How to use Surfe to automate follow up tasks after LinkedIn connection requests

If you spend half your day sending LinkedIn connection requests and the other half chasing people who never replied, you’re not alone. Manual follow-ups, updating your CRM, and remembering who to ping next week—none of it’s fun, and you’ve probably got better things to do. This guide is for anyone who wants to automate the boring stuff after those connection requests go out, using Surfe.

Here’s the deal: Surfe is a browser extension that connects LinkedIn to your CRM. It can save you from tedious copy-paste hell, but it’s not magic—there are some things it does well, and some things you’ll still need to do yourself. Let’s walk through how to actually set up Surfe to automate your follow-up workflow, what to expect, and where you might hit a snag.

Why Automate LinkedIn Follow-Ups at All?

You probably know this, but just in case: following up after a connection request is where most outreach falls apart. If you’re relying on willpower or sticky notes to remember, you’ll miss people. And if you’re updating your CRM by hand, you’ll either skip it or dread it.

Automation helps you:

  • Stop forgetting to follow up (or double-pinging someone by mistake)
  • Keep your CRM up to date without manual entry
  • Focus on real conversations, not admin work

But—automation isn’t about “setting and forgetting.” It’s about removing the grunt work so you can do the human stuff better.

What Surfe Actually Does (and Doesn’t)

Before you dive in, here’s a quick reality check on Surfe:

What it does well: - Syncs LinkedIn contacts and messages to your CRM (like HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, etc.) - Lets you trigger CRM tasks or workflows based on LinkedIn actions (e.g., connection accepted) - Adds notes and tags straight from LinkedIn profiles—no more flipping tabs

What it won’t do: - It can’t send automated LinkedIn messages (LinkedIn is strict about this and you risk bans) - It’s not a bulk outreach tool—think “1:1, but easier,” not “spray and pray” - It won’t write your follow-ups for you (though it can help you remember to send them)

Bottom line: Surfe helps you keep your outreach organized and your follow-ups timely, without breaking LinkedIn’s rules.

Step 1: Set Up Surfe and Connect Your CRM

First things first—get Surfe running in your browser and hook it up to your CRM.

  1. Install Surfe:
  2. Go to the Chrome Web Store and add the Surfe extension.

  3. Click the extension icon and pin it for easy access.

  4. Sign Up and Connect Your CRM:

  5. Launch the extension, create your account, and pick your CRM (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, etc.).
  6. Log in and authorize Surfe to access your CRM.

  7. If your CRM isn’t supported, you’re out of luck for now.

  8. Quick Test:

  9. Open a LinkedIn profile and see if Surfe overlays CRM fields on the page.
  10. If not, refresh, check your login, or consult Surfe’s help docs.

Pro Tip:
If you use multiple CRMs, pick the one where you actually track outreach. Too many cooks spoil the data soup.

Step 2: Sync New LinkedIn Connections Automatically

Now, let’s make sure new connections don’t fall through the cracks.

  1. Open Surfe’s Settings:

  2. Click the Surfe icon, go to settings or preferences.

  3. Enable Automatic Contact Creation:

  4. Find the option to “Automatically create CRM contact when a LinkedIn connection is accepted.”

  5. Turn it on. You might be able to set rules (e.g., only sync 1st-degree connections).

  6. Tweak the Fields:

  7. Map LinkedIn profile info (name, company, job title, etc.) to CRM fields.

  8. Skip anything you don’t care about—less is more.

  9. Test with a Real Connection:

  10. Send a connection request from LinkedIn (preferably to a test profile or a colleague).
  11. Accept it, and see if a new contact pops up in your CRM.

What to Watch Out For: - Some data (like email addresses) won’t sync unless the person shares it. - Duplicate contacts are possible if your CRM isn’t set up to merge them.

Step 3: Automate Follow-Up Tasks in Your CRM

Here’s where the real time-saving happens. Let’s set up CRM tasks that remind you (or your sales team) to follow up automatically.

  1. Define What “Follow-Up” Means:
  2. Is it a LinkedIn message? An email? A phone call? Be specific.

  3. Decide on timing (e.g., 2 days after connection accepted).

  4. Set Up Workflow Automation in Your CRM:

  5. Most CRMs let you create a workflow or automation that triggers when a new contact is added.
  6. Example (HubSpot):
    • Trigger: Contact created via Surfe integration
    • Action: Create a follow-up task for the owner, due in 2 days

  7. Example (Salesforce):

    • Trigger: New Lead/Contact from Surfe
    • Action: Assign follow-up task with reminder

  8. Optional: Add Tags or Custom Fields:

  9. Use a “Source: LinkedIn” tag to keep things organized.
  10. Track your outreach channel for later reporting.

Pro Tip:
Don’t overcomplicate your workflows. Start simple—just a follow-up task with a deadline. You can always layer on complexity later.

Step 4: Track LinkedIn Conversations in Your CRM

Following up is easier if you can see what you’ve already said. Surfe can help log LinkedIn messages right into your CRM.

  1. Enable Message Syncing:
  2. In Surfe’s settings, look for “Sync LinkedIn messages to CRM” or similar.

  3. Choose whether to sync all messages, or just when a connection is made.

  4. Check Message Formatting:

  5. Surfe usually syncs messages as notes or activities in your CRM.

  6. Formatting can get wonky—don’t expect perfection (especially with images or attachments).

  7. Test It:

  8. Send a couple messages to a new connection.
  9. Make sure they show up in your CRM under the right contact.

What Doesn’t Work So Well: - Group messages and InMail aren’t always tracked reliably. - Expect some lag—messages may take a few minutes to appear in your CRM.

Step 5: Actually Follow Up (With Less Hassle)

Automation won’t replace a real, thoughtful follow-up. But here’s how to make sure it happens with less friction:

  1. Work from Your CRM Tasks:
  2. Each day, check your follow-up tasks created by the workflow.

  3. Click through to the LinkedIn profile (Surfe usually has a shortcut).

  4. Send a Personal Message:

  5. Don’t use generic templates. A quick, relevant note goes further.

  6. If you’re stuck, at least reference your last touchpoint—Surfe’s synced messages help here.

  7. Update the CRM as You Go:

  8. Surfe lets you add notes, update fields, or mark tasks complete—all from LinkedIn.
  9. If you move the conversation to email, note it in your CRM to avoid double follow-ups.

What to Ignore: - Don’t waste time obsessing over reply rates. Focus on quality conversations. - Skip the “AI message writer” tools—they’re usually obvious and get ignored.

Troubleshooting: When Automation Goes Sideways

Nothing’s perfect, and automation breaks. Here’s what to do:

  • Contacts not syncing?
  • Double-check permissions and Surfe’s browser access.

  • Try logging out and back in, or reinstalling the extension.

  • Duplicate records?

  • Tweak your CRM’s duplicate management settings.

  • Merge manually if needed—fix it now, or regret it later.

  • CRM workflows not triggering?

  • Test with a new connection and watch the workflow logs.

  • Some CRMs have delays or require a specific trigger (“created by Surfe” etc.).

  • LinkedIn messages missing?

  • Surfe can only sync what’s visible in your LinkedIn inbox.
  • Group chats and old messages may be missed.

If you’re stuck, Surfe’s support is decent—but you’ll get faster answers by Googling the exact problem or asking peers.

Keep It Simple and Iterate

You don’t need a 20-step automation flow to get value from Surfe. Start with the basics: sync new connections, trigger a follow-up reminder, and log your LinkedIn messages. Once that’s running smoothly, add more layers if you actually need them.

Remember, tools like Surfe are there to save you time, not create more busywork. The best system is the one you actually use—so set up just enough automation to make follow-ups brainless, then get back to building real relationships.

And if you ever find yourself spending more time fiddling with settings than talking to people? That’s a sign to dial it back.