If you’re in sales or business development, you probably spend too much time toggling between your CRM and LinkedIn. Syncing the two sounds like a dream: less copy-paste, fewer tabs, and a smoother workflow. But getting there isn’t always as easy as the demo video makes it look. This guide is for anyone who wants LinkedIn and their CRM (specifically Revenue) to actually work together—without the headaches.
Let’s break down what’s possible, what’s not, and how to set this up so it actually saves you time.
Why Sync Revenue with LinkedIn, Anyway?
You already know the basics: LinkedIn is where your prospects hang out, but Revenue is where you track deals. The problem? These worlds rarely talk to each other. Here’s what a real sync can (and can’t) do for you:
What works: - Cut down on manual data entry (no more copying names and emails back and forth) - See richer profiles and social activity alongside your CRM records - Trigger workflows in Revenue based on LinkedIn actions (think: new connections, messages, etc.)
What doesn’t: - LinkedIn doesn’t make it easy to export data. Most CRMs—including Revenue—can’t pull everything in directly, thanks to LinkedIn’s tight API restrictions. - Not all contact details on LinkedIn are accurate, public, or up-to-date. - There’s no magic “sync all” button. You’ll need to use third-party tools or browser extensions to bridge the gap.
If you’re expecting everything to work out-of-the-box, lower those expectations now. But with some setup, you can get 80% of the benefit.
Step 1: Decide What “Sync” Means for You
Before you start looking for tools or integrations, get clear on what you actually want. Some people just want to auto-import new connections. Others want to track every LinkedIn message inside Revenue. What’s your workflow?
Common goals: - Add new LinkedIn contacts to Revenue as leads - Enrich Revenue profiles with LinkedIn data (job title, company, recent posts) - Log LinkedIn messages as CRM notes or activities - Trigger Revenue tasks based on LinkedIn actions
Pro tip:
Don’t try to automate everything. Focus on the 2-3 manual steps you repeat most often. If it’s just about adding prospects faster, start there.
Step 2: Check What Revenue Can Do Natively
First, see if Revenue has a built-in LinkedIn integration. As of early 2024:
- Most CRMs (including Revenue) don’t have a direct, deep LinkedIn integration, because LinkedIn keeps its API tight to the chest.
- Revenue may offer basic “enrichment” features—like adding public LinkedIn info to CRM records—usually via a third-party provider.
How to check: - Go to the integrations section in Revenue’s settings. - Search for “LinkedIn” or “social.” - If there’s a plug-and-play option, follow the prompts. But don’t hold your breath.
Reality check:
If the integration is just a “LinkedIn profile” button that opens a new tab, that’s not really a sync. Useful, maybe—but it won’t save you much time.
Step 3: Set Up a Third-Party Connector (If Needed)
Here’s where things get interesting (and sometimes frustrating). Since LinkedIn limits what you can do directly, most people use third-party tools to fill the gap. Here are a few common approaches:
1. Browser Extensions
Extensions like Wiza, Surfe (ex-Leadjet), or Dux-Soup sit on top of LinkedIn and push data to your CRM, including Revenue.
How it works: - Install the extension. - Connect it to both your LinkedIn and Revenue accounts. - When you view a LinkedIn profile, you can sync info or create a new lead in Revenue with a click.
Pros: - No IT help needed. - Works right from your browser.
Cons: - Can be glitchy if LinkedIn changes its site layout. - Sometimes limited to basic info (name, company, job title). - May violate LinkedIn’s terms if you get too aggressive.
Watch out for:
Chrome extensions that promise “unlimited” scraping or full message sync. LinkedIn will catch on if you go overboard, and you could lose access.
2. Data Enrichment Tools
Platforms like Lusha, Apollo, and Clearbit can pull LinkedIn data and push it to Revenue—often with more accurate emails and phone numbers.
How it works: - You find a prospect on LinkedIn. - Use the enrichment tool to reveal their “real” contact info. - Push it to Revenue with one click.
Pros: - Often more accurate than LinkedIn profiles alone. - Can fill in missing fields in Revenue.
Cons: - Usually not cheap. - Some data can get out of date quickly. - Still requires you to manually trigger the sync.
3. Workflow Automation (Zapier, Make, etc.)
If you want more control, use automation platforms to link LinkedIn and Revenue. But fair warning: LinkedIn’s official Zapier integration is limited, and most automations rely on email notifications or scraped data.
How it works: - Set up a Zap (or scenario) triggered by, say, a new LinkedIn connection email. - Parse the email for name, company, etc. - Create a new lead in Revenue.
Pros: - Highly customizable. - Can automate edge cases (like tagging leads based on keywords).
Cons: - Setup is fiddly. - May break if LinkedIn changes email templates. - Not truly “real-time”—there’s lag.
Bottom line:
Pick the simplest tool that solves your main pain point. Don’t duct-tape together five different automations unless you love troubleshooting at midnight.
Step 4: Map and Clean Your Data
All the syncing in the world won’t help if your data’s a mess. Before you hit “import,” take a minute to map fields between LinkedIn and Revenue.
Key fields to map: - Name (First, Last) - Job Title - Company - LinkedIn URL - Email (if available)
Avoid: - Importing every single connection. Focus on prospects, not random old colleagues. - Duplicating contacts—check for existing records in Revenue before adding new ones.
Pro tip:
Do a test import with 5-10 contacts first. See how they look in Revenue. Fix mapping issues before you bulk import hundreds.
Step 5: Build Prospecting Workflows That Actually Work
Once you’ve got data flowing, don’t just admire your handiwork—put it to use.
Ideas for practical workflows:
-
Connection to Sequence:
When you connect with a new prospect on LinkedIn, trigger a sequence or task in Revenue to follow up by email. -
Profile Visit Logging:
Use a browser extension to note when you’ve viewed a prospect’s profile, so you don’t double-dip or forget where you left off. -
Message Sync:
If your tool can log LinkedIn messages into Revenue, set up an activity type for “LinkedIn DM” so you can track engagement alongside emails and calls.
Tips for keeping it sane: - Don’t spam. Just because you can automate outreach doesn’t mean you should. - Review your workflow every month or so. LinkedIn and third-party tools update often—things break. - Keep your Revenue data clean. Archive or merge old leads regularly.
What to Ignore (For Now)
-
Full-blown bi-directional sync:
Most people don’t need every field perfectly mirrored. Focus on timely, accurate data for your active prospects. -
Trying to scrape LinkedIn at scale:
LinkedIn’s bots are better than you think. You’ll get rate-limited or locked out if you try to pull your entire network every week. -
Shiny “AI-powered” add-ons:
Most of these just repackage scraped data. Don’t pay extra unless you see real, tangible value.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate
Syncing Revenue with LinkedIn isn’t as seamless as it should be—but with the right setup, you can cut down on busywork and focus on real conversations. Start small. Get one workflow working, then build from there.
Most importantly: Don’t chase a mythical “perfect” sync. The goal is better prospecting, not more software headaches. Try, tweak, and keep what actually helps you close deals.