You want to automate LinkedIn connection requests. Maybe you’re tired of clicking “Connect” a hundred times, or you want to grow your network without sinking hours into it. Either way, you know spammy blasts and half-baked tools can get your account restricted. This guide is for you—the person who wants results, not trouble.
I’ll show you, step by step, how to use Octopuscrm to automate connection requests on LinkedIn without frying your account. We’ll keep things realistic: no “magic growth hacks,” just what works, what to skip, and how to save yourself time.
What You Need to Know Before You Start
Let’s not sugarcoat it: automating anything on LinkedIn comes with risk. LinkedIn doesn’t love automation tools, and if you act like a robot, they’ll treat you like one. Here’s what you need up front:
- A LinkedIn account: Duh, but make sure it’s in good standing—no recent warnings or restrictions.
- Chrome browser: Octopuscrm is a Chrome extension. No Chrome, no deal.
- A paid Octopuscrm plan: Free plans are super limited and don’t do automation at scale.
- A clear idea of who you want to connect with: The tool can’t pick your audience for you.
- Common sense: Don’t blast out 500 requests a day. LinkedIn will notice.
Pro tip: If you’re brand new to LinkedIn or just created your account, cool your jets. Warm it up first—connect manually for a few weeks.
Step 1: Install Octopuscrm and Set Up Your Account
- Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for “Octopuscrm.”
- Install the extension. It’s a quick click.
- Create your Octopuscrm account if you haven’t already. Use the Chrome extension to sign up.
- Log in to LinkedIn in the same Chrome profile. The extension hooks into your active session.
Heads up: If you use multiple LinkedIn accounts or Chrome profiles, always double-check you’re logged into the right combo. Octopuscrm works on one at a time.
Step 2: Define Your LinkedIn Audience
Before you start sending requests, figure out who you actually want to connect with. Otherwise, you’re just spamming random people. Here’s how:
- Use LinkedIn’s search and filters (location, industry, current company, etc.).
- Save your search results. You can filter by 2nd- or 3rd-degree connections—those are people you can actually send invites to.
- Make sure you’re not targeting people you’ve already connected with or have pending invites to. Octopuscrm will help with this, but check anyway.
Reality check: If your target audience is super niche, don’t expect to send 100 requests a day. Quality > Quantity.
Step 3: Load Your Leads into Octopuscrm
- Run your search on LinkedIn.
- On the search results page, click the Octopuscrm icon in your Chrome toolbar.
- Choose “Collect” or “Grab” (Octopuscrm sometimes tweaks the button text).
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The tool will scrape the visible profiles. Scroll down to load more, then hit the button again if you want to grab more leads.
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Don’t try to scrape thousands at once. LinkedIn will flag you. Stick to 100-200 profiles per session at most.
Pro tip: Break your audience into smaller batches (by company, city, or title) so your messages can stay relevant.
Step 4: Set Up Your Connection Request Message
This is where most people get it wrong. The default “I’d like to add you to my network” is boring. But don’t go overboard, either.
- Keep it short—LinkedIn connection notes have a 300-character limit.
- Mention something specific if you can (“Saw your post on X” or “Fellow marketer in Toronto”).
- Avoid sales pitches. Seriously, nothing kills a connection faster.
Example:
Hi [First Name],
Noticed we’re both in the SaaS world—always keen to connect with fellow [Job Title]s. Cheers, [Your Name]
- In Octopuscrm, go to the “Connect” campaign.
- Paste your message template.
- Use personalization tags if you want (like
{firstName}), but don’t get too fancy. If it breaks, you’ll look like a robot.
Step 5: Configure Sending Settings (and Don’t Get Greedy)
This is where you keep your account safe. Octopuscrm lets you set:
- How many requests to send per day
- Delay between sends (in seconds)
Recommended safe settings:
- 30–50 requests per day for new accounts
- 50–70 per day for established accounts
- 60–120 seconds delay between requests
Don’t believe the hype: Anyone telling you to send 100+ per day is selling risk, not results. LinkedIn’s not dumb—they know what normal human behavior looks like.
Step 6: Start Sending
- Hit “Start” or “Launch Campaign” in Octopuscrm.
- The extension will begin sending requests as you go about your business.
- You can pause, stop, or view progress in the dashboard.
What to watch:
- If LinkedIn throws up a captcha or warning, stop immediately and take a break.
- Don’t use LinkedIn in another tab while Octopuscrm is running. Let it do its thing.
Step 7: Monitor Results and Avoid Trouble
Automation is not “set and forget.” You should:
- Check your LinkedIn notifications daily—accept invites, reply to messages, and withdraw pending requests that aren’t accepted after a week or two.
- Watch for warnings from LinkedIn. If you get one, take a few days off.
- Review your messaging—tweak your note if no one’s responding.
Pro tip: Withdraw old, unanswered requests regularly (Octopuscrm can help with this). Too many pending requests is a red flag for LinkedIn.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
What works: - Personalizing your message, even if it’s just a little. - Slow and steady sending—don’t chase big numbers. - Following up manually with people who accept (automation can’t replace real conversations).
What doesn’t: - Copy-pasting the same pitch to everyone. - Sending requests to people outside your target (they’ll just ignore or report you). - Relying on automation for everything. People want to talk to, well, people.
Ignore: - Anyone promising “guaranteed results” or “zero risk.” It doesn’t exist. - Hacks that bypass LinkedIn limits—those get patched, and your account gets flagged.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Don’t overcomplicate this. Start with a small, targeted batch. Watch what happens. Adjust your message, your targeting, and your daily limits as you go. The best automation is invisible—if people notice you’re using a tool, you’re using it wrong.
Automate the busywork, but keep the human touch. That’s how you grow your network without getting burned.