Have you heard that a Cloud-based LinkedIn automation tool is better than a Browser-based one? Are you unsure as to what the difference is between the two options and which one is right for you?
In this guide, we explore the real truth behind Cloud and Browser-based LinkedIn automation; how they work, what the benefits are, and what the pitfalls are of each option, allowing you to be a connoisseur of LinkedIn automation.
After all, why try to determine the truth from the market when you can hear it straight from an authority on the matter?
Here, you’ll get the inside scoop from one of the very first LinkedIn automation providers on the market. The ones that build it.
But why listen to us?
Because, at Dux-Soup we are the only provider of both Cloud-based and Browser-based LinkedIn automation plans, which means that there’s no need for us to be biased. We don’t need to persuade you or talk one option down. The fact of the matter is, they’re both great options. It just depends on which one best suits your requirements.
Of course, we’d love you to join the Dux-Soup community, but above that, we really want you to know the facts, so that you choose a LinkedIn automation tool that you love.
So, let’s dive in and explore the differences between your LinkedIn automation options.
Infrastructure
The main difference between a Cloud-based and a Browser-based LinkedIn automation tool is the infrastructure they run on.
A Cloud solution will run all LinkedIn outreach on a server that is managed, maintained and run by the LinkedIn automation provider. The term ‘Cloud’ simply means that Dux-Soup, in our case, is running your outreach activity on our servers.
In real terms, this means that any time you enroll a profile into a campaign, the subsequent outreach is actioned from our servers. We queue the activity, send connection requests and messages, and store all of your queued actions and activity log records safely for you until they are ready to be executed - by us. Your computer just becomes a window to view it remotely.
A Browser-based automation tool, by contrast, will run the LinkedIn outreach using the resources from your local computer, which can slow your computer down. If you're running multiple applications (or multiple Dux-Soup accounts) then you may find things can start to slow down.
Weighing up the reliability of your LinkedIn automation tool and the speed of your computer is the first factor to consider in the battle between Cloud and Browser-based. It could simply come down to how important an activity LinkedIn lead generation is to your business.
Cost
So now you understand that Cloud is all about running your LinkedIn automation activity from someone else’s computing resource, let’s discuss the impact of cost.
Of course, if someone else is managing the computing resource, the hardware, hosting, security and licensing that goes with it, plus backing up and maintaining it all, you’d expect it to cost more, right?
And you’d be right. Cloud LinkedIn automation does cost more than Browser-based LinkedIn automation. The benefits you get with the Cloud are the reliability, agility to scale up instantly if you’re managing more than one LinkedIn account, and the knowledge that it will always just work. Plus your data will always be securely backed up in the event of any unexpected downtime.
On the other hand, it means that Browser-based LinkedIn automation costs less. So if you’re running LinkedIn automation on a single account and have a spare computer lying around then you can pretty much halve your LinkedIn automation costs. Bonus!
Check out our Dux-Soup pricing to see the difference between the two options for yourself.
24/7 availability
With Browser-based LinkedIn automation, your computer needs to be on in order for it to run the automation activity (because it's running on your infrastructure, no naturally this needs to be turned on.)
Imagine you are going on holiday, you lose internet connectivity or your computer is set to sleep mode after 3 hours of inactivity. The result is that your LinkedIn automation activity will stop.
Well, not with a Cloud-based LinkedIn automation tool. Because your queued actions are sent to the Cloud, it doesn’t matter that your computer is turned off, or your WiFi drops out. In fact, you’ll only need your computer to be turned on when you are defining your automated activities and setting up and monitoring your campaigns.
You can simply switch your computer off when you’re not using it, with full knowledge that Dux-Soup will continue running on your behalf.
With Cloud-based LinkedIn automation, your actions will run according to the planner you set if you’re using Dux-Soup. That could be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We call it ‘always on’.
This allows you to scale your activity and generate more results. Even while you’re on holiday!
Use LinkedIn automation on any browser
Because Dux-Soup started off as a Chrome extension, if you decide to stick with the Browser-based version (which is a great choice by the way!) then you’ll need to run it on a Chrome browser.
Whilst Dux-Soup does work on some other browsers too, fans of Safari, Firefox, and those not mentioned in the list are out of luck.
But, not with the Cloud!
If you opt for a Cloud LinkedIn automation tool then you can use it on any browser you like (although initial installation requires Chrome). Welcome Safari and Firefox users….
Account safety and LinkedIn detection
There are two characteristics that LinkedIn monitors to detect the use of automation tools; technical and behavioral.
Technical detection
When it comes to technical detection, Dux-Soup runs your automation activity from a genuine browser environment, creating a browser environment that is similar to your own environment so that it won’t be detected by LinkedIn.
We’ve applied the same core technology that has been keeping accounts safe for 9 years into our Cloud version so we can retain our record as the leader in LinkedIn account safety. And with our Cloud version, you won’t be able to increase your activity levels giving you extra peace of mind that your levels are set by the experts.
Some other Cloud LinkedIn automation tools operate a browser in what is called ‘Headless mode’ which means it operates without a graphical user interface. This means that the Cloud accesses your LinkedIn account without running from a standard browser. And this CAN be detected by LinkedIn. This article discussed the challenges presented by Cloud tools and headless browsing.
With Dux-Soup's Browser-based LinkedIn automation (that you get with our Turbo and Pro plans), the LinkedIn automation tool accesses your LinkedIn account directly and runs all actions from your own LinkedIn account. This CANNOT be detected by LinkedIn.
So regardless of choice, Dux-Soup offers Browser and Cloud-based solutions that cannot be detected by LinkedIn. Other tools however, may be, so we'd advise you to check them out.
Behavioral detection
Let’s now address the behavioral aspect. Even if you’re using a Browser-based tool like Dux-Soup which runs on your LinkedIn profile and that can’t be detected by LinkedIn, you’re not quite out of the woods yet.
This is because LinkedIn CAN detect usage that seems abnormal. What human in their right mind can send LinkedIn connection requests 24 hours a day without a break? This is where people trip up and end up getting their accounts flagged. For pushing automation too hard.
We need to clear up that this isn’t LinkedIn detecting a tool at work. It’s LinkedIn detecting behavior that only a super-human robot can maintain. So whether you use a Cloud or Browser-based solution, just make sure that you don’t run at an unsustainable activity level.
With Dux-Soup’s Browser-based option, we give you the ability to change your automation speeds and limits - but it is at your own peril. If you want to go faster, then that’s up to you.
With our Cloud option, however, you can only go at our default speed and limit - which is the safest level for your account. We’ve tried and tested these speeds and limits at length and they haven’t led to a LinkedIn account ban yet.
Some final considerations….
When considering whether a Cloud-based or Browser-based LinkedIn automation tool is better for you, you may want to take into account some of these user interface factors to give you the full picture.
We know that learning how to use a new tool can be time-consuming. Most Cloud-based tools will require you to learn how to feed it with prospects from LinkedIn. This means that profiles are drawn out of LinkedIn and into your automation tool. If they reply, that reply may not always be recorded against your LinkedIn profile.
With Dux-Soup, all of your outreach activity is run from within the LinkedIn environment. Find and create your lists, let Dux-Soup do its work and all activity and responses are recorded in your LinkedIn profile, so there’s no risk of ever ‘losing’ any of your data. Be sure to consider this when selecting your preferred tool.
Some Cloud LinkedIn automation tools require you to reveal your LinkedIn login details. With Dux-Soup, this is not the case. Remember it is outside of LinkedIn’s terms of service to give your login details to a third party, so if your service provider is asking for this information, be sure to consider whether you are happy to do this (especially when Dux-Soup provides a service where this isn’t required).
So, whether you choose Cloud or Browser-based - that’s up to you. With the ability to seamlessly swap between the two with Dux-Soup, you may decide to give them both a go and choose based on your own experiences.
