Endorsements Mode
Pro Feature — Requires BuddyPress Member Reviews Pro
What is Endorsements Mode?
Endorsements Mode transforms generic reviews into LinkedIn-style skill endorsements. Members endorse each other for specific skills, building professional credibility through peer validation.
The Problem with Generic Reviews
Star ratings and generic reviews don’t fit professional networks. They lack context. An endorsement system answers specific questions: “What is this person good at?” and “Who can vouch for their skills?”
What Changes
Interface Updates:
- Profile button becomes “Endorse [Name]”
- Star ratings are replaced with skill checkboxes
- A new “Endorsements” tab appears on profiles
- All labels update to endorsement language
- Skills Cloud appears at the top of the Endorsements tab
Skills Cloud Feature: Endorsed skills are aggregated and displayed as tags with count badges at the top of the Endorsements tab, before the endorsement list. This shows at a glance which skills the member is most recognized for.
Example: Leadership (5), Communication (3), Problem Solving (2)
How to Enable
- Go to WordPress Admin > Settings > Member Reviews
- Click the Pro tab
- Find Review Mode setting
- Select Endorsements
- Click Save Changes
The Endorsement Flow
Endorsing Others
- Visit a Member Profile — Click the “Endorse [Name]” button
- Select Skills — A modal opens showing available skills in a grid layout
- Choose Skills — Check the boxes for skills you can genuinely endorse
- Add Context (Optional) — Write a message explaining your endorsement
- Submit — The endorsement appears on their profile after approval (if moderation is enabled)
Requesting Endorsements
When viewing your own profile:
- Click “Request Endorsement”
- Select members to request endorsements from
- Optionally suggest specific skills you’d like endorsed
- Members receive notifications about your request
Managing Requests
The Pending Requests tab shows endorsement requests you’ve received:
- Approve — Accept the request and write your endorsement
- Decline — Politely decline if you don’t feel qualified to endorse
Editing Endorsements
After submitting, you can edit your endorsement:
- Change selected skills
- Update your message
- Remove the endorsement entirely
Skill Management
Default Skills
The plugin includes 10 professional skills out of the box:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Teamwork
- Creativity
- Technical Skills
- Project Management
- Time Management
- Adaptability
- Attention to Detail
Customizing Skills
Enable/Disable Skills:
- Go to Settings > Member Reviews > Pro
- Find Skills Management section
- Toggle skills on or off
Add Custom Skills: Add skills specific to your niche: “WordPress Development,” “Patient Care,” “Sales Strategy,” or “Graphic Design.”
Display Skills with Shortcode
Show a member’s endorsed skills anywhere using the shortcode:
[bupr_member_skills]Parameters:
| Parameter | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
user_id | Display skills for specific user | Current profile user |
limit | Maximum skills to show | 10 |
Examples:
[bupr_member_skills user_id="15"]
[bupr_member_skills limit="5"]
[bupr_member_skills user_id="15" limit="5"]Combine with Verified Badges
Add Verified Badges (also a Pro feature) to endorsements for extra credibility. A verified endorsement from a recognized expert carries significant weight.
Use Cases
Professional Network
Build a LinkedIn-style community where members showcase validated skills and expertise.
Expert Directory
Help visitors find specialists by browsing endorsed skills. The Skills Cloud makes it easy to see a member’s strongest areas.
Freelancer Platform
Let clients endorse freelancers for completed projects. Skill endorsements build portfolio credibility beyond generic 5-star ratings.
Configuration Tips
Limit Skill Selection: Don’t enable too many skills. 10-15 focused skills work better than 50 generic ones.
Encourage Specific Endorsements: Remind members to add context in their messages. “Great communicator” means more when explained.
Moderate Strategically: Enable moderation for new communities to ensure quality. Disable it once trust is established.
Notify Members: Enable email notifications when members receive endorsements to keep engagement high.
Next Steps
- Learn about Testimonials Mode for story-based feedback
- Explore Verified Badges to add trust signals
- Configure Email Notifications to engage members