How to schedule and automate LinkedIn outreach with Colddm workflows

If you’ve ever tried to keep up with LinkedIn outreach manually, you know it’s a slog. You start out personal, maybe even a little hopeful. Fast forward a few weeks, and you’re copy-pasting the same message to everyone, swearing you’ll “get organized soon.” This guide is for anyone who’s tired of that grind and wants a dead-simple way to automate outreach—without turning into a spam bot.

We’ll walk through how to schedule and automate your LinkedIn outreach using Colddm workflows. You’ll get practical, step-by-step instructions, some real talk about what actually works, and a few guardrails to keep you from annoying everyone (including yourself).

Why Automate LinkedIn Outreach? (And When Not To)

Let’s be honest—no one dreams of spending hours sending connection requests and follow-ups. Automation helps reclaim your time and brings consistency to your outreach. But before you start, know this:

  • Automation can’t fix a bad message or a lousy offer. If people aren’t responding, a tool won’t save you.
  • LinkedIn hates spam. Abuse automation, and you’ll get flagged or even banned. Be smart, not reckless.
  • Personalization still matters. The tools help you scale, but people respond to messages that feel human.

If you’re reaching out to a targeted set of prospects with a message you believe in, automation can help you stay organized and consistent. If you’re just blasting random people, save your money and rethink your strategy.

Step 1: Set Up Your Colddm Account

First things first, sign up for Colddm. You’ll need:

  • A Colddm account (obviously)
  • A LinkedIn account that’s in good standing
  • A clear idea of who you want to reach and why

Pro tip: Don’t use a brand new LinkedIn account for outreach. LinkedIn’s bots will sniff that out fast and you could get restricted.

  1. Go to Colddm and sign up.
  2. Connect your LinkedIn account as prompted. You may have to log in and authorize permissions—this is standard.
  3. Set up your profile and make sure it matches your LinkedIn info. Consistency helps avoid trust issues.

Step 2: Define Your Outreach Goals and Audience

Automation is pointless if you don’t know who you’re targeting or what you want. Take five minutes to get clear on:

  • Your ideal prospect: Job title, industry, location, company size, etc.
  • Your goal: Connection request? Demo booking? Feedback?
  • Your message: Don’t overcomplicate it—one clear ask, written like a real person.

What to skip: Don’t try to target “everyone in tech in the US.” Get specific, or you’ll get ignored.

Write this down somewhere—it’ll save you headaches later.

Step 3: Upload or Build Your Prospect List

You have two main ways to build your list in Colddm:

Option 1: Build a List with LinkedIn Search

  1. Use LinkedIn Search or Sales Navigator to find your target audience.
  2. Export profile URLs (manually, or using a LinkedIn search export tool—Colddm sometimes integrates with these).
  3. Import the URLs into Colddm.

Option 2: Upload a CSV

If you already have a list (maybe from an event or another tool), just upload a CSV with the following columns:

  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • LinkedIn URL
  • (Optional) Company, Title, Location

Heads up: More data lets you personalize messages, but don’t get stuck perfecting your spreadsheet. Good enough is good enough.

Step 4: Write Your Outreach Sequence

This is where most people mess up. Keep your messages short, honest, and specific. Here’s how to set up your sequence in Colddm:

  1. Write your connection request. Don’t pitch—just a quick intro and why you want to connect.
  2. Plan 1–2 follow-ups. Space them out by a few days. Keep them light—no one likes a pest.
  3. Personalize. Use merge tags like {first_name} or {company} for a human touch.

Example Sequence:

  • Connection Request:
    “Hey {first_name}, I noticed we’re both working in {industry}. Would love to connect and swap notes.”

  • Follow-up 1 (3 days later):
    “Hi {first_name}, just wanted to say thanks for connecting. If you ever want to chat about {topic}, let me know.”

  • Follow-up 2 (5 days later):
    “No rush on this, but if you’re open to a quick call about {problem you solve}, happy to send over some times.”

Skip the salesy pitch. If your first message reads like a cold email, it’s going to get ignored.

Step 5: Set Up and Schedule Your Workflow in Colddm

Now you’re ready to automate. Here’s how to get your workflow running:

  1. In Colddm, create a new workflow.
  2. Select your prospect list.
  3. Plug in your outreach messages—Colddm usually lets you set delays between each step.
  4. Choose your sending window.
  5. Stay human: Send during business hours, and avoid blasting hundreds of messages at once.
  6. Randomize timing: Most tools (Colddm included) can stagger sends to mimic real behavior.
  7. Review everything—especially your merge tags. A broken tag is a dead giveaway you’re using automation.

What to ignore: Don’t obsess over every tiny setting. Start simple, then tweak as you go.

Step 6: Monitor, Tweak, and Avoid Spam Traps

Don’t “set and forget” your workflow. Here’s what to keep an eye on:

  • Response rates: If no one’s replying, don’t blame the tool. Revisit your targeting and message.
  • LinkedIn’s warnings: If you get any pushback from LinkedIn (emails, pop-ups, restrictions), slow down or pause your workflow.
  • Connection limits: LinkedIn has weekly invite limits—usually 100 per week for most users. Don’t try to outsmart this. Getting banned will ruin your month.

Pro tip: Start small. Run a test batch of 20–30 contacts first. Look for glitches, bad data, or any weirdness before ramping up.

Step 7: Handle Replies Like a Human

Automation gets you in the door, but real conversations still need your attention. Once someone replies:

  • Jump in fast: Don’t let replies sit for days. Real people expect real responses.
  • Personalize your follow-up: Now’s the time to ditch the templates. Reference their response and move the conversation forward.
  • Track outcomes: Keep basic notes—who booked a call, who wasn’t interested, who asked to be left alone.

If you ignore replies or sound robotic, all your automation efforts are wasted.

What Actually Works (And What Doesn’t)

Let’s cut through the noise:

  • Works:
  • Targeted, relevant outreach to people who might genuinely care about your message.
  • Short, clear messages with a single ask.

  • Following up once or twice, politely.

  • Doesn’t work:

  • Mass-blasting generic “value proposition” pitches.
  • Ignoring LinkedIn’s limits, or sending too many messages too fast.
  • Over-customizing every single message. Some personalization is good; trying to be “hyper-personalized at scale” is how you burn out.

Ignore: - Shiny features that promise “AI-generated superhuman responses.” If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. - Any trick that tries to “hack” LinkedIn’s limits. They catch up, and you pay the price.

Keep It Simple—and Iterate

Automating LinkedIn outreach with Colddm can save you hours, but don’t let all the bells and whistles distract you. Start with a small, simple workflow. Learn what works for your audience, then adjust. If you’re getting good responses and not getting flagged, you’re doing it right.

Remember: You’re reaching out to real people. The best automation feels invisible—because it’s just helping you be more consistent, not less human.