If you’re tired of chasing leads, forgetting follow-ups, or just want to stop living in your inbox, you’re in the right place. This guide is for anyone using Meetalfred (or considering it) who wants to automate LinkedIn or email follow ups—without creating a mess or sounding like a robot. You’ll get a full, honest walkthrough on how to schedule automatic follow up messages, plus what to watch out for so you don’t burn your contacts or your reputation.
Why Automate Follow Ups (And Where People Go Wrong)
Following up is tedious, but it’s where deals actually close. Most people intend to keep up, but then life gets in the way. That’s where automation tools like Meetalfred can help—if you use them right.
But here’s the catch: automation is only as good as the thought you put into it. If you blast generic messages or set up a chain that spams people, you’ll just annoy folks (and maybe get your account limited). Used well, automation keeps you organized and persistent—without being a pest.
Bottom line: Automate the admin, not the relationship. You still need to sound human.
Step-by-Step: Scheduling Automatic Follow Ups in Meetalfred
1. Get the Basics Set Up
Before you do anything, double-check:
- You have a Meetalfred account that’s connected to your LinkedIn (and/or email).
- Your LinkedIn profile isn’t brand new or empty—automation raises red flags on weak profiles.
- You’re clear on who you want to follow up with and why. Spray-and-pray rarely works.
Pro tip: Start with a test campaign (like a dummy LinkedIn profile or your own email) before messaging real prospects.
2. Build or Import Your Lead List
You need a list of people to follow up with. In Meetalfred, you can:
- Import from LinkedIn: Use LinkedIn search, filter your target audience, and import those profiles directly via Meetalfred’s Chrome extension.
- Upload a CSV: If you have a list (with emails, names, etc.), you can upload it.
- Manual add: For small batches, you can add contacts one by one.
Don’t: Buy random lists online. They’re usually garbage and get you flagged for spam.
3. Create a New Campaign
Meetalfred runs on “campaigns.” This is where you’ll schedule your follow ups.
- Go to your dashboard and hit “Create Campaign.”
- Name your campaign something clear (“June 2024 LinkedIn Outreach” beats “Test123”).
- Pick your channel: LinkedIn, email, or both.
Heads up: Multi-channel sequences (LinkedIn + email) can boost replies, but only if you have permission to email people. Don’t be that person who scrapes emails and blasts cold.
4. Write Your Initial Message
This is the first message people will get. Keep it short, personal, and direct.
- Mention something specific: a mutual connection, recent post, or shared interest.
- Avoid copy-paste templates. If it sounds like spam, it probably is.
- Don’t pitch in the first message unless you enjoy being ignored.
Example:
“Hi Sarah, noticed we’re both in the SaaS Product group. Curious what you’re working on these days!”
5. Add Follow Up Steps
Here’s where the automation actually happens.
- In your campaign builder, click “Add Step” after your first message.
- Choose “Follow Up Message.”
- Set the delay: This is how long Meetalfred waits before sending the next message (e.g., 2 days, 5 days, etc.).
- Write your follow up. Reference your previous message and add value, don’t just nag.
What works: - Asking a question. - Sharing a relevant article or idea. - Keeping it breezy (“Just wanted to check if you saw my last note…”).
What doesn’t: - Guilt trips (“I guess you’re not interested…”). - Repeating the same pitch. - Sending too many follow ups (two or three is plenty).
Pro tip: Add a final “breakup” message if you want, but don’t overdo it. Sometimes, silence is the answer.
6. Set Time Windows and Days
Meetalfred lets you choose when messages go out. This matters more than you think.
- Avoid weekends and after-hours (unless you know your audience is online then).
- Stagger your sends—don’t dump 100 messages at 9:00 AM Monday.
- Use time zones if you’re reaching out globally.
Why bother? Sending at the right time gets your message read. Sending at the wrong time gets you ignored—or worse, flagged.
7. Preview and Test Everything
Before you hit “Start,” check:
- Message content: Any typos, weird formatting, or {{FirstName}} mistakes?
- Timing: Are delays reasonable, or will people get three messages in one day?
- Test send: Use your own email or LinkedIn as a recipient to see how it looks.
Don’t skip this. Nothing tanks credibility like a badly merged first name or a broken link.
8. Launch the Campaign
Once you’re sure everything looks right, go ahead and launch.
- Monitor the first batch closely. Watch for any bounces, connection issues, or negative replies.
- If you get warnings from LinkedIn (like “You’re sending too many messages”), stop and adjust your volume.
- Pause the campaign if something feels off—you can always restart.
9. Track Replies and Take Over When Needed
Automation gets you in the door, but you still need to handle real conversations.
- Meetalfred will flag replies so you know when to jump in.
- Disable the sequence for anyone who responds—don’t let automation keep messaging once someone’s talking to you.
- Use tags or notes to keep track of hot leads, cold leads, or folks to avoid.
Honest take: The magic isn’t in sending 1000 messages, it’s in noticing when one person actually wants to talk.
10. Refine, Don’t Set-And-Forget
Your first campaign won’t be perfect—and that’s fine.
- Look at open rates, response rates, and (most important) the quality of replies.
- Tweak your messages, timings, and lists every few weeks.
- Stop campaigns that aren’t working. Nobody gets it right the first time.
Ignore: Anyone who says “just copy this template and get 80% response rates.” That’s pure fantasy.
Real Talk: What Works, What Doesn’t
- Works: Thoughtful, personal messages spaced a few days apart. Two or three polite follow ups are often enough.
- Doesn’t: Generic blasts, sending too frequently, or automating everything. You can’t outsource genuine curiosity.
- Watch out for: LinkedIn limits (they change often), and the risk of being marked as spam. If you’re getting lots of pushback, scale it back.
Summary: Keep It Simple and Iterate
Automation is supposed to save you time, not turn you into a spam bot. Use Meetalfred to take busywork off your plate, but keep your messages personal and your campaigns small until you know what works. Start simple, test on yourself, and improve as you go. The best follow up is the one that sounds like you—not some robot on autopilot.
Happy (human) connecting.