1. Don’t ask them to your employees
That is lame, makes you seem like the kind of guy who needs flatery at work, like the boss at “The Office”.

2. Don’t recommend to get recommendations back
That appears in your stream and anyone in your area of interest will remember how you got those 8 recommendations from the same client, winners don’t do that.

3. Don’t ask to too many people
Choose wisely your recommendations, because people don’t want to see you recommended by the new guy in the office, people want to know that remarkable people recommend you. Remarkable people do not recommend anyone, they don’t want to get linked to under achievers or they write recommendations in a way you will know they are not talking seriously.

4. Don’t forget them
Remember you can withdraw a recommendation, I never had to, but if you recommend someone who happens to be a psico-killer, better change your mind.

5. Don’t hesitate to reject a recommendation
From time to time I get a recommendation for something I am not proud of, for example for being able not to murder a bad customer, or for getting forward a poorly managed project. I don’t want to be linked to these people, neither their projects: I saved the day, I got the money and that is all I want… their project will probably crush on the long term due to cultural issues and I don’t want to be linked with that.