How to Show Gratitude on LinkedIn & When Networking

Perhaps it was this past week while preparing for Thanksgiving, planning my menu, food shopping, making cookie dough, or cleaning the house, that I started thinking about giving thanks and showing gratitude. While sitting around the holiday table I like everyone to share what we are thankful for, typically: family, friends, health, and being together.

What about giving thanks in business?

When I work with individuals or teams to use LinkedIn as part of their sales and networking process I often speak about etiquette. As part of that topic, I discuss behaving online as you would in person: giving first and saying both please and thank you. Here are some ways to express your gratitude on LinkedIn:

Endorse someone

Go to the profile of the person you want to endorse and scroll down to the?Skills?section. Click on the Endorse button below any of the skills to endorse your connection for that skill. I like to think of endorsements as a little thank you. They are easy to use if someone has made an introduction for you, commented on or shared your posts, or given you help in any way.

I like to think of LinkedIn endorsements as a little thank you.?        

Give Kudos

You can also use LinkedIn’s Kudos feature. Go to the profile page for the person you want to recommend. Click on the More button and pick Give Kudos. Pick the type of kudos you want to give: thank you, going above and beyond, inspirational leader, team player, great job, making work fun, amazing mentor, outside-the-box thinker, great presentation, or making an impact. Pick share in a post or send in a message. The message is private and the post is public.

Write a recommendation

If an endorsement is a little thank you, a written recommendation is a BIG thank you. Go to the profile page for the person you want to recommend. Click on the More button and pick Recommend. LinkedIn walks you through the recommendation process and has you fill out what you want to say, and also a note to the person you are recommending.

Mention someone in a status update

Did you work on a project with someone? Did someone invite you to speak at his or her company or organization? Is there someone you want to give a public thank you to?

On the homepage click to start a post. Write whatever you want to say. As you get to where you want to mention someone simply type the @ symbol and start typing the name. Wait a second or two and a list will appear with the names of your connections. Click on the person you want to mention and continue typing your update. Not only will you be thanking that person but their name will become clickable when it is posted. They will be notified that you have mentioned them.

React, comment, repost, or share someone’s post

If you are on your homepage, in a group, or reading someone’s article or newsletter (like this one) you can like, comment, repost, or share.

• To react, simply click on like or one of the other reactions.
• To comment click on Comment and write what you have to say
• To repost or share a status update click on the repost link and decide if you want to share to your stream, within a group, or with a specific connection who might find it interesting, or simply repost without a comment.?
• To share a newsletter, click on the Share button at the bottom of the content. You can also like or comment on a newsletter. Go ahead; feel free to try it with this post. (hint. hint.)

Invite someone to an event

Are you attending a trade event, networking meeting, or other activity that would be useful for someone you want to thank? Invite them to join you. This can actually be a way to thank the person you invite and is also great for the people who will meet them too.

Make an introduction

Making an introduction is a wonderful way to say thank you, especially when the introduction hasn’t been requested. When you get to know your networking connections well enough to know who they are interested in meeting it can be easy to make an introduction. Ask them for specifics. It’s easier to make an introduction to a specific person than just a vague introduction to anyone.

This is one area where I sometimes recommend leaving LinkedIn and using email to make the introduction. Recently I worked with a sales team to develop standard text that can be used when requesting introductions. This makes it easier for the person making the introduction because they don’t have to think about what to write. If you have this descriptive text from your connection you can use it in the email. It is best if you can say?why?you wanted to make the introduction so both parties know how they stand to benefit by connecting.

Even better, make the email introduction and also offer to introduce the two people to each other?in person, suggesting a date, time, and location.

Invite someone as a guest on your LinkedIn Live broadcast (or on your uploaded video)

When I first got access to beta-test LinkedIn Live I used it as a way to introduce interesting people that I know to my larger network through half-hour conversations. I truly loved doing it. People say I seem so natural and that I'm in my element. I have learned so much about business, life, and myself through the interactions. The people I invite as guests have enjoyed the conversation and attention, and the ability to repurpose the content.

Don't have LinkedIn Live? You can invite someone to be in a video that you upload.

I am thankful for so many things, big and small, including family, friends, health, and the ability to choose happiness. I am thankful for social media because it allows me to connect at any time, all over the world. I am thankful that sharing my experience with LinkedIn, social media, social sales, networking, and now Exactly What to Say? has turned into a thriving business.?Thank you to my clients and referral partners.

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If this topic interests you and you'd like to discuss how I may be able to work with you or your organization to make the most of LinkedIn and networking, feel free to send me a direct message.