If you’re tired of sending LinkedIn messages that look like they were written by a robot, you’re not alone. The truth is, most people ignore cold outreach—especially when it feels copy-pasted. But there’s a trick that still works: personalized images. If you want more replies, adding your prospect’s name, company logo, or even their LinkedIn profile pic to an image can make them do a double-take.
But let’s be real: doing this one-by-one is a pain. That’s where Hyperise comes in. Hyperise lets you quickly add custom details to images and use them in your LinkedIn outreach, without spending hours in Photoshop or Zapier hell.
This guide is for you if you: - Send LinkedIn connection requests or messages for sales, recruiting, or partnerships. - Want to stand out but don’t have a ton of time. - Care about results, not shiny dashboards.
Here’s how to actually personalize LinkedIn outreach images—at scale—using Hyperise.
Step 1: Get Clear on What You Actually Need
Before you start signing up for tools and designing graphics, get specific:
- Who are you reaching out to? (Job titles, industries, etc.)
- What’s your real goal? (Demo booked, reply, download, etc.)
- What details will make your image actually feel personal? (First name? Logo? City?)
Don’t overcomplicate this. Most people respond better to something simple and relevant than to a graphic full of bells and whistles.
Pro tip: Test your idea on a few real people first. If your “personalized” image feels forced or creepy, dial it back.
Step 2: Sign Up for Hyperise and Set Up Your Workspace
Head over to Hyperise and create an account. There’s a free trial, but know that real personalization at volume is a paid feature.
Once you’re in: - Fill out the basics—profile, company info, etc. - Poke around the dashboard to get familiar, but don’t get bogged down in every setting. - Ignore any “AI magic” claims for now. The core value here is dynamic images, not artificial intelligence.
Step 3: Create a Personalized Image Template
This is the fun part (or the time sink, if you’re a perfectionist). Here’s a straight-shooter approach:
- Pick your base image: This could be a screenshot of your LinkedIn message, your landing page, or just a friendly photo of yourself.
- Add dynamic fields: Drag and drop placeholders for {first_name}, {company_name}, or even {company_logo}. Hyperise has these “merge tags”—think of them like mail merge for images.
- Make it obvious, not subtle: If you’re adding someone’s name, make it clear enough to catch the eye. Don’t hide it in tiny text.
- Preview with real data: Hyperise lets you preview with sample data. Use this to make sure nothing looks weird when populated.
- Keep it simple: Resist the urge to add too many personalization elements. One or two details are plenty.
What NOT to do: - Don’t add fake LinkedIn badges or anything that could get your account flagged. - Avoid inside jokes or references unless you’re 100% sure they’ll land.
Step 4: Connect Your Data Source
Personalization only works if you have the data. Here’s how to get it in:
Option A: CSV Upload
- Export your target list from LinkedIn or your CRM.
- Make sure your CSV has columns for whatever you want to personalize—first name, company, logo URL, etc.
- Upload the CSV to Hyperise.
Option B: Direct Integration
Hyperise connects to some LinkedIn outreach tools (like Expandi, Lemlist, or Meet Alfred). If you’re using one of these, you can connect your account and pull in data automatically.
- Check Hyperise’s integrations list. If your tool isn’t there, stick with CSV.
- Don’t waste hours trying to make a fancy API work unless you’re sending thousands of messages a month.
Pro tip: Double-check your data for blanks or weird formatting. Nothing kills credibility like “Hi {first_name}!”
Step 5: Generate Personalized Image URLs
Once your data is in, Hyperise generates unique image URLs for each row in your list. Behind the scenes, it’s just swapping in the right values when each image is loaded.
- Download the list of personalized image URLs from Hyperise.
- These URLs are what you’ll paste into LinkedIn messages or your outreach tool.
A note on privacy: Hyperise images are loaded from their servers. They’ll know when someone views the image, but so will you—that’s a plus. Just don’t use this for anything sensitive.
Step 6: Insert Images Into LinkedIn Messages
Here’s where things get a little hacky, because LinkedIn isn’t built for automated images (and honestly, that’s probably for the best).
Manual Outreach
- Open LinkedIn, go to your message composer.
- Paste the personalized image URL directly—LinkedIn will usually render the image.
- Add your text and send.
Automated Outreach Tools
If you’re using a tool like Expandi or Meet Alfred: - Insert the image URL as a variable in your outreach template. - The tool should swap in the right URL for each recipient. - Always test first—LinkedIn occasionally changes what embeds work, and some tools handle images better than others.
What to watch for: - LinkedIn sometimes shows images as links, not previews. If so, consider using GIFs or fallback text. - Don’t send images with every message. Use them for key touchpoints so they feel special, not spammy.
Step 7: Track Results and Iterate
Don’t trust anyone who says “personalized images double your response rate.” Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. Here’s what’s actually worth tracking:
- Acceptance rate (if you’re sending connection requests)
- Reply rate
- Clicks (if your image is linked)
- Qualitative feedback (“Hey, cool image!”)
If you’re not seeing an uptick, try: - Changing your image (less flashy, more genuine) - Tweaking your message copy - Sending images only at certain stages (not every message)
What doesn’t work: - Blindly blasting the same image to everyone and expecting magic - Over-personalization (using too much data makes it feel uncanny)
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
- Works: Simple, relevant personalization (first name, company logo)
- Doesn’t: Over-designed templates, obvious automation, or trying to be too clever
- Ignore: Anyone selling “done-for-you” personalization without showing real results. Most are just using Hyperise in the background anyway.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Personalized images can help you stand out, but they’re not a silver bullet. The best approach is to keep it simple: start with one or two details that matter, test them on a small batch, and see what happens. If you get more replies, great—double down. If not, don’t be afraid to tweak or ditch the approach.
Most importantly, don’t let yourself get bogged down in endless setup. Set a timer, build your first template, and send a few messages today. You’ll learn more from doing than reading another case study.
Happy (and hopefully, more productive) connecting.