u201cOur encounters have all been online.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHas she sent many patients to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNope, you are the first one,\u201d says the doc.<\/p>\n
Puzzled, you ask, \u201cIf she does not know you, and has never sent any patients to you, why did she refer me to you now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, that\u2019s easy,\u201d replies Dr. Smith, with a grin. \u201cWe decided to trade Linkedin recommendations. She posted a recommendation to my profile, and I posted one to hers. We thought that would be a good way to drive new patients to both our practices.\u201d<\/p>\n
You faint.<\/p>\n
The story above is fictional (I hope!) but the point is this: be very careful to use the Linkedin \u2018recommendation\u2019 feature properly. Your reputation may be at stake.<\/p>\n
Recently, I received an email that began like this:<\/p>\n
“We are directly connected on LinkedIn and I hope you have been following my postings.<\/p>\n
May I ask you for a brief recommendation? I have many references already. Every new reference is important to me, because it shows other users that connecting makes good sense! I need 300 recommendations by the end of 2010.\u00a0 If you write a recommendation for me, I\u2019ll write one for you too!\u201d<\/p>\n
I take a fundamentalist approach to giving (or accepting) recommendations on Linkedin.\u00a0 When I recommend someone, I am putting my reputation on the line.\u00a0\u00a0 Linkedin Recommendations are not to be given lightly, nor should they be viewed as trophies.<\/p>\n
Linkedin Recommendations should be requested and accepted when:<\/p>\n
- \n
- You have done work for the Linkedin member<\/li>\n
- The Linkedin member has done work for you<\/li>\n
- You are colleagues at the same company<\/li>\n
- You were once colleagues at the same company<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A recommendation of any other type — for example, one written for a former classmate — is a personal recommendation, based on the receiver\u2019s character, good nature, etc. These can be given, but won\u2019t always carry the same weight as a recommendation based on a business relationship.<\/p>\n
And remember\u2026when giving recommendations, avoid the impulse to recreate the receiver\u2019s resume! Speak from your heart and your own experience working with the individual.<\/p>\n
Finally, be cautious of member profiles which include dozens of non-work related recommendations. Avoid a reputation for easily handing out recommendations to those for whom you can\u2019t truly speak about quality, results and other characteristics of professional behavior. Your credibility is on the line. Be authentic. Be truthful. And learn to say \u201cNo\u201d to recommendation requests when you really aren\u2019t qualified to vouch for someone based upon personal experience.<\/p>\n