Understanding LinkedIn Connection Types

When configuring LinkedIn for your application via Post for Me, you must choose between two distinct connection types: organization and personal. This setting determines the underlying LinkedIn API your app will use and dictates which types of pages your users are allowed to connect.

Quickstart projects must always use organization as the connection type even if you are connecting a personal page.

Here is a breakdown of how to set the connection type, how the different types work, and which one you should choose based on your project configuration.

Setting the Connection Type

The connection type is a specific parameter passed during the initial OAuth setup.

How it works

When you make a POST request to the /v1/social-accounts/auth-url endpoint to generate your authorization link, you specify the connection type inside the platform_data object. If omitted, the API will default to the personal connection type.

Example Request:

const response = await fetch('https://api.postforme.dev/v1/social-accounts/auth-url', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    platform: 'linkedin',
    platform_data: {
      linkedin: {
        connection_type: 'organization' // Options are 'personal' or 'organization'
      }
    }
  })
});

const { url } = await response.json();

The Organization Connection Type

The organization connection type utilizes the LinkedIn Community API.

How it works

This is the most comprehensive connection method. It allows your users to authenticate and connect both their personal profiles and any company pages they manage.

If you are using a Quickstart project with our provided credentials, you must always use the organization option. If you are building a White Label project using your own credentials, you should only use this option if your native LinkedIn App is specifically configured for the Community API. Note that gaining access to the Community API requires your app to undergo an approval process and have a verified business on LinkedIn.

The Personal Connection

The personal connection type utilizes LinkedIn's Sign In with OpenID Connect API.

How it works

This connection method is strictly limited. Users will only be able to connect their individual, personal LinkedIn pages. It does not support connecting or publishing to company pages.

This option is available for White Label projects that do not need company page access. Because it uses OpenID Connect, it does not require your LinkedIn App to go through a complex approval process or business verification, allowing you to get up and running much faster.