So you’re using LinkedIn and want to know how to get started with automating your lead generation process to fill your sales funnel with leads.
But how do you go about creating LinkedIn lead generation campaigns that are effective?
You may be asking yourself:
- Should I be following a prospect before inviting them to connect with me? How do I get the best acceptance rate?
- What sequence of actions works best to convert LinkedIn prospects to leads? How many messages should I send and what should the content of my messages be?
- At what frequency should I schedule my actions? When will I start to annoy prospects?
- How do I avoid being spammy?
Here, using Dux-Soup’s wealth of experience of working with users who share their campaign successes with us, we reveal our approach to creating your first LinkedIn lead generation campaigns with a 10-step workflow to get you started.
The workflow template we’re going to share here will give you a good basis for success.
BUT it’s important for you to adjust this over time and test new strategies that could work for your product or service.
This isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach. It’s a starting point.
Why not follow the Dux-Soup LinkedIn page to learn more LinkedIn lead gen hacks like this?
What’s cool about LinkedIn?
If you sell to businesses then LinkedIn has established itself as an invaluable platform.
Its potential for connecting with decision-makers, industry professionals, and potential clients is vast. Check out our 5 reasons LinkedIn wins for cold outreach.
While many use LinkedIn for individual connections and static profiles, the real power lies in running effective campaigns that can scale outreach activities, yield significant results, and save valuable time.
This is where LinkedIn automation tools come into play. They’ve been around a while, but you need to know how to use them.
LinkedIn has changed
In 2021, LinkedIn limited the number of connection requests you could send.
This caused a big stir in the market, particularly among those using LinkedIn automation in a big way.
But for the majority, it’s been a positive change. LinkedIn spammers that sent thousands of connection requests were suddenly no longer able to.
It has led to a new, more personalized approach to LinkedIn outreach. More relevant content, requiring each action to work harder. We have to be smarter in how we use LinkedIn for lead generation.
For those of us with the right approach to LinkedIn lead generation campaigns, the great news is that we're seeing more success.
In this blog we’ll share a workflow template that combines our LinkedIn campaign strategy with Dux-Soup Turbo and Dux-Soup Cloud Editions, allowing you to scale your LinkedIn lead generation whilst keeping the quality of your outreach high.
Best of all, it has been proven to successfully generate tonnes of leads.
And you can start using it today.
If you don’t yet have Dux-Soup? Get a free Turbo trial here.
Dux-Soup’s proven campaign methodology
Dux-Soup is the #1 LinkedIn automation tool (over 140,000 people have installed Dux-Soup for free!).
It automates LinkedIn actions including sending connection requests, following and endorsing profiles, sending messages and sending InMails.
Dux-Soup works directly on your LinkedIn profile, meaning that LinkedIn can’t detect any 3rd party tools or changing IP addresses to raise alerts. It’s automatically set to stick to daily activity limits that won’t raise alarm bells with LinkedIn either, so you’re pretty safe - as long as you stick to our settings.
You can refer to our guide on how to use LinkedIn automation safely.
So, ready to get going? Just ensure you have the Dux-Soup Trial, Turbo or Cloud installed and follow along!
How to create your campaign using Dux-Soup Turbo or Cloud
The easiest way to create your campaign is in the Dux-Dash. Go to Drip Campaigns and we’ll create the campaign here by clicking ‘New Campaign’.
Let’s break down our workflow into two distinct phases: Growing your network and Lead generation. You may want to just build your network, in which case you can stop after phase 1.
Phase 1: Growing Your Network
I’ll call this campaign ‘Workflow 1’ but you can call it anything you want. Before you start building your actions out, you’ll want to do the following:
- Name your campaign
- Tick the box ‘Tag profiles with ID when enrolling. This helps you to easily find/revisit these profiles again.
- Select whether you want the actions to be carried out in regular LinkedIn, Sales Navigator or Recruiter.
- Add a campaign description if desired.
- If you have a Team license you can share your campaign with fellow Team members.
Now we’re ready to build out our campaign actions.
Step 1 – Visit
Once you have your list of target profiles ready in LinkedIn or Sales Navigator, you can auto-visit them using Dux-Soup.
This subtle action alerts prospects to the fact that you have visited their profile, raising awareness and curiosity.
They may visit your profile back. In fact, we’ve seen lots of leads generated by just this action alone. It’s a low-key way of putting your presence on their radar.
It’s a good idea to make sure that your profile is looking its best though. Check out our 5 LinkedIn profile tips.
Step 2 – Follow (Time Frame +2 days)
A couple of days after the visit, follow the target profile. This adds a warm touch to your engagement, showing that you’re genuinely interested in their updates and activities. It sets the tone for a potential connection.
Step 3 – Connection Request (Time Frame +1 hour after follow)
Approximately an hour (or more) after the visit, send a personalized connection request.
Personalization is key here.
ALWAYS utilize the prospect’s first name. Plus we recommend finding a relevant commonality, such as mutual LinkedIn groups, interests or connections.
Don’t try to achieve more within these actions. When using these steps, combined with a good LinkedIn connection message, you may see connection acceptance rates as high as 80%.
Just remember, your connection message should be inviting and not a sales pitch!
Once you’ve added these steps your campaign should look like this:
If you’re done then you can save your campaign and start enrolling profiles into your campaign.
Phase 2: Lead Generation
If you’re looking to drive leads into your pipeline, however, then you’ll want to add more steps to your campaign.
Step 4 – Follow-Up Message (Time Frame +1 hour after someone accepts your connection message)
After someone accepts your connection request, send a follow-up message to welcome them to your network.
Use this opportunity to kickstart a conversation. Pose a question or offer an insight backed by relevant content. This sets the stage for a meaningful dialogue.
Remember - don’t be seduced into sending a salesy message or you’ll lose your prospect.
Step 5 – Direct Message (Time Frame +1 week)
Up to one week later, initiate a direct message. Inquire about their thoughts on the content or topic previously discussed.
Engage in a conversation around an industry development and share an article you’ve written on the subject.
This showcases your expertise and commitment to adding value.
Step 6 – Visit (Time Frame + 1 week)
Continue to maintain a presence by visiting their profile again. It’s a subtle nudge that keeps you on their radar without overwhelming them with messages.
Step 7 – Endorse (Time Frame +1 hour)
Endorsements might seem minor, but they contribute to building credibility and rapport. Acknowledge their skills and strengths through endorsements. This adds authenticity to your engagement.
Step 8 – Direct Message (Time Frame +1 hour)
Send a direct message requesting a favor – to follow your company page. This message is designed to resonate. Explain the value your company page provides and how it aligns with their interests. This approach has yielded a remarkable 28% response rate.
Suggested copy:
Hi_FN_,
I hope all’s well.
I wanted to ask you if you’d be able to do me a little favor. We are trying to increase followers to our company page (Company name) and I wanted to ask your help with this.
Here’s the link to our page https://www.linkedin.com/company/xxx/ if you wouldn’t mind clicking the ‘follow’ button.
We’re working on some great projects at the moment around the world and are keen to share insights with our followers, which we hope will be of interest. We’d like to expand our reach to get valuable feedback.
Many thanks _FN_, I really appreciate it and please let me know if I can be of any help in return.
Name
Step 9 – Direct Message Offer Value Proposition (Time Frame +1 week)
Around a week later, send a direct message offering a value proposition. This could include a free trial, consultancy, review, or even a potential collaboration. Tailor the proposition to their needs and pain points.
Step 10 – Direct Message Follow-Up Value Proposition (Time Frame +1 week)
Lastly, follow up on the value proposition you offered in the previous step. Reiterate its benefits and emphasize how it can address their specific challenges. This step brings your campaign full circle, showcasing your dedication to meeting their needs.
Here’s how your full lead generation campaign should look:
Once you’ve finished creating your campaign - all you need to do is enroll your profiles. Dux-Soup will automatically schedule the actions for you.
Customization and relevance are key
You’ve probably heard it all before but it really is important.
Customization and relevance are paramount. Tailor your messages to suit your tone of voice and the specific context of each prospect.
The goal is to establish a genuine connection and provide value. A cookie-cutter approach won’t yield the same results as a thoughtful, personalized one.
Conclusion
LinkedIn campaigns powered by tools like Dux-Soup can significantly enhance your lead generation efforts.
The key is to build a relationship step by step, ensuring each interaction adds value to the prospect’s journey.
With a well-structured workflow in place, you can maximize your LinkedIn campaign’s potential, scale your activities, and save valuable time – all while achieving tangible and meaningful results.
Remember, success on LinkedIn lies not just in your number of connections, but in the depth of the relationships you nurture.
