Enhancing Recommendation Widgets with LinkedIn Integration

Introduction

This post details how we enhanced recommendation widgets within our application by integrating LinkedIn. The goal was to provide users with a direct link to the original LinkedIn post when a recommendation has been shared on the platform.

Implementation

The enhancement involved adding a LinkedIn icon to the bottom-right corner of each recommendation card. This icon is only visible when the recommendation has been successfully published to LinkedIn.

Theming and Localization

The styling of the LinkedIn icon is theme-aware, ensuring it integrates seamlessly with the overall look and feel of the application. Furthermore, the aria-label for the link is localized, providing translations for all supported languages to ensure accessibility and a consistent user experience across different locales.

Example

Here's an example of how the link might be implemented:

<?php

$linkedinUrl = $recommendation->linkedin_post_url;

if ($linkedinUrl) {
    echo '<a href="' . htmlspecialchars($linkedinUrl) . '" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="' . __('View on LinkedIn') . '">
        <i class="fab fa-linkedin"></i>
    </a>';
}
?>

Benefits

This integration provides several key benefits:

• Increased Engagement: Users can easily navigate to the original LinkedIn post, potentially leading to increased engagement and visibility.
• Improved User Experience: The visual cue (LinkedIn icon) clearly indicates that the recommendation has been shared on LinkedIn.
• Enhanced Accessibility: Localized aria-label ensures the link is accessible to users with disabilities.

Conclusion

By adding a LinkedIn link to recommendation widget cards, we've made it easier for users to access the original LinkedIn posts and improved the overall user experience. This enhancement demonstrates how small features can significantly impact user engagement and accessibility. Consider similar integrations to connect your application with other social media platforms.