Administrative Assistant's Update

3 Administrative Assistant's UPDATE Your LinkedIn profi le The EASIEST ways to get a testimonial By Leslie Hughes One of the best ways you can position yourself as an expert is to include testimonials on your LinkedIn profi le. Here are two very easy ways to get someone to write you a recommendation. Leslie Hughes was called a "Social Media Guru" by CBC Radio and has been working in digital marketing since 1997. She is a LinkedIn optimization specialist, professor of social media, corporate trainer and principal of PUNCH!media. PUNCH!media clients include The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and TVO. www.punchmedia.ca (sign up for weekly newsletter) leslie@punchmedia.ca STRATEGIES Credit: Evan Lorne/Shutterstock If you write a testimonial for someone, they will feel compelled to write one in return� How to GIVE a recommendation on LinkedIn: • Simply visit the personal profi le for one of your connections. • Beside the "Send a message" button, click on the downward arrow and click on the third link marked "Recommend." LinkedIn will prompt you to identify how you will be recommending them: • as a colleague (you worked with them at the same company) • as a service provider (you hired them as a client) • as a business partner (you worked with them at different companies) • student • You will then identify your relationship, your title at the time, their title at the time and the testimonial. • Be sure to customize a personal message to your connection. Give a testimonial, GET a testimonial APPROACH #1 This approach is best when you're asking a former boss or client to provide you with a testimonial� Ask for one APPROACH #2 How to ASK for a recommendation on LinkedIn: • Click "Profi le" in the navigation bar. • Directly beside the grey "EDIT" button, you will see a small arrow that points down. • Hover over that button and the second prompt will allow you to "Ask to be recommended." The next page that will appear will have a few fi elds you will need to customize. PLEASE NOTE: Only send ONE request at a time and personal- ize/customize the requests. Not only will you be more likely to receive the testimonials you want, but you can specifi cally ask for them to highlight certain areas or jobs you worked on together. You are much more likely to receive that testimonial if you write it for them or highlight the areas you want them to write about. For example: Dear John, I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to say how terrific it was working with you on XYZ Project and I'd love to include a recommendation from you on my LinkedIn profile. I know writing a testimonial can be time consuming, so I've written something below to make the process easier. "I have had the pleasure to work with Jane Smith as she provided excellent results on our XYZ Project at ABC Company. Jane's attention to detail and quick turnaround time proved to be the perfect solution. I definitely recommend Jane, and look forward to working with her again in the future." John, I really appreciate your time and please feel free to edit the copy so that it fits your "voice" and truly outlines my contribution to the project. Thank you, Jane Smith Leslie Hughes

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