How do you ask people to endorse you on LinkedIn?

Having a strong LinkedIn profile with endorsements from your connections can help boost your professional reputation and visibility. However, asking for endorsements can feel awkward or pushy. Use these tips to politely request endorsements in a genuine way that strengthens your relationships.

Why LinkedIn Endorsements Matter

LinkedIn endorsements act as social proof of your skills and expertise. When connections endorse you, it signals to others that they believe you have those skills and can vouch for your abilities. Endorsements make your profile stand out and look more impressive.

Specifically, endorsements can help in these ways:

• Boost your visibility and credibility in your industry
• Show you have a diverse range of professional skills and strengths
• Demonstrate that colleagues and managers support your work
• Give you an edge when recruiters view your profile
• Build trust and rapport with new connections

In short, endorsements add credibility and social validation to your LinkedIn presence. They show you have a strong professional network behind you.

Who to Ask for Endorsements

Don’t randomly ask any of your connections for endorsements. Make sure to target your requests carefully for the best results:

• Current or former co-workers: Those who have worked with you directly can best vouch for your on-the-job skills.
• Managers: Having a manager endorse you carries a lot of weight.
• Clients: If you’re a freelancer or business owner, client endorsements can be very powerful.
• Use discretion: Be selective and only ask people who can genuinely endorse your top skills.
• Avoid over-asking: Don’t bombard the same people with multiple endorsement requests.

Focus on those who know your work and abilities the best. Avoid asking distant connections just to boost your numbers. Quality matters more than quantity when it comes to endorsements.

How to Politely Ask for Endorsements

Here are some tips for politely and effectively requesting endorsements:

• Make it personal: Write customized messages highlighting your connection to each person.
• Remind them: Refresh people’s memory of projects you worked on together.
• Share context: Explain why an endorsement from them would mean a lot.
• Suggest skills: Recommend specific skills you’d appreciate their endorsement for.
• Watch timing: Only ask at appropriate moments, like after finishing a project.
• Show gratitude: Express sincere thanks and offer to endorse them back.
• Follow up: Check in if they haven’t endorsed you within a couple weeks.
• Don’t overdo it: Limit yourself to one or two reminder messages.

The key is personalizing each request, showing gratitude, and avoiding sounding demanding. Make it clear their endorsement would mean a lot but don’t pressure them.

Sample Messages

Use these templates to craft polite endorsement requests:

For a Former Colleague

Hi [name], I hope you’ve been well! I wanted to reach out because I’m updating my LinkedIn profile. We did some great work together at [company]. Would you feel comfortable endorsing me for my skills in [content strategy/project management/etc]? I’d really appreciate it as we build our professional networks. Please let me know!

For a Former Manager

Hi [name], I hope all is going great with [company/new role]. I wanted to ask for your support with my LinkedIn presence. I’ve been working hard to showcase my [social media marketing] skills. Given our successful projects at [company], I would hugely value your endorsement. Please consider it when you have a chance. Thanks!

Following Up

Hi [name], I just wanted to follow up on my earlier message asking about a LinkedIn endorsement. I completely understand if you’re too busy! But if you’re willing, I’d appreciate your endorsement for [skills]. Working with you was such a formative experience. Have an awesome week!

How to Tactfully Decline Endorsement Requests

If someone asks you for an endorsement you don’t feel comfortable providing, use tact and positivity in declining. Here are some recommendations:

• Thank them for thinking of you and asking.
• Politely decline by saying you don’t feel knowledgeable enough in that skill area to endorse them.
• Offer to connect them to others who may be able to provide a better endorsement.
• If applicable, endorse them for other skills you can authentically vouch for.
• Reinforce that you value your connection with them.
• Avoid blunt rejections or making excuses.

The main thing is turning them down gently while emphasizing the positives like your relationship. Handled courteously, a “no” to an endorsement request doesn’t have to damage your connection.

Endorsing Others First

Rather than directly asking for endorsements, proactively endorse your connections for their skills first. This establishes reciprocity and makes people more likely to endorse you back.

Endorse thoughtfully based on real experience with the person and skills you can vouch for. Then politely message them something like:

Hi [name], I just wanted to send you an endorsement for [skills] based on our time working together. I’m hoping to expand my LinkedIn presence as well. If you’d be open to endorsing me back when you have a moment, I’d appreciate it!

This shows generosity on your part first before asking for the same in return.

Conclusion

Growing your LinkedIn endorsements requires a genuine, thoughtful approach focused on existing relationships. Avoid gimmicks or pressuring people. Instead:

• Strategically request endorsements from those most familiar with your work.
• Craft personalized, polite messages showing gratitude.
• Focus on quality over quantity – a couple meaningful endorsements are better than many generic ones.
• Endorse others first to establish reciprocity.
• Follow up tactfully if needed.
• Decline others’ requests diplomatically if you don’t feel comfortable endorsing them.

With care and sincerity, you can build endorsements that strengthen your profile and professional relationships at the same time.

By being thoughtful, personal, and professional, you can expand your LinkedIn endorsements in all the right ways.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it OK to ask for LinkedIn endorsements?

It’s perfectly acceptable to ask for endorsements if done politely and strategically. Avoid mass messages or pressuring people. Focus on those familiar with your abilities and make customized asks explaining why their endorsement would mean a lot.

How many LinkedIn endorsements should I have?

There’s no ideal number of endorsements. It’s best to have a few thoughtful endorsements from key connections than generic endorsements from many faint connections. Quality matters more than quantity when it comes to endorsements.

Should you accept LinkedIn endorsements from people you don’t know?

Be selective. It’s fine to politely decline or ignore endorsements from distant connections or those unaware of your actual abilities. Random endorsements don’t carry much value. Focus on getting endorsements from those most familiar with your skills.

How do you ask your boss for a LinkedIn endorsement?

Make a customized request highlighting projects you worked on together. Explain why their endorsement would help boost your professional reputation. Remind them of specific skills and accomplishments. Thank them for considering it and offer to endorse them back.

What’s the best way to word a LinkedIn endorsement request?

Make it personal and remind them of your professional connection. Suggest specific skills you’d appreciate an endorsement for. Express appreciation and offer to reciprocate. Follow up politely if you don’t hear back. The key is being genuine, gracious and not pushy.

Is it better to endorse someone first before asking them to endorse you?

Yes, endorsing others first establishes reciprocity and makes people more inclined to return the favor. Show generosity, then politely ask if they’d be willing to pay it forward with an endorsement for you too.

Key Takeaways

• Ask for LinkedIn endorsements selectively from those most familiar with your work.
• Make customized, personal requests expressing why their endorsement matters.
• Endorse connections first before asking for endorsements back.
• Show gratitude, don’t pressure people, and follow up politely.
• Focus on quality over quantity when building endorsements.