If you’re trying to actually get replies from LinkedIn outreach—not just spray and pray—automation can help. But it’s easy to end up sounding like a robot or get your account restricted. This guide is for people who want to use Expandi to automate LinkedIn outreach, but want to do it right: fewer headaches, more real responses, and less spammy nonsense.
Let’s get straight to it.
Step 1: Know What Automated Outreach Can (and Can’t) Do
Expandi and tools like it can:
- Save time sending connection requests and follow-ups
- Personalize messages (to a point)
- Schedule and stagger outreach so you don’t get flagged
But let’s be real:
- No software can magically make your offer interesting
- If your targeting is bad, automation just multiplies bad results
- LinkedIn does notice if you act like a spam bot
Bottom line: Automation helps, but you still need a good message and a clear target.
Step 2: Prep Your LinkedIn Profile (Don’t Skip This)
Before you even log in to Expandi, make sure your LinkedIn profile is something you wouldn’t be embarrassed to send to a stranger. People will check it before replying.
Do this: - Use a real, not overly-polished photo. - Write a headline that says what you do, not just your job title. - Make your About section clear and direct—skip the buzzwords. - Add some recent activity (like sharing or commenting) so you don’t look inactive.
Pro tip: If your profile is brand new or looks fake, LinkedIn is way more likely to restrict you once you start ramping up automation.
Step 3: Define Your Target Audience, Ruthlessly
This is where most automation falls flat. If you’re messaging the wrong people, it doesn’t matter how clever your sequence is.
Get specific: - Who actually benefits from what you offer? - Which industries, job titles, regions? - Are there signals in their profiles (keywords, groups, past companies)?
How to find them: - Use LinkedIn’s search filters. Don’t just rely on broad terms. - Save searches or use LinkedIn Sales Navigator if you have access. - Export leads to CSV, or connect directly with Expandi’s search features.
Skip: Buying random lists. They’re almost always garbage.
Step 4: Connect Expandi to Your LinkedIn Account
Log in to Expandi and hook up your LinkedIn account. This is straightforward, but take it slow to avoid getting flagged.
Watch out for: - Logging in from a country or IP address that’s very different from your usual one. - Adding multiple accounts from the same device/IP (LinkedIn hates this). - Expandi will usually guide you through a “warm-up” phase—don’t skip it.
Pro tip: If you have 2FA on LinkedIn (you should), make sure you can receive the code. Expandi sometimes needs you to re-authenticate.
Step 5: Build a Campaign—Don’t Overcomplicate It
Inside Expandi, click to create a new campaign. There are a lot of options, but don’t get distracted by every feature. Focus on:
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Campaign type: Most people start with Connection Campaigns (to send connection requests + follow-ups).
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Audience: Upload your CSV or use a LinkedIn search URL.
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Message sequences: This is where most people go wrong. Keep it short, personal, and relevant.
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Connection Message: 140 characters max. Skip the fake flattery (“I see we have similar interests!”). Instead, mention a real reason you’re reaching out.
- Follow-ups: One or two short messages, spaced out by a few days. No walls of text.
Example:
Hi [First Name], saw your work with [Company/Project]. I’m working with [Your Field/Niche] folks—curious to connect and share notes.
If they accept but don’t reply, then:
Thanks for connecting, [First Name]! If you ever want to swap notes on [Topic], let me know.
That’s it. No hard pitch on day one.
Ignore: “Drip” campaigns with 4+ follow-ups begging for attention. You’ll just annoy people.
Step 6: Personalize Without Sounding Like a Robot
Expandi lets you use variables (like {first_name}, {company}, etc.) and even custom placeholders if you upload them in your CSV.
What works: - Mention a mutual connection, recent post, or specific project if possible. - Reference something only someone in their field would know.
What doesn’t: - “I saw your impressive background and would love to connect.” - Overusing variables so the message reads like Mad Libs.
Pro tip: If you can’t think of a real reason to reach out, don’t send the message.
Step 7: Set Sending Limits and Schedules
LinkedIn is quick to throttle or ban accounts that act ‘unhuman’. Expandi helps you avoid that, but only if you set reasonable limits.
Recommended: - 30–50 connection requests per day (less if your account is new) - 40–70 follow-up messages per day - Randomize send times (Expandi does this automatically) - Avoid sending on weekends unless your audience is active then
Ignore: Any advice that tells you to “blast” 100+ messages a day. That’s a fast track to getting restricted.
Step 8: Monitor, Reply, and Adjust
Automation gets your foot in the door, but real conversations still need a human touch.
- Log in daily to reply to responses—don’t let leads go cold.
- If you get a lot of “not interested” or no replies, tweak your message or targeting.
- If LinkedIn sends you warning emails, pause your campaigns immediately and review limits.
Pro tip: Keep a spreadsheet (or use Expandi’s reporting) to track which messages and audiences actually get replies. Don’t keep doing what isn’t working.
Step 9: Clean Up and Respect the Uninterested
Not everyone wants to hear from you, and that’s fine.
- Remove people who ignore your connection request after a week or two (Expandi can do this automatically).
- Don’t keep following up with people who say no.
- Mark uninterested contacts in your CRM or campaign notes.
What to ignore: “Persistence” gurus who say you need 8+ touches. If someone’s not interested, move on.
Step 10: Iterate, Don’t Overthink
The best campaigns start simple and get better over time:
- Test one thing at a time (subject line, message, audience).
- Don’t chase every new “hack” or trick—you’ll just waste time.
- If you get stuck, ask a real person for feedback on your message.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Keep It Human
LinkedIn automation with Expandi can save you hours, but more messages won’t fix a bad offer or lazy targeting. Aim for real conversations, not inbox clutter. Start small, watch what works, and don’t be afraid to tweak or even pause campaigns that aren’t getting results.
You’ll get the best response rates by staying relevant, respectful, and a bit skeptical of anyone promising “10x replies overnight.” Just keep it simple and build from there.