Overcoming API Approval Hurdles: Our 7-Month LinkedIn Journey

Getting approved for official platform APIs can be one of the most frustrating parts of building a social media tool. Recently, we wrapped up a challenging seven-month journey to secure official API approval for publishing to LinkedIn Pages.

It was not an easy process. Here is what we learned from the experience, the hurdles we faced, and how persistence paid off in the end.

The Verification Roadblock

Our initial applications were declined because we had multiple business names connected to one legal entity. Support tickets often took up to 30 days for a response. Many replies provided repetitive automated advice without resolving the underlying issue.

Escalating the Problem

When standard support stalled, we tried every outreach channel available. We messaged multiple LinkedIn employees directly through LinkedIn messaging and Twitter, but none of those initial individual outreach messages got a reply.

Posting public tweets finally got a response asking us to send a DM. Even though we were told to create yet another support ticket, sending those direct messages kickstarted the whole process. A representative on Twitter messaged back saying they found several of our stuck tickets in the system.

They never officially explained what they did behind the scenes, but someone brought our open cases to the attention of the right team. Within a few days, they picked up our file and approved our workflow.

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Key Takeaways for Founders

1. Maintain unified documentation: Ensure all business registration names match exact legal records across all verification platforms, especially if you use different public names connected to one legal entity.

2. Match your Google Maps address: Make sure your address listed on Google Maps matches the exact address on your business registration documents.

3. Build a complete company website: Ensure your website clearly looks like an established business. Major platforms do not grant production API access to standard developer accounts or incomplete sites.

4. Use public social channels and DMs: When private support tickets stall, reach out on public social channels like Twitter. Following up via direct message when requested can finally put human eyes on your support case.

5. Never give up: Core platform integrations take time, but delivering requested features for your waiting customers makes every struggle worth it.