When you need a person, such as a coach, a therapist or a dentist, you can ask the people you trust who they would send you to. They name someone. Only you see who they name.
Where to find it: Click More in the left sidebar, then Recommendations. On a phone, tap the grid at the top right, then Recommendations.
How to ask
- Click Ask. Pick a starter like Coach or Therapist, or type your own words, like “A coach for a career change.”
- Look at the line under the box. It shows who your ask will go to. Click Change to take anyone off the list.
- Click Ask. Your ask opens on its own page, and the names show up there as people answer.
This is for finding a person. If you want to ask a question and get replies, write a post instead. If you type something that reads like a question, the box will offer to turn it into a post.
Who your ask goes to
We start with the people you trust on the topic. If you are new, we also try the person who invited you and the people they trust, then people in your groups who know the topic, and then up to three people who list the topic under Ask me about on their profile. Some of them may not know you yet. You see the names before you send, and you can take any of them off.
Who sees what
- Only you see the answers.
- The people your ask goes to can read it. So can signed-in members who have its link.
- Your ask never shows on your profile. We also read asks with names taken out, to learn what people need.
Your answers
Each answer is a name and how the person knows them. When two people name the same person on their own, you see that. You get a note in your inbox when someone sends you a recommendation. It tells you who answered and nothing else.
A few days later we ask whether you went with anyone. You can pick a name, say Someone else, say No one, or say Not yet.
When someone asks you
If your profile lists a topic under Ask me about, a request on that topic can come to you, even if you do not know the person yet. You see who is asking. Name someone you would send them to, or click Not this time. Your answer is seen only by the person who asked.
Questions are different