If you’re in sales, recruiting, or just need to get a real email for someone, you’ve probably heard of Contactout. This guide is for people who actually want to get replies—not just blast out generic pitches and hope for the best. I’ll walk you through how to use Contactout to find accurate contact info, research quickly, and write sales emails that don’t get deleted on sight. I’ll also call out what’s worth your time, and what’s just noise.
Why Contactout? And Why Bother Personalizing?
Let’s be blunt: most sales emails suck. They’re generic, they’re obvious, and they go straight to archive. The “secret” is that it’s not really a secret—just do a little homework, show you’re not a robot, and you’ll stand out.
Contactout is a tool that helps you find email addresses (and sometimes phone numbers) of people on LinkedIn. It’s especially popular with recruiters, but sales reps use it too. If you’re tired of guessing email formats or combing company websites, this is a shortcut.
But don’t get hypnotized by the word “automation.” Finding the email is just step one. If you want replies, you’ve got to use what you find to write something that feels like it’s meant for that person.
Step 1: Set Up Contactout and Find Emails
1.1 Get the Chrome Extension
Contactout works best as a Chrome extension. Here’s how to get started:
- Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- Create an account. They’ll probably offer a free trial with a limited number of contacts.
- Log in, and you’ll see the Contactout button pop up on LinkedIn profiles.
Pro tip: The free version is limited. If you’re only reaching out to a handful of people, it’s fine. If you’re doing lots of outreach, you’ll hit the paywall fast.
1.2 Find a Prospect’s Email Address
- Go to the prospect’s LinkedIn profile.
- Click the Contactout button.
- If it finds an email, you’ll see it right away. Sometimes you get a work email, sometimes a personal one.
What works: Contactout is surprisingly good at finding real email addresses, especially for people in tech, marketing, or recruiting.
What doesn’t: It’s weaker with people who don’t have much of a digital footprint, or if you’re targeting industries that aren’t tech-savvy.
1.3 Double-Check for Accuracy
Don’t just copy-paste any email you see. Here’s why:
- Some emails are outdated or no longer used.
- Occasionally, you’ll get a generic info@ or jobs@ address. Skip those.
- If you’re reaching out to someone at a big company, make sure they haven’t left (check their LinkedIn activity).
Optional: Use an email verifier like NeverBounce or ZeroBounce if you’re sending to a big list. For one-off emails, just trust your gut and LinkedIn activity.
Step 2: Research Your Prospect (Without Wasting Hours)
This is where most people screw up. You don’t need to read someone’s entire blog or stalk their Instagram. Just get enough to show you’re not blasting the same thing to 1000 people.
2.1 What to Actually Look For
- Current role and responsibilities: What do they actually do? Not just a fancy title.
- Company news: Any new product launches, funding, or changes?
- Mutual connections or interests: Did you go to the same school, have overlapping work history, or share a hobby?
- Something they’ve posted or commented on: Shows you paid attention.
Ignore: Deep dives into their high school, old press releases, or anything that feels creepy.
2.2 Fast Research Workflow
Here’s my quick checklist (takes 3-5 minutes max):
- Skim their LinkedIn headline and About section.
- Check their recent LinkedIn activity—posts or comments.
- Google their company for the latest news.
- Look for anything that’s actually interesting or relevant to your reason for reaching out.
Write down one or two things. That’s all you need.
Pro tip: Use the note feature in Contactout or just jot it in your CRM.
Step 3: Personalize Your Sales Email (Without Sounding Like a Robot)
This is the part that makes or breaks your outreach. Most people copy-paste a template and swap in the name. Don’t do that.
3.1 Structure of a Good Sales Email
Keep it short. Here’s a simple structure:
- Subject line: Clear and specific. No clickbait.
- Opening line: Show you did your homework—mention something real.
- Why you’re reaching out: Make it about them, not just your quota.
- Call to action: Ask for a quick call, reply, or whatever you need.
3.2 Examples
Bad opening:
“I noticed you’re the CTO at [Company].”
This is obvious—you just scraped their LinkedIn.
Better opening:
“Saw your post about launching the new API—congrats, that’s no small feat.”
Bad ask:
“Let me know if you’re interested in a demo.”
This puts all the work on them.
Better ask:
“Would you be open to a 10-minute call next week to see if this could help your team?”
3.3 Personalization—How Much Is Enough?
You don’t need to write a novel. One or two genuine, specific details is enough. The goal: your email should feel like it could only have been sent to them.
Don’t:
- Repeat their entire LinkedIn profile back to them.
- Use “personalization” that’s just mail merge fields.
Do:
- Mention something recent or relevant.
- Tie what you offer to something they care about.
Step 4: Keep Track and Follow Up (But Don’t Be Annoying)
4.1 Logging Your Outreach
Contactout has a basic dashboard, but most people end up using their own CRM or even a spreadsheet. Just keep it simple:
- Who you contacted
- When you emailed them
- What you mentioned (personalization details)
- If/when you got a reply
4.2 Following Up
Most replies happen after the first or second follow-up. Here’s what works:
- Wait 3-5 days before following up.
- Reference your first email—don’t send a new template.
- Keep it even shorter, and maybe add a new detail (“Noticed your team just posted a new job opening—must be a busy quarter!”)
What to skip:
- Guilt trips (“Just bumping this to the top of your inbox!”)
- Endless follow-ups (two or three is enough—move on if there’s no response)
Step 5: Don’t Get Stuck Optimizing—Just Start
Contactout is a tool, not magic. Use it to save time finding emails, do five minutes of research, and then actually hit send. Most people spend too long fiddling with templates or hunting for “just the right” personalization tidbit. Don’t overthink it.
- Good outreach beats perfect outreach.
- If you don’t get replies, tweak your approach, not just the tool.
What Contactout Does Well (And What It Doesn’t)
What Works
- Fast, mostly accurate email finding for LinkedIn profiles.
- Chrome extension is dead simple.
- Works well for tech, marketing, recruiting, and startup audiences.
What to Watch Out For
- Accuracy drops for non-tech industries or obscure profiles.
- Free plan is very limited.
- Doesn’t help you actually write good emails—you’re on your own there.
What to Ignore
- Fancy dashboard features if you already use a CRM.
- “Bulk” features unless you’re doing mass outreach (and even then, results drop fast).
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple and Iterate
Don’t let tools like Contactout distract you from the real goal—starting conversations with real people. Use it to find emails, do a little research, and send something you’d actually reply to. If you’re not getting results, tweak your message, not just your tech stack.
Remember: the best outreach is the one you actually send. Start simple, track what works, and get better as you go.