So you need to find the right people—the actual decision makers—in a particular industry. Maybe it’s for sales, recruiting, partnerships, or just doing your homework before a meeting. Nobody wants to waste time with dead-end lists, generic titles, or “contact us” forms that go nowhere. You want real names, real roles, and some way to reach them. That’s where ScrapeLi comes in.
This guide will walk you through using ScrapeLi to find decision makers in any industry. I’ll cover what works, what to avoid, and how to get useful results without getting stuck in the weeds.
Who Should Use This?
- B2B sales folks who need better leads.
- Recruiters tired of sifting through irrelevant profiles.
- Founders and marketers doing their own outreach.
- Basically, anyone who needs to get to the right person, fast.
If you’re hoping for a magic button that spits out a perfect list of CEOs with direct emails, I’ll save you the suspense: ScrapeLi gets you a lot closer, but you still need to put in a bit of effort to filter and reach out responsibly.
Step 1: Know What ScrapeLi Actually Does (and Doesn’t)
Before you get started, let’s set expectations:
- ScrapeLi pulls public LinkedIn profile data based on your search criteria (industry, title, location, etc.).
- It doesn’t give you private emails or phone numbers. You might get work emails if people publish them, but don’t expect ScrapeLi to “crack” LinkedIn’s privacy rules. That’s just not how it works.
- You’ll get names, titles, companies, and sometimes links to profiles. It’s your job to reach out—ScrapeLi isn’t an outreach tool.
- If you want verified contact info, you’ll still need to use enrichment tools or do some digging. ScrapeLi is about discovery, not verification.
Pro tip: Don’t waste time trying to scrape thousands of profiles in one go. LinkedIn is quick to block or limit accounts that get too aggressive.
Step 2: Set Up Your ScrapeLi Account
Pretty straightforward, but a few things to keep in mind:
- Sign up with an email you actually check—ScrapeLi will send exports and notifications there.
- You’ll need to connect your LinkedIn account. This is how ScrapeLi runs searches on your behalf.
- Use a real LinkedIn account, not a burner. If you try to skirt LinkedIn’s rules, you could lose access.
Heads up: If your LinkedIn account is brand new or empty, you’ll get worse results (or locked out). Fill out your profile and warm up your account with some normal activity first.
Step 3: Build a Targeted Search
Here’s where the magic (and most of the work) happens.
A. Nail Down Your Criteria
- Industry: Use LinkedIn’s standard industry categories. Broad is fine to start—“Information Technology,” “Financial Services,” etc.—but you can get more specific later.
- Seniority/Title: Don’t just search “CEO.” Try variations: “Founder,” “Managing Director,” “VP,” “Head of,” etc. In some industries, “Director” means something; in others, it’s just a middle manager.
- Location: Filter by country, region, or city. More filters = fewer, but more relevant, results.
- Company Size: This helps avoid wasting time on one-person shops if you need real teams.
Be realistic: The more filters you pile on, the fewer results you’ll get. Start wide, then narrow as you go.
B. Use Boolean Searches (If Available)
- Combine keywords:
"chief marketing officer" OR "head of marketing" - Exclude junk:
NOT "assistant" NOT "intern" - Play with title variations—job titles are messier than you think.
Pro tip: If you’re after niche industries, try searching for industry-specific associations or certifications as keywords.
Step 4: Run the Scrape
Once you’ve got your search dialed in:
- Set your scrape size. Start small (a few hundred profiles) to see what you get.
- Hit “Run” and let ScrapeLi do its thing.
- Don’t try to scrape thousands of profiles right away—LinkedIn notices that, and you risk getting your account restricted.
What to expect: Depending on your criteria and volume, it could take a few minutes or an hour. You’ll get a download (usually CSV or XLSX) with the profile info.
Step 5: Filter and Clean Your Results
Now you’ve got a list—but it’s not ready to use yet. Here’s how to make it actually valuable:
A. Remove Obvious Junk
- Delete rows with missing names, company info, or weird titles (“Student,” “Looking for opportunities”).
- Watch for duplicates—ScrapeLi does a decent job, but always double-check.
B. Focus on Decision Makers
- Filter by title—look for roles that actually control budgets or hiring. “Head of,” “VP,” “Director,” “Founder,” etc. Avoid “Assistant,” “Consultant,” or “Advisor” unless that’s what you’re after.
- Cross-check company size. A “CEO” at a 2-person company isn’t the same as a C-level exec at a 500-person firm.
C. Add Context
- If you’re using this for outreach, add a column for notes or research. LinkedIn profiles often mention recent projects, shared connections, or mutual interests.
- If you want to enrich data (find direct emails), tools like Hunter.io or Apollo can help—but don’t just spam everyone. Respect opt-outs and privacy.
Pro tip: If you’re working with a team, split the list and have each person research a batch more deeply. Quality beats quantity every time.
Step 6: Reach Out (The Right Way)
ScrapeLi gives you a running start, but your approach matters.
- Don’t send mass LinkedIn connection requests. You’ll get flagged as a spammer. Personalize your invites, mention something specific, and keep it short.
- If you’re emailing, always check if the contact info is accurate and up-to-date. Nothing kills credibility like sending to the wrong address.
- Don’t pitch right away. Build a little rapport—comment on a post, share something useful, or reference a mutual connection.
What not to do:
Don’t buy into hype about “automated outreach at scale.” Most people ignore generic messages. If you want real conversations, put in real effort.
Step 7: Stay Organized and Iterate
You won’t get it perfect on the first try. Here’s how to keep improving:
- Track who replies, who bounces, and who ignores you.
- Adjust your search criteria if you’re getting the wrong types of people.
- Refresh your scrape every month or quarter—roles and companies change fast.
Pro tip: Document what works—subject lines, intro messages, even timing. It’ll save you headaches next time.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
What Works
- Using tight filters for seniority and company size.
- Cross-referencing LinkedIn data with other sources (company websites, press releases).
- Small-batch, personalized outreach.
What Doesn’t
- Scraping tens of thousands of profiles and blasting them all.
- Trusting title keywords alone—always check context.
- Expecting ScrapeLi (or any tool) to do all the work for you.
What to Ignore
- Anyone promising “verified emails for every decision maker.” That’s just not realistic.
- “Growth hacks” that sound too good to be true (they usually are).
- Tools that violate LinkedIn’s terms blatantly—your account’s not worth a shortcut.
Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Overthink It
Finding decision makers isn’t rocket science, but it does take a bit of legwork. ScrapeLi helps you skip a lot of the grunt work, but you’ll still need to refine, research, and reach out like a human. Start small, stay organized, and tweak your process as you go. The best lists are the ones you build yourself, with a little help from the right tool.
Got your first batch of names? Great. Take action, see what works, and adjust. Don’t get caught up in the perfect system—just get started and keep improving.