If you’re tired of copy-pasting the same LinkedIn follow-ups, you’re not alone. Chasing down busy people is annoying enough; wrestling with clunky tools to do it for you is even worse. This guide is for folks who want to automate LinkedIn follow-up messages with minimal fuss—without making rookie mistakes that get you flagged or ignored. We’ll use Texau—a browser-based automation tool with a lot of power (and a few quirks).
Let’s keep it simple, practical, and honest about what works and what’s just hype.
Why automate LinkedIn follow-ups in the first place?
Before you start plugging anything in, ask yourself: do you actually need to automate this? If you’re sending a handful of messages per month, you’ll spend more time setting up automation than you’ll save. But if you’re running outreach at any real scale, automation is the only way to stay sane—and avoid letting leads fall through the cracks.
Just remember: - Automation gets you scale, not magic. If your initial outreach is bad, automating it won’t help. - LinkedIn doesn’t love automation tools. Use them carefully, or risk getting restricted. - The goal is to sound human, not like a robot.
What you’ll need to get started
Before you dive in, make sure you have: - A LinkedIn account in good standing (not “restricted” or “suspended”) - A desktop computer (Texau works best here; mobile automation is a pain) - A Texau account, set up and logged in - Some patience—setup takes a little time, but it’s not rocket science
Optional, but helpful: - A CSV or spreadsheet of LinkedIn profile URLs for your leads - A clear message sequence (don’t wing it—write your follow-ups first)
Step 1: Understand how Texau handles LinkedIn automation
Texau is a browser-based workflow builder that automates repetitive web tasks—scraping, messaging, and more. The Texau LinkedIn automations work by controlling your browser in the background. That means: - You run automations from your machine—not a cloud server. This is less detectable, but your computer needs to stay on. - You can chain actions together. For example: visit a profile, wait, send a message, come back days later with a follow-up.
Texau isn’t magic. It’s powerful, but a bit rough around the edges. Expect to do some troubleshooting, especially the first time.
Step 2: Set up your LinkedIn session cookie in Texau
Texau needs access to your LinkedIn account to send messages. The cleanest way is to give it your session cookie (don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds).
How to get your LinkedIn session cookie:
1. Log into LinkedIn in Chrome.
2. Right-click anywhere and choose “Inspect” to open DevTools.
3. Go to the “Application” tab, then “Cookies,” then look for li_at.
4. Copy the value (it’s a long jumble of letters/numbers).
5. In Texau, go to “Profile” > “LinkedIn Session Cookie” and paste it there.
Pro tip: Don’t share your session cookie with anyone—it gives full access to your account.
Step 3: Prepare your lead list
You’ll need a list of people to message. Texau works best with a CSV file of LinkedIn profile URLs.
How to get LinkedIn profile URLs: - Manually: Visit each profile, copy the URL, and paste into a spreadsheet. - With Texau: Use their “LinkedIn Search Export” spice to scrape search results into a CSV.
Keep it clean. If your list is full of duplicate or broken URLs, your automation will fail. Double-check before importing.
Step 4: Write your follow-up message sequence
Don’t let software write your messages for you. AI-generated outreach is usually obvious and gets ignored. Write 2-3 short, clear messages that you’d actually want to receive.
Message sequence tips: - Keep it short. No one reads long LinkedIn DMs from strangers. - Personalize where it matters (use first names, mention context). - Spread messages out. Don’t spam people every day.
Example sequence: 1. Initial message: “Hi {First Name}, saw your post on {Topic}—would love to connect and swap notes sometime.” 2. Follow-up #1 (3 days later): “Hi {First Name}, just following up on my earlier note. Let me know if you’re open to connecting.” 3. Optional Follow-up #2 (1 week later): “No worries if now isn’t a good time. If you’re interested in chatting in the future, just let me know.”
Texau lets you use placeholders (like {First Name}) that get filled in from your CSV.
Step 5: Build your Texau workflow (“Recipe”)
Texau calls automations “spices” (single actions) and “recipes” (multi-step workflows). For follow-ups, you’ll want a recipe.
Basic follow-up recipe: 1. Visit LinkedIn Profile (to “warm up” the connection) 2. Send Connection Request (optional, if not already connected) 3. Wait X days (Texau lets you add delays) 4. Send Follow-Up Message (once connection is accepted) 5. Add more waits and messages as needed
How to build it:
- In Texau, click “Create Recipe.”
- Add steps in order: profile visit, send request, wait, send message.
- Map the columns in your CSV (e.g., {First Name}, {Company}) to the message templates.
Pro tip: Start with a small batch (10-20 leads) to test. Don’t blast your whole list on day one.
Step 6: Configure timing and safety limits
LinkedIn hates bots. If you send too many messages too quickly, you’ll get flagged—or worse, restricted.
Safe limits (as of 2024): - No more than 20-30 connection requests per day - No more than 30-50 messages per day (including follow-ups) - Space out actions—add random delays, don’t run automations 24/7
Texau has settings for “speed” and “random delay.” Use them. Don’t be greedy.
Step 7: Test, troubleshoot, and iterate
Don’t trust any automation tool blindly. Things break—LinkedIn changes its layout, cookies expire, messages fail to send.
How to avoid headaches: - Run small tests, check the results manually. - Watch for error messages in Texau (they’re not always clear, but better than nothing). - Keep your browser and Texau up to date. - Rotate your LinkedIn session cookie every couple weeks.
If something doesn’t work, it’s usually one of: - Wrong or expired session cookie - Bad URLs in your CSV - Sending too many messages too quickly
What works, and what to ignore
What works: - Personalized, spaced-out follow-ups - Testing with small batches before scaling up - Using Texau for things LinkedIn doesn’t make easy (e.g., multi-step workflows)
What’s overrated: - Overly complex automation chains (keep it simple) - AI-written messages (they’re generic and easy to spot) - Scraping huge lists and blasting everyone (you’ll get blocked or ignored)
What to ignore: - “Growth hacking” advice that promises thousands of leads overnight - Tools that ask for your LinkedIn password (never give it—session cookie only) - Automation on LinkedIn mobile—just don’t
Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
- Getting your account restricted: Don’t send too much, too fast. If you get a warning, stop all automations for a week.
- Templates that don’t personalize: If everyone gets the same message, most will ignore you. Use real details.
- Forgetting to monitor replies: Automation can’t replace real conversations. Check your inbox daily and reply yourself.
- Letting your session cookie expire: If automations start failing, this is usually why. Refresh your cookie regularly.
Wrapping up
Automating LinkedIn follow-ups with Texau can save you hours, but it’s not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. Start small, keep your outreach human, and pay attention to safety limits. Iterate on what works for your audience, not what random “growth hackers” claim works for everyone. The simplest setup that gets results is usually the right one.
If you hit a snag, don’t be afraid to slow down and fix it—better that than losing your LinkedIn account. Good luck, and stay human out there.