If you’re tired of blasting random LinkedIn posts into the void and hoping for the best, you’re not alone. The truth is, most people don’t get much value from LinkedIn because they’re not talking to the right people—or they’re not even sure who the right people are. This guide is for marketers, founders, and anyone using LinkedIn for leads or influence who wants to actually get results without wasting time.
We’ll walk through how to segment and target audiences in Taplio, what actually works, what to skip, and how to avoid overthinking it. If you want more focused engagement (not just vanity likes), you’re in the right place.
Why Audience Segmentation on LinkedIn Matters
LinkedIn is a goldmine, but only if you stop treating everyone the same. Most posts get ignored because they’re too generic. Targeting starts with segmentation—breaking your audience into real, useful groups so you can reach out with content or messages that actually land.
If you’re just posting and hoping, you’re probably annoying people who’ll never buy from you, while missing the ones who would. Segmentation lets you focus your effort where it counts.
Step 1: Define What “Better Results” Means for You
Before you start fiddling with Taplio’s features, get clear on your goals. “Better results” means different things to different people:
- Are you after leads? (Who, exactly?)
- Building authority? (With which industry or job titles?)
- Recruiting? (What kind of talent?)
- Networking? (With whom—peers, prospects, mentors?)
Write this down. If you chase everyone, you reach no one.
Pro Tip: If you can’t describe your target in a single sentence—e.g., “SaaS founders in Europe with teams under 50”—you’re not ready to segment yet.
Step 2: Build Your LinkedIn Audience Lists in Taplio
Taplio’s core strength is helping you organize and interact with LinkedIn audiences at scale. But don’t get lost in the bells and whistles. Here’s what matters:
1. Use Taplio’s Search and Filters
- Plug in job titles, industries, company size, location, and keywords.
- Start broad, then narrow down as you see who comes up.
- Taplio pulls from your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-degree connections—so your results depend on your own network, not all of LinkedIn.
What works: Filter by recent activity (people who posted in the last 30 days). There’s no point targeting inactive accounts.
What to ignore: Don’t go overboard on filters (“must love dogs, use HubSpot, and be VP at a SaaS unicorn”). You’ll shrink your list to nothing.
2. Create and Name Your Lists
- Call them what they are: “UK SaaS CEOs,” “Product Marketers, US,” etc.
- Don’t get cute or vague. You’ll thank yourself later.
3. Tag and Organize Contacts
- Taplio lets you tag people for finer segmentation. Use tags for things like “hot lead,” “engaged,” or “met at SaaStr.”
- Don’t go nuts with 50 tags. Pick a handful that matter.
Step 3: Analyze Your Segments Before You Start Messaging
Lots of folks skip this, but it matters. Look at your lists and ask:
- Are these people actually active on LinkedIn?
- Is the list big enough to be worth your time (ideally 100+ for most outreach)?
- Are there obvious outliers—students, recruiters, randoms from unrelated industries? Remove them.
Pro Tip: Quality beats quantity. A focused list of 80 engaged prospects will do more for you than 8000 randoms.
Step 4: Tailor Your Content and Outreach (Don’t Spray and Pray)
Now you have segments—don’t treat them all the same.
1. Draft Posts or Messages That Actually Speak to Each Segment
- What keeps these people up at night?
- What jargon do they use (or hate)?
- Can you reference a recent news item, event, or trend they care about?
Example: If you’re targeting series A SaaS founders, don’t write about “corporate transformation.” Talk about runway, churn, and hiring pains.
2. Use Taplio’s Scheduling and DM Features
- Schedule posts so they go out when your segment is most active (experiment—there’s no magic time).
- Use Taplio’s DM templates, but customize them. The more “copy-paste” your message looks, the faster it gets ignored.
- Always check for mutual connections or recent activity; mention something specific if you can.
What works: Short, relevant messages that show you’re not a bot.
What to ignore: Sending mass connection requests with generic pitches. You’ll get flagged as spam and burn your account.
Step 5: Measure What’s Working—And Ditch What Isn’t
Taplio gives you analytics on post engagement, message replies, and list growth. But don’t get caught up in vanity metrics.
- Are you getting meaningful replies, not just reactions?
- Are people moving into real conversations or sales calls?
- Which segment is most responsive?
Cut what isn’t working. Double down on what is.
Pro Tip: If a segment never engages, it’s not you—it’s probably the wrong audience. Don’t waste months trying to “crack” a dead zone.
Step 6: Rinse, Tweak, Repeat
No segmentation is perfect out of the gate. LinkedIn changes, people move jobs, and what works today might flop in three months. Make it a habit to:
- Review and update your lists monthly.
- Drop dead weight and add new prospects.
- Adjust your content or messaging based on what’s actually getting replies.
What works: Consistency. Most people give up after two weeks. Keep showing up, and you’ll outlast the tourists.
What to Watch Out For
- Automation Overkill: Taplio can automate a lot, but LinkedIn hates bots. Don’t set-and-forget mass messages or you’ll get restricted.
- Segmentation Paralysis: Don’t spend hours perfecting lists. Good enough is good enough—start, then refine.
- Ignoring Real Conversations: DMs that sound like marketing copy get ignored. Be human. Ask questions. Listen.
- Paying for Features You Don’t Use: Taplio has a lot under the hood. Use the free trial before you commit. If you’re only using it for posting, cheaper tools exist.
Wrap-Up: Keep It Simple and Iterate
Targeting on LinkedIn isn’t rocket science, but it does take a bit of discipline. Use Taplio to build clear, focused segments and talk to people like they’re, well, people. Don’t overcomplicate it. Start with broad strokes, see what sticks, and refine as you go. The more you do, the easier it gets—and the better your results.
If you’re ever in doubt, just ask: “Would I reply to this?” If not, neither will they. Now go clean up those lists and get back to work.