If you’re trying to reach prospects these days, you can’t just blast out a batch of emails and call it a campaign. People ignore more messages than ever. What actually works? Hitting them across a few channels—in a way that doesn’t make you look like a spammer. If you’re running sales or marketing, and you want more replies (not just “opens”), this one’s for you.
This guide walks through creating and managing multichannel campaigns using Zeliq—a platform that promises to make this process easier. I’ll show you what’s worth your time, what to avoid, and how to keep things simple enough to actually run.
Why bother with multichannel campaigns?
Here’s the blunt truth: sticking to one channel (like just email) leaves leads on the table. Maybe your emails land in spam. Maybe your LinkedIn message gets buried. But if you combine a few channels—say, email, LinkedIn, and phone—your chances go up. Not because you’re “everywhere,” but because you’re meeting people where they pay attention.
But multichannel isn’t magic. If you just spray the same message around, it’s annoying. The power comes from mixing it up, not just multiplying touchpoints.
Step 1: Get your basics right before you touch Zeliq
Before you open any tool, get clear on three things:
- Who are you targeting? Be specific. “Tech companies” is not a real segment. “Heads of IT at SaaS companies, 50–200 people, US-based” is.
- What do you want them to do? Book a call? Download something? Reply? Pick one.
- What’s your message? One clear, honest reason they should care. Skip the fluff.
If you don’t have this, no software (Zeliq included) will save you from wasting time.
Step 2: Set up your channels in Zeliq
Once you know your audience and message, open up Zeliq and connect the channels you’ll actually use. Zeliq supports email, LinkedIn, and phone/SMS (depending on your plan).
To connect channels: - Email: Plug in your work email (ideally a dedicated outreach inbox). Avoid using your main address—deliverability can take a hit if you get flagged. - LinkedIn: You’ll have to connect your LinkedIn profile. Pro tip: Don’t use your main account if you’re planning heavy outreach; LinkedIn is quick to restrict accounts. - Phone/SMS: Zeliq sometimes offers built-in calling/SMS. If not, you can log calls manually.
Honest take: If you’re just starting, don’t set up every channel “just in case.” Pick two that make sense for your audience. More channels = more complexity, and more stuff to break.
Step 3: Build your contact list (carefully)
You need good data. Zeliq lets you import CSVs or sometimes source leads directly inside the tool. Here’s what matters:
- Quality over quantity: 200 good leads beats 2,000 randoms.
- Deduplicate: Make sure you’re not hitting the same person on three channels with three different names.
- Enrich if needed: If your data’s missing emails or LinkedIns, use Zeliq’s enrichment (if it’s accurate), but always spot-check a few.
What to skip: Don’t get sucked into “list building” for weeks. Get a starter list, then refine as you go. Most campaigns get stuck in this phase.
Step 4: Map out your sequence
This is where Zeliq shines. You can build a sequence that mixes emails, LinkedIn messages, and calls.
How to do it: 1. Create a new campaign. 2. Add steps (e.g., Day 1: Email, Day 3: LinkedIn connect, Day 5: Follow-up email, Day 7: Call). 3. Write unique messages for each channel. Don’t copy-paste the same pitch everywhere. 4. Set delays between steps. Don’t hammer people every day.
Pro tips: - For LinkedIn, your first touch should be a connection request, not a pitch. - For calls, don’t leave voicemails unless you have something actually useful to say. - Keep follow-ups short and polite. People can smell desperation.
What not to bother with: Zeliq offers a lot of automation, but resist the urge to make 10-step sequences. Most responses come in the first 3–4 touches.
Step 5: Personalize at scale (without losing your mind)
Zeliq lets you use “merge fields” (like {first_name}) for basic personalization. But don’t go wild—most people see right through “Hi {first_name}, I loved your work at {company_name}.”
What actually works: - Use snippets for industry or pain point (“Saw you’re hiring engineers—tough market lately.”) - Mention something recent about the company if you can, but don’t fake it.
If you want to go deeper, Zeliq lets you add “manual tasks” (like researching a lead before a LinkedIn message). This slows you down, but can lift reply rates if your list is small and valuable.
Step 6: Launch—and monitor closely
You’ve built your sequence. Now, don’t just hit send and walk away. Start small—send to 20–30 people, not your whole list.
Watch for: - High bounce rates (bad emails = your domain gets flagged) - Low open rates (could be your subject lines or deliverability) - No replies at all (your message might just be boring or irrelevant)
Zeliq’s dashboard shows you opens, clicks, replies, etc. But be skeptical: “opens” don’t mean much (pixels get blocked or triggered by bots). Focus on replies and booked calls.
Step 7: Tweak, don’t tinker forever
Multichannel campaigns aren’t “set it and forget it.” Here’s the honest approach:
- Change one thing at a time. If you rewrite your whole sequence, you’ll never know what helped.
- Drop dead channels. If LinkedIn isn’t working for your audience, skip it next time.
- Keep notes. What subject lines work? What messages get ignored? Zeliq’s analytics help, but a simple spreadsheet works too.
What to ignore: Fancy A/B tests with tiny samples. You need real volume for those to matter. Just talk to a few people and see what lands.
Step 8: Stay within the lines
A quick reality check: multichannel doesn’t mean “blast everyone everywhere.” Respect limits:
- Email send limits: Don’t send more than 50-75 cold emails per day per inbox.
- LinkedIn: Don’t connect with dozens of people daily, or you’ll get restricted.
- Compliance: Make sure you’re following cold outreach rules (GDPR, CAN-SPAM). Zeliq tries to help, but it’s on you in the end.
If your reply rates tank or you get warnings, stop and adjust.
Step 9: Rinse and repeat—without overcomplicating
The best campaigns are the ones you actually run, not the ones you keep “perfecting.” Multichannel is powerful, but only if you keep it simple enough to maintain.
- Start with two channels, short sequences, and one target segment.
- Review every week. What worked? What didn’t?
- Don’t get distracted by every new “AI” feature unless it actually saves you time.
Keep it simple, keep it moving
That’s pretty much it. Zeliq can help you organize and automate a multichannel approach, but it won’t magically make people care. Your targeting and message do the hard work. Don’t overthink the tech—set up, send, watch for real replies, tweak, and repeat. The only campaigns that don’t get results are the ones that never go live.