In the professional realm, expressing gratitude and thanks is a powerful tool for building meaningful connections and fostering a positive network. LinkedIn, the leading platform for professional networking, provides a unique space to showcase your skills and achievements and connect with others personally.

Here’s a guide on effectively expressing gratitude and thanks on LinkedIn.

1. Support a Nonprofit:

If a nonprofit has a LinkedIn company page, volunteer with them and engage in their content. Repost their posts and especially support them financially on #GivingTuesday. As a 501(c)3, you can get a tax-deductible donation and appreciation if you invest your time, talent, and treasure, otherwise known as work, wisdom, and wealth.

2. Personalize Connection Requests:

When sending connection requests, take a moment to add a personalized message. Click Connect (or More and Connect if you see a Follow button) and Add Note. Express your appreciation for the contact’s work or content you liked, or mention a specific accomplishment of theirs or what caught your attention and why you reached out. This gesture sets the tone for a positive and warm connection right from the start.

3. Thoughtful Endorsements:

Endorsements on LinkedIn are a way to acknowledge and validate your connections’ skills. Take the time to endorse others for skills you genuinely believe they possess. A thoughtful endorsement serves as an action showing gratitude and also helps strengthen your professional relationship.

4. Engage with Content:

Be active in your network by engaging with the content shared by others. Like, comment, and share posts that resonate with you. A simple comment expressing your gratitude for the insights shared or the value of the content can go a long way in building a positive rapport. Your commenting strategy may be as important as your posting strategy for visibility, discoverability, and credibility.

5. Recommendations and Testimonials:

Providing a recommendation (a written testimonial) to a first-level connection is a direct way to express gratitude on LinkedIn. If you have worked with someone or experienced their expertise from speaking, writing, volunteering, or working with them, take the initiative to write a recommendation. Highlight specific achievements and qualities that make them stand out.

6. Public Appreciation Posts:

Create posts expressing gratitude for colleagues, mentors, or anyone who has positively impacted your professional journey. Use this opportunity to acknowledge their contributions and the value they bring publicly. Tagging them in the post ensures they receive a notification and strengthens the connection. If they have a LinkedIn company page relevant to the post, tag that also.

7. Celebrate Milestones:

LinkedIn notifies users when their connections celebrate work anniversaries, achieve career milestones, or earn certifications. Please take a moment to congratulate them on these occasions. It shows that you are actively engaged in their professional journey and genuinely care about their success. If you like to have an attaboy or attagirl and receive recognition, so do others.

8. Private Messages of Thanks:

While public acknowledgments are impactful, sending a private message can be equally meaningful. Take the time to craft a personalized message or send a voice or video direct message expressing your gratitude for a recent collaboration, advice, or support. Be specific about how their actions made a difference for you.

9. Participate in LinkedIn Groups:

Joining and actively participating in relevant LinkedIn groups allows you to connect with professionals in your industry. Engage in discussions, offer insights, and express appreciation for the contributions of others. This engagement helps you build a positive reputation and also opens the door for more personalized connections.

10. Gratitude in Job Recommendations:

If you have been able to recommend someone for a job, express your gratitude for their contributions within the recommendation. Highlight specific examples of their skills and qualities that impressed you. This testimonial benefits the individual and reflects on your ability to recognize talent.

11. Be Genuine and Sincere:

Authenticity is vital when expressing gratitude on LinkedIn. Be genuine in your interactions, and avoid generic or automated messages. People appreciate sincerity, and a heartfelt expression of thanks is more likely to be well-received.

Leveraging LinkedIn to express gratitude and thanks is courteous and contributes to the development of a robust professional network. These gestures, whether public or private, help build a positive online presence and contribute to the overall success of your professional relationships.

Have you read last week’s article – 8 Ways to Thank a Veteran on LinkedIn?

NEXT STEPS

• Support our nonprofit for #GivingTuesday https://givebutter.com/greatcareersphl

• Subscribe to my newsletter on LinkedIn for bright ideas to manage your career.

• Join as a member at https://greatcareers.org/membership of the #1 business networking association on the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Book of Lists three years in a row!

• If you need a resume or LinkedIn profile to get you to your next step, book a call to chat!

• Follow #GreatCareersPHL

UPCOMING EVENTS – Registration info is on the events page.

• Sat Nov 18 – LinkedIn Part 3 of 3 (free monthly 3-hour workshop)
• Mon Nov 20 – Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking
• Mon Nov 20 – Tips to Optimize Your Resume
• Tue Nov 21 – Lehigh Valley Business Executives Networking Group (BENG) Meeting
• Mon Nov 27 – Want a Successful Consulting Business? Clarify Your Why, What, Who & How
• Tue Nov 28 – Business Executives Networking Group (BENG) & Guests Meeting
• Wed Nov 29 – Make Your Resume Shine!
• Thu Nov 30 – Tell Me About Yourself
• Fri Dec 1 – 10 Tips & Strategies to Create Interview-Winning Resumes Recruiters Love

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!