Looking to find real leads on LinkedIn without drowning in manual work or sketchy data? This walkthrough is for folks who want to use the Uplead Chrome extension for prospecting—without wasting time, money, or patience on fluff. Whether you’re in sales, recruiting, or running your own shop, I’ll show you how to cut through the noise and actually use Uplead to get results.
Let’s get into it.
Why Use the Uplead Chrome Extension?
You already know LinkedIn is a goldmine for leads—but it's also a time suck. Copying names, hunting for emails, or trying to keep track of who you’ve contacted can get out of hand fast.
The Uplead Chrome extension claims to solve this by letting you pull verified contact info straight from LinkedIn, right as you browse. In theory, it should:
- Save you hours of manual research
- Help you avoid “catch-all” or fake emails
- Let you build targeted lists as you go
But does it really work that smoothly? Sometimes yes—if you know the quirks. Here’s how to actually use it, what to watch out for, and what you can ignore.
Step 1: Install and Set Up the Uplead Chrome Extension
Before you can start prospecting, you need to get Uplead’s extension up and running.
How to Install
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Go to the Chrome Web Store.
Search for “Uplead” or find it directly in the Extensions section. -
Click “Add to Chrome.”
Confirm the installation. You’ll see the Uplead icon pop up in your browser toolbar. -
Log in or Sign Up.
If you don’t have a Uplead account, you’ll need to create one. (Heads up: Uplead isn’t free—there’s a trial, but you’ll eventually need a paid plan.)
Pro Tip:
Don’t bother trying to use the extension without an account. It’ll just nag you to log in.
Step 2: Connect the Extension to Your Uplead Account
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Click the Uplead icon in your browser.
It’ll prompt you to log in with your Uplead credentials. -
Make sure you’re on the right LinkedIn profile or search page.
The extension only lights up when it detects leads you can pull. -
Check your credits.
Uplead runs on a credit system. Each contact “costs” a credit, even if you’re just verifying an email. Watch your usage so you don’t burn through them on low-value leads.
Step 3: Start Prospecting on LinkedIn
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. You can use the extension in a couple of ways:
A. On Individual Profiles
- Navigate to a LinkedIn profile (anyone who fits your target).
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Click the Uplead icon.
A sidebar pops up, showing info like name, job title, company, and—if available—email and phone. -
Click “Reveal Contact.”
Uplead verifies and unlocks the contact info. This usually burns a credit. -
Export or Save the Lead.
You can add to a list, export to CSV, or sync with your CRM (if your plan supports it).
What Works:
- Uplead is decent at finding verified business emails, especially for mid-sized and larger companies.
- The basic info is accurate most of the time.
What Doesn’t:
- Forget about finding personal emails (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.); Uplead doesn’t do that.
- Profiles with minimal info or unusual job titles often come up dry.
- If the sidebar keeps spinning, refresh the page—it’s a common glitch.
B. In LinkedIn Search Results
- Run a LinkedIn search (e.g., by job title, company, or industry).
- Open the Uplead extension on the search results page.
- Bulk select profiles.
You can try to pull info on multiple leads at once—handy but eats up credits fast.
Be Careful:
Bulk pulls can waste credits on profiles with limited data or “catch-all” domains, so double-check before you batch export.
Step 4: Export and Organize Your Leads
After you’ve revealed contacts, you’ll want to get them into a system you actually use.
Options:
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Export as CSV:
Simple and works anywhere. Just beware of duplicate contacts if you’re pulling from overlapping searches. -
Sync with your CRM:
Uplead plays nice with tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho. Setup can be finicky—test it with a few leads before you do a big batch. -
Build Lists in Uplead:
You can keep lists organized inside Uplead, but honestly, most people prefer exporting and working in their own tools.
Pro Tip:
Don’t just dump leads into your CRM. Take a minute to tag, segment, or make notes so you’re not flying blind later.
Step 5: Verify and Use Contact Info (Don’t Trust Everything)
Here’s the deal: No tool, Uplead included, is perfect with contact info. Always double-check before you blast out emails.
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Check the “Verified” badge:
Uplead flags contacts it’s confident about. Still, expect some bounces, especially for smaller companies. -
Avoid “catch-all” domains:
If the email is at a catch-all domain, take it with a grain of salt. These often go nowhere. -
Test a few leads:
Send manual emails to a handful before you go all-in with a campaign. -
Watch for privacy issues:
Don’t be that person spamming every address you find. Keep it relevant, and respect people’s preferences.
Step 6: Troubleshooting and Limitations
Let’s be real: Chrome extensions can be flaky, and LinkedIn doesn’t love third-party scrapers.
Common Issues & Fixes
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The extension won’t load:
Try refreshing the page or restarting Chrome. -
LinkedIn blocks the extension:
If you’re hitting a wall, you might be going too fast. Slow down bulk actions, or take a break. -
Low match rates:
Uplead’s database is strongest for US and EU business emails. If you’re targeting outside those, expect patchy results. -
Credits disappear fast:
Only reveal the contacts you really need. Bulk actions sound tempting but often burn through your quota for little return.
Stuff to Ignore
- The “premium” data badge—it doesn’t mean much. Focus on whether the email is verified.
- Fancy filters that don’t match your workflow. Stick to simple search and export unless you have a very niche target.
Honest Take: Where Uplead Stands Out and Where It Falls Short
Where It’s Good: - Business emails for decision-makers at mid-sized and large companies - Quick, real-time prospecting while you browse LinkedIn
Where It’s Not: - Small businesses, startups, or non-US markets—data is hit or miss - Finding direct dials (phone numbers are rare and usually outdated)
Skip If: - You’re just looking for mass email lists. Uplead isn’t built for that, and you’ll waste money. - You want deep company insights; this is about contact info, not sales intelligence.
Keep It Simple and Keep Moving
Don’t overthink it. Use the Uplead Chrome extension to grab leads as you find them, verify before you send, and don’t get sucked into endless tinkering. Prospecting is a numbers game, but it pays to be focused and skeptical about tools that promise magic.
Try it, see what works for your market, and tweak as you go. Most importantly—don’t buy into hype. The best prospectors keep it simple and keep iterating.