LinkedIn’s Invisible Salutation

1470344098_LinkedIn-logo-vectorLinkedIn  can be a very powerful tool for building and cultivating relationships. Some relationships can start off-line and move to LinkedIn, while others can start on LinkedIn and move off-line. As we build our professional networks, establishing credibility and social proof is very important.   On LinkedIn, this is most commonly done  by asking  for a  recommendation from one of your LinkedIn connections.

LinkedIn allows you to  request a  recommendation for the same position from three different people at the same time. They also give  a template message  that I do not recommend  using.    Each relationship you have is going to be different and you want to cater your message to  each individual.    Because you  have the option of  asking three people at the  same time, LinkedIn adds  a  salutation on your behalf.   You can’t see it be the recipient  does.

Screen Shot 2016-08-04 at 12.23.15 PMFor that reason , there is no need to add your own.  If you  do, the recipient will see both your salutation and the one that LinkedIn has added automatically and you will end up with something  like this:

Dear Dave, (Linkedin’s Invisible Salutation)

Hi Dave, (Your own)

I’m writing to ask if you would write a brief recommendation of my work that I can include on my LinkedIn profile. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks in advance for your help.

-Max Weinstein

Whenever possible, contact the person you want to write a recommendation off of LinkedIn first.  Not everyone may be as active on LinkedIn as you are, or have the necessary  notifications setup,  and you don’t want your  message to go undetected.

One last point!  All recommendations are date stamped so don’t go on a recommendation request spree.

Help spread the word, by sharing this post  and  we can stop the double salutation from ever happening  again!

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