How do I earn more endorsements for my LinkedIn skills?

Are your LinkedIn skills relevant to your current role? I viewed 200 profiles last week. I was amazed about how lacking most profiles were.

Know that keywords in your skills section are search engine optimization (SEO) for your LinkedIn profile.
Your ranking is higher in LinkedIn search results when you have a large number of endorsements for the skill(s) being searched.
Determine which of your core competencies are most important. Use the default drop-down list or create your own with more specificity.
List top skills first, from most important to least important. This is a roadmap for people to endorse the correct skills. Besides, only your first 3 skills are listed unless “show more” is activated.

Start with your closest colleagues, since these are the people whom you know the best and are most likely to return the favor.
Endorse the skills you’ve seen these people demonstrate in the workplace and I guarantee many of them will reciprocate.
Then, move on to clients and business associates or other influencers.

You want people to acknowledge your skills and strengths, but you don’t want to come off as begging for disingenuous endorsements.
Personalize your LinkedIn written requests by making note of a specific project you worked on with them. Gently remind them of your contributions and ask them to offer comments on the project in the form of skill endorsements.
Or better still, they might write an unsolicited recommendation. (More on that topic next time.)