Personal Brand & Authority
How to ask for (and give) recommendations that build your reputation
Recommendations are public testimonials about your value.
LinkedIn recommendations are one of the strongest forms of social proof: real people, with names and faces, publicly vouching for your work. Even so, many profiles have none, and people who do have them rarely think about how they recommend others. Mastering both sides of this exchange strengthens your reputation in a way few people take advantage of.
Why recommendations carry so much weight
Unlike what you write about yourself, a recommendation comes from someone else, and that is why it persuades. It turns claims into evidence and gives your value the weight of a testimonial. A profile with solid recommendations inspires immediate trust; one with none leaves a gap readers notice, even if they never mention it.
How to ask for good recommendations
- Choose people who actually saw your work up close
- Remind them of the context: specific projects and moments you shared
- Suggest (without dictating) points worth highlighting
- Ask at the right moment, such as the end of a good collaboration
- Make it easy: the easier it is, the more likely they are to say yes
Giving is as strategic as receiving
Writing good recommendations for others has a double effect: it strengthens relationships and often invites reciprocity. A well-written recommendation also shows your generosity and judgment, appearing on the other person's profile where many others can see it. Giving is a subtle way to build your own reputation.
Recommendations are a reputation currency that flows both ways. Asking for the right ones and giving good ones builds, over time, a profile surrounded by proof of value and a network strengthened by generosity.
