Multichannel outreach can feel like spinning plates—email, LinkedIn, calls, maybe even SMS. The promise is more replies and better conversions, but the reality is often a mess of disconnected messages and annoyed prospects. If you’re using Upcell to run your outbound, this guide is for you. I’ll walk through how to set up multichannel outreach campaigns that actually work—without burning your list or losing your mind.
Let’s get into it.
1. Get Your List Right Before You Touch Upcell
No amount of automation or fancy tools will save you from a bad list. Seriously, you can’t “optimize” your way out of spamminess.
What to do: - Nail your ICP. Define exactly who you’re reaching out to—job titles, industries, company sizes. Vague targeting = low response rates. - Clean your data. Remove duplicates, check for missing info, and validate emails. Garbage in, garbage out. - Segment smartly. Break out your list by relevant factors (vertical, seniority, geography). You’ll need this for personalization later.
What to skip:
Don’t buy lists from sketchy sources. If you wouldn’t reply to it, don’t send it.
2. Map Out Your Channels (and Keep It Simple)
Upcell lets you sequence messages across different channels—usually email and LinkedIn, sometimes phone or SMS. This is powerful, but also where most people overcomplicate things.
Best practices: - Start with 2 channels. Email + LinkedIn usually covers most bases. Add calls or SMS only if you have a legit reason (and consent). - Don’t overload. 4-6 total touches per campaign is plenty to start. - Stagger your timing. Don’t hit someone on LinkedIn minutes after you email them. Give it a day or two.
Pro tip:
Channel choice should match your audience. If you’re selling to VPs of IT, calls might work. If you’re targeting designers, LinkedIn and email are better bets.
3. Craft Messages That Sound Like a Human
People know when they’re getting sequenced. The more your messages sound like “Hi {{firstname}}, I noticed your company is in {{industry}}...”, the faster they’ll hit delete.
How to write outreach that works: - Ditch the templates. Use Upcell’s personalization fields sparingly. Add a real note about the person or company. - Short beats long. Nobody wants to read your life story. Keep emails to 3-5 sentences. - One ask per message. Don’t pile on requests (“Can we meet? Can you connect me? Can you share feedback?”). Pick one.
What to avoid:
Automated LinkedIn DMs with zero context. They’re instant turn-offs.
4. Build Your Upcell Sequence (Step by Step)
Here’s how to set up a multichannel campaign in Upcell without getting lost in the weeds:
1. Create a new sequence.
Name it clearly (e.g., “SaaS CEOs – Email + LinkedIn – June 2024”). You’ll thank yourself later.
2. Import your cleaned list.
Double-check columns map correctly—especially emails and LinkedIn URLs.
3. Add your first touch.
Usually, this is an email. Keep it short and specific to the segment.
4. Schedule your next touch (different channel).
Example: Day 2, send a LinkedIn connection request with a non-salesy note.
5. Space out the rest.
Wait 2-3 days between touches. Alternate channels if it makes sense (e.g., Email → LinkedIn → Email).
6. Set up fallback rules.
If someone connects on LinkedIn, don’t send them the next “cold” email. Upcell lets you skip steps based on actions—use this.
7. Test before launching.
Send test messages to yourself or a teammate. Check for broken personalization or weird formatting.
What to ignore:
Don’t enable every Upcell feature “just because.” If you don’t need conditional logic or advanced triggers, skip them for now.
5. Warm Up Your Sending Accounts
If you blast 300 emails on day one, you’ll end up in spam. If you spam LinkedIn, you’ll get restricted. Upcell helps, but you still need to think like a real person.
What to do: - Warm up new email domains. Start with 10-20 emails/day, increase slowly. - Don’t automate mass LinkedIn messages. Keep it under 50 actions/day, and make some manual. - Rotate sending accounts if possible. Upcell can spread sending across multiple inboxes.
Signs you’re pushing too hard: - Bounce rates spike - LinkedIn “Action Blocked” warnings - No replies, or angry ones
6. Follow Up (But Know When to Stop)
Most replies come after the second or third touch, not the first. But there’s a fine line between persistent and pest.
Best practices: - Plan 2-3 follow-ups max. If they haven’t replied by then, move on. - Change your angle. Don’t repeat the same pitch—offer a new reason or resource. - Make it easy to say no. “If this isn’t a fit, just let me know.”
What not to do:
Don’t keep hammering people who never open or respond. You’re just burning your reputation.
7. Track What Actually Works (Not Just Opens)
Open rates are nice, but they don’t pay the bills. Upcell gives you deeper data—use it.
What to monitor: - Replies (positive and negative) - Meetings booked - Call connections - LinkedIn acceptance rates
How to improve: - If one channel flops, dial it back or drop it. - If a step gets zero replies, rewrite it or cut it. - Review every 2-4 weeks, not once a year.
Ignore the vanity stuff:
Don’t obsess over open rates or click tracking. Focus on real conversations and outcomes.
8. Stay Out of Trouble
Multichannel outreach has real risks—annoyed prospects, domain blacklists, even legal headaches if you’re not careful.
Play it safe: - Respect opt-outs. If someone asks out, remove them from all channels, not just email. - Know the laws. GDPR, CAN-SPAM, and LinkedIn’s own rules matter. Upcell can help manage compliance, but you’re still responsible. - Don’t fake sender names or LinkedIn profiles. It’s tempting, but it always backfires.
9. Keep It Simple and Iterate
You don’t need a 13-step, four-channel sequence to see results. Start with the basics, see what works, and double down on what gets replies.
Final pointers: - Start small, then scale. - Personal beats perfect. - Don’t fall for shiny features—stick to what moves the needle.
Multichannel outreach in Upcell can work really well, but only if you keep it grounded. Get your list right, write like a human, and pay attention to what actually gets results. Strip away the fluff, stay consistent, and you’ll see real conversations—not just more noise.