If you’re using LinkedIn automation with Dux-soup (read more on Dux-soup here), you’ve probably noticed the built-in reporting is… let’s say, basic. You want to know what’s working, what’s a waste of time, and how to actually improve your campaigns—not just stare at a pile of CSVs.
This guide is for marketers, founders, and anyone running outreach who’s tired of guessing. I’ll walk you through real ways to track campaign performance in Duxsoup, using custom reporting methods that give you answers, not just more data.
Why Duxsoup’s Default Reporting Falls Short
Let’s be honest: Duxsoup’s standard exports tell you who you visited and messaged, but not much else. No dashboards, no funnel stages, and definitely nothing resembling a real campaign report. Here’s what you get by default:
- CSV files with raw data (names, LinkedIn URLs, message status)
- Basic stats like how many profiles visited or messaged
What’s missing? - No campaign-level grouping (unless you hack around with tags) - No reply tracking or response rates out of the box - No way to compare campaigns or test approaches
If you want to run real experiments—A/B test messages, track conversions, or just see if your outreach is working—you’ll need to get creative.
Step 1: Tag Everything You Can
Duxsoup lets you apply tags to LinkedIn profiles. This is your best friend for segmenting and reporting later.
How to use tags smartly: - Before starting a campaign, decide on a unique tag (e.g., “Demo_Invite_June24”). - Apply this tag to all profiles you’ll contact as part of that campaign. You can do this in bulk when visiting profiles. - When you export your data, filter by this tag—now you’ve got a campaign dataset.
Pro tip:
Don’t try to run multiple message types under the same tag. If you’re testing two messages, use “Demo_Invite_V1” and “Demo_Invite_V2” tags instead.
Step 2: Track Responses—Manually, But Effectively
Here’s the bad news: Duxsoup doesn’t automatically track replies. You have to do this yourself, but it’s not as painful as it sounds.
A workable approach: 1. Export your tagged campaign data from Duxsoup. 2. Go to your LinkedIn inbox and filter by the same time period or campaign keyword. 3. For each reply, update your export (use a spreadsheet) to mark who responded.
Why bother? - This is the only way to get real response rates. - You’ll quickly see which campaigns or messages get traction.
What not to do:
Don’t waste time trying to sync Duxsoup with your LinkedIn inbox automatically—APIs and Chrome extensions claiming this are unreliable and often break.
Step 3: Build a Simple Campaign Tracker in Google Sheets
You don’t need a BI tool. A good spreadsheet works. Here’s a dead-simple setup:
Columns to include: - Name - LinkedIn URL - Campaign Tag - Message Sent Date - Response (Yes/No) - Notes (e.g., “Booked call”, “Asked for info”)
How to use it: - Paste your export in. - Add a “Response” column and mark it as you go. - Use Google Sheets filters or pivot tables to get stats like: - % responded - # of calls booked - Message variants performance
Keep it simple.
Don’t overcomplicate with fancy scripts. Manual tracking is more reliable and takes less time than debugging someone else’s automation.
Step 4: Calculate the Metrics That Matter
Here’s what you should actually track—ignore the rest:
- Response Rate: % of people who replied to your initial message.
- Positive Response Rate: % who replied and showed interest (not just “no thanks”).
- Conversion Rate: % who booked a call or took your desired next step.
Don’t get distracted by: - “Views” or “profile visits” — these don’t mean much. - Connection acceptance rate — useful, but not the main goal if you’re focused on replies or sales.
How to calculate: - Response Rate = (Responses / Messages Sent) x 100 - Positive Response Rate = (Interested Replies / Messages Sent) x 100
A quick pivot table in Google Sheets gets you these numbers without fuss.
Step 5: Compare Campaigns and Test Variations
Now you’ve got real numbers, not just guesses.
How to run a test: - Use different tags for each message variant or campaign. - Track response and conversion rates for each. - After a week or two, compare: which tag (campaign) worked best?
What works: - Short, direct messages usually get more replies. - Personalization helps, but don’t go overboard—just use first names and a specific hook.
What to ignore: - Don’t chase vanity metrics like “profile views” or “endorsements.” - Tools promising full automation of A/B tests often don’t work reliably with LinkedIn.
Step 6: Visualize Results (If You Really Want To)
For most people, a tidy Google Sheet is enough. But if you crave charts:
- Use Google Sheets built-in dashboards to make bar graphs of response rates by campaign.
- Or, export your sheet to Data Studio for fancier visuals—but honestly, that’s usually overkill.
Pro tip:
If you spend more time making charts than running campaigns, you’re doing it backwards.
Step 7: Keep Campaigns Organized and Repeatable
A messy tag system is the fastest way to ruin reporting. Here’s how to stay sane:
- Use a clear naming convention: “Campaign_Purpose_Date” (e.g., “Webinar_Invite_June24”)
- Keep a master list of campaign tags and what they mean
- Archive old campaign sheets so you can revisit what worked
Don’t:
Let your tag list get out of control, or you’ll never figure out which campaign did what.
Step 8: Know When to Skip Fancy Reporting (and When Not To)
- If you’re running fewer than 200 messages a month, simple tracking is enough.
- If you’re running lots of simultaneous campaigns, consider a CRM integration (like exporting to HubSpot or Pipedrive), but only if you’re disciplined about keeping data clean.
What to avoid:
- Don’t pay for expensive “LinkedIn analytics” tools unless you’re sure you need more than what your spreadsheet gives you.
- Don’t trust Chrome extensions promising miracle insights. Most are flaky and break whenever LinkedIn updates.
Real-World Tips (From Someone Who’s Been There)
- Always back up your data. Chrome extensions can crash or lose info. Your spreadsheet won’t.
- Don’t automate everything. Manual review catches bad fits and spammy replies that automation misses.
- Set a reminder. Check your campaign stats once a week—otherwise, it’s easy to forget.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Ignore the Noise
You don’t need dashboards, expensive add-ons, or three new SaaS subscriptions to track if your Duxsoup campaigns are working. Tag your campaigns before you start, track replies in a spreadsheet, and focus on numbers that actually mean something.
Test, tweak, and don’t get distracted by shiny reporting features. The goal is clear: know what works, do more of it, and cut what doesn’t. That’s it.