If you have been on LinkedIn the last couple of days you probably noticed the networking site’s latest addition –
Endorsements
Since it is so early in the roll-out, I won’t completely dismiss the idea, but I have my doubts regarding its value.
How it Works
When you visit a connection’s profile, you’ll see something similar to the graphic shown below.
You can choose to ~
- Click on Endorse to validate the skills/expertise listed
- Click on the X to remove a skill/expertise element
- Add another area of expertise in the text box
Actually, there’s a fourth option, too. You could elect to Skip it altogether.
Lazy Man’s Recommendations
You know I fully support keeping it simple, but somehow this seems like a way of skipping recommendations.
Consistently, one of the most popular posts here has to do with Writing LinkedIn Recommendations You Actually Like.
The post was so popular, I created:
So, I get that people don’t like writing recommendations. But, how much credibility are you going to give a one-click endorsement?
I’ve already seen skills/expertise that make me wonder where LinkedIn came up with them.
Similar to Klout anointing me a food expert because I’ve written a few posts using food analogies.
What do you think?
Are LinkedIn endorsements meaningful?
Oh, and don’t forget to Like or +1 this post if you enjoyed it. Validation, baby.
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Interesting, Cathy. I haven’t logged into the site for a few days so I haven’t seen this yet, but I think recommendations that you actually have to think about and write are more valuable. Of course, if a couple of hundred people endorse you as a business writer, then it might carry some clout (no pun intended) 🙂
Hi Sharon. Yeah, like I said, it’s early so I’m inclined to see how it pans out. Time will tell if a couple hundred endorsements will be a plus (no pun intended) 😉 or dismissed like those with thousands of followers or some other arbitrary form of measurement.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Sharon.
I got a request from someone I’d never heard of asking for an endorsement… when I told her I wouldn’t she apologized and I think it was a mistake.
My real sense of this is how much more time do I have for social media… not much.
Ack-I hadn’t even thought about connections soliciting endorsements. Recommendations from those you know and have worked with is one thing. Endorsements for every connection you made in a LinkedIn Group is something else entirely.
Great point, Anne. Thanks for sharing.
and now someone I know has endorsed me and I can’t figure out how to endorse her back… this is a real time sink.
I wouldn’t worry about it, Anne. So far I haven’t been solicited for endorsements.
I hadn’t even noticed the endorsement option, Cathy. The first thing I thought when reading your explanation was, “What if someone thinks they’re being nice and endorses me for something I don’t actually do?”
Well that could be okay, Paula. As long as it’s legal. 😀
Totally agree with you Cathy.
I really love the recommendations feature on LinkedIn and I use it wherever possible to gain valuable testimonials from my clients.
This endorsement feature absolutely IS the same as Klout. And I can’t stand the whole “I’ll endorse you if you endorse me” mentality of this kind of thing.
The sooner it’s gone, the better.
I think LinkedIn is sinking in a morass somewhere in Facebookland. Why instant Likes or Endorsements? They are in a great spot with professionals. So why would they think this is a professional-type of idea?
I tend to lean towards your view, Ann. I really don’t find this latest thing necessary and fear it will evolve into another meaningless statistic.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ann.
Hi Bridie: Sorry-I had to save you from the spam folder. 🙂 I am very much in agreement with you. If you’e sincere, take the time to do a recommendation, which should have more clout anyway (to steal a friend’s pun :-)).
Thanks for stopping by, Bridie, and sharing your thoughts.
The simpler it is to make an endorsement, the more meaningless it is. That is one reason a video endorsement or a letter to the editor are so powerful. People inherently know just how much trouble the person went to (and how they themselves would never have gone to so much trouble).
This is 1st I’ve heard about it, but good ex. of why I [don’t like/despise] LI. Constantly changing everything, seldom for better!
For my business I like LinkedIn EXCEPT when they they try emulate Facebook or other platforms.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Georganna.
Hey David: Sorry about the delay. I had to rescue you from the spam folder. You make a great point. I pay much more attention to a written recommendation or testimonial that someone took the time to write.
Thanks for sharing your insight, David.
Cathy: Absolutely love the “Validation baby” comment! It’s great to come across something that makes me laugh after reading so many serious things! I completely get what you’re saying & am in full agreement about the weight an actual letter of recommendation carries. It’s great that you shared a template, of sorts, that can be used to write reference letters. That’s a wonderful time-saver, to be sure. You could just tweak the contents to personalize it according to the person/situation. Thanks for sharing your point of view & for making me laugh!
Always happy when I can share a smile, Lynn. 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to drop by and comment.
i think they are a pain. I don’t want to get a “survey” when when I browse someone’s Linkedin profile. I just want to see the profile. Linkedin is going the way of spamming… and they are coming dangerously close to blowing it.
I agree, Mike, that there are some recent tactics of LinkedIn that are definitely making the platform less appealing.
Thanks for sharing your view.
So I came back from vacation to find notifications that 20 people had endorsed me. It seems kind of rude not to do the same for the people I know, though I still think recommendations are better. Sigh.
I know what you mean, Sharon. I truly appreciate that someone endorsed me, but it does seem rude not to reciprocate no matter how meaningless the endorsements may play out over time.
I’m glad you’ve mentioned the endorsements. I just got 2 yesterday from someone I have never met, nor done business with! I wonder how much of this was an attempt on their part to get noticed on my well connected profile? Or were they just feeling generous that day? Hmmm….
And that is a perfect example of all that makes it meaningless (in my humble opinion). Thanks for sharing that, Katie.
Call me old-fashioned but I still prefer a proper written endorsement from people who have actually interacted with me or worked with me rather than a tick in the box that I have a skill!
Likewise, I like writing endorsements rather than ticking boxes.
I’m going to validate your blog post by sharing it on all around.
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones, Cathy
I agree with you, Vatsala. I find the written endorsement much more meaningful than a click of a button.Thanks for stopping by and sharing your view. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones, as well.
Cathy, spot on!
Absolutely agree with the questioning of whether or not Endorsements are meaningful. I’ve been a supporter of them since they came out, but have come to be more cautious recently. LinkedIn makes it so easy to endorse others that I feel it’s become more of a popularity contest. In fact, I wrote up some thoughts on how LinkedIn could maybe improve Endorsements.
http://johnwiedenheft.com/blog/5-ways-that-linkedin-fails
Plus, I’m going to take a look at your PDF for recommendations. Sounds like something worthwhile!
All the best,
John
Thanks, John, for weighing in on the topic. I agree that the concept of the endorsement may be a good one, but the overuse waters down any kind of credibility.
I appreciate you stopping by, John.