How to Combine LinkedIn & Email Outreach for Higher Conversion Rates

Relying on just one channel for outreach is risky. Sending cold emails into overflowing inboxes or only posting on LinkedIn in a busy feed? You’re leaving potential revenue on the table.

Top-performing sales teams don’t choose between email and LinkedIn - they use both. A multi-channel approach gets you noticed more, builds credibility, and gives multiple chances to engage your prospects.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step strategy to combine LinkedIn and email outreach, so you can boost responses, improve conversions, and create a more predictable sales pipeline.

Why LinkedIn and Email Together Boost Your B2B Outreach Results

Think about how you use the internet - you don’t live in a single inbox. You check emails, scroll through LinkedIn, and reply to messages across different apps. Your prospects do the same. That’s why a multi-channel outreach strategy works so well:

1. Cuts Through the Noise: Your message won’t get buried in a crowded inbox or feed. Reaching out on both LinkedIn and email dramatically increases the chances your prospect actually sees and responds to your message.


2. Builds Trust and Credibility: When prospects see your name across multiple platforms, you instantly seem more credible. You’re not just another cold email; you’re a professional they recognize in their network, which can make a huge difference in engagement.


3. Reaches Prospects at the Right Time: Sometimes your prospect isn’t checking email, but they might see your LinkedIn request at just the right moment. Using both channels increases the chances of connecting when they’re most open to engaging.

Looking to master your LinkedIn lead generation funnel? We've got you covered.

Step-by-Step Multi-Channel Outreach Strategy

Combining LinkedIn and email works best when you follow a structured approach. Here’s a step-by-step strategy to implement a successful multi-channel outreach campaign:

Step 1: Build a Hyper-Targeted Prospect List
Your outreach is only as good as your prospect list. Start by figuring out your ideal customer profile (ICP), then build a list of prospects based on things like job title, industry, and company size. Tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator make it easy to create a super-targeted list that fits your ICP. The more precise your targeting, the better your chances of getting responses and driving conversions. A solid prospect list is the foundation of any successful multi-channel outreach.

Step 2: Choose Your Starting Point
Deciding where to start your outreach campaign is an important step. You usually have two options:

1. Option A: Start on LinkedIn
   This is the most common approach. Send a personalized connection request first, then follow up with a LinkedIn message once they accept. It works well because you’re building a professional connection and trust before moving to a more formal email.


2. Option B: Start with Cold Email
   If you have a strong offer or lead magnet, a personalized cold email can be a great way to start. After sending the email, you can follow up on LinkedIn if they don’t respond. This approach works especially well for delivering detailed information or offers upfront.

There’s no single “right” answer. It all depends on your product, audience, and campaign goals. The best way is to test both approaches and see which one gets the highest responses and conversions.

Remember to avoid these 6 cold email marketing mistakes.

Step 3: Craft Your Messaging for Each Channel
This is where a lot of outreach campaigns fall short. The key is to tailor your messaging to the channel you’re using.

For LinkedIn: Keep it short, conversational, and professional. Your goal is to start a meaningful conversation, not pitch your product right away. Mention a mutual connection, comment on one of their posts, or highlight a shared interest to make your message feel personal and relevant.

For Email: Emails give you more space to provide value. Share case studies, whitepapers, or helpful resources that address your prospect’s pain points. Always reference your previous LinkedIn touchpoint so your email feels intentional and connected, rather than random or cold.

Looking for more campaign ideas? Here are 10 LinkedIn campaigns for lead generation.

Step 4: Space Out Your Touches
Timing matters. You don’t want to overwhelm prospects with messages, so it’s important to space out your LinkedIn connections, follow-ups, and emails. A good sequence gives each touchpoint room to breathe. Here’s an example:

• Day 1: Send a personalized LinkedIn connection request.
  


• Day 3: If they accept, send a brief follow-up message on LinkedIn.


• Day 5: No reply? Send a personalized email referencing your LinkedIn connection.


• Day 8: Send a short follow-up email.


• Day 10: Send a final “last touch” message on LinkedIn.

Spacing things out like this keeps your outreach consistent without feeling pushy, giving each interaction a better chance to land.

Learn the best time to send LinkedIn messages here.

Step 5: Use the Right Tools to Automate and Track
Doing all of this manually is a nightmare. To scale your outreach effectively, you need tools that can automate sequences, manage conversations, and give you real insights on performance.

For full-stack automation: Platforms like We-Connect, Lemlist and Apollo.io let you create a smooth workflow between LinkedIn and email, keeping your touchpoints consistent without extra effort.

For sales intelligence: Tools like Outreach.io help you track engagement, measure what’s working, and optimize your strategy based on real data.

Using the right automation and analytics tools makes your multi-channel outreach smarter and more efficient; so you can spend more time crafting personalized messages that actually drive results.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Multi-Channel Outreach

Even with the right strategy, small mistakes can tank your campaign. Avoid these common pitfalls to boost your chances of success:

1. Being Impersonal: Sending generic messages is a big no. Personalized messages get more than twice as many replies. Don’t just rely on a {{first_name}} tag instead add a line about their profile, a recent post, or a shared connection to make your message feel authentic.


2. The “Spam” Subject Line: Your email subject line is the gatekeeper. Skip salesy phrases like “I wanted to connect” or “Following up.” Instead, craft concise, relevant, and intriguing subject lines;  maybe use a number or a question to spark curiosity.


3. The “Pitch-Slap”: Don’t jump straight into asking for a meeting or pushing your product. The first message should start a conversation and provide value. Build rapport first.


4. Not Tracking Your Performance: Don’t guess what’s working — track it. Use your tools to monitor metrics like connection acceptance rate, email opens, and reply rate. This data shows what’s resonating and helps you fine-tune your outreach.


5. Lack of a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Confused prospects don’t convert. Each message should have a single, low-friction CTA. Examples:

• “Would you be open to a 10-minute chat next week?”


• “Does this sound like something your team is facing?”

Pro-Tips for Higher Conversion Rates

• Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile:  Think of your LinkedIn profile as your landing page. Make sure your headline, summary, and work experience are clear, professional, and complete. If a prospect clicks on your profile and sees an incomplete or unpolished page, you’ve already lost their attention.


• Stop Selling Too Soon: The goal of your first outreach isn’t to book a meeting; it’s to start a conversation. Focus on providing value and building rapport before pitching your product or service.


• Know When to Quit: If a prospect doesn’t respond after a few touches, it’s okay to move on. Don’t be pushy. A smart outreach sequence can automatically remove unresponsive prospects once they engage or reach the end of the sequence.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should I combine LinkedIn and email?
Using both channels gives you a much better shot at getting a response. LinkedIn helps you build a real, authentic connection, while email lets you share more detailed value. It also reduces the risk of relying on a single platform.

2.  What’s a good conversion rate for a multi-channel campaign? Conversion rates can vary, but a well-run multi-channel campaign usually outperforms single-channel outreach. As a benchmark, aim for a LinkedIn connection acceptance rate of around 25-40% and an email reply rate of 10-15%.

3. How often should I follow up with prospects?
Space out your follow-ups so you don’t overwhelm anyone. A good rule of thumb is 3–5 touches over 2–3 weeks, mixing LinkedIn and email. Keep an eye on how prospects respond; this helps you fine-tune the timing for the best results.

4. How do I know if my multi-channel outreach is working?
Track key metrics like LinkedIn connection acceptance rates, email opens and replies, and overall engagement. Watching these numbers shows what’s resonating with your prospects and helps you tweak your messaging, timing, and strategy to get better conversions.

Conclusion

Using LinkedIn and email together can totally change how you connect with prospects. Test different sequences, personalize your messages, and use the right tools - you’ll have more meaningful conversations and build a predictable, high-performing sales pipeline.

Looking to improve your LinkedIn and email outreach results? We-Connect helps you optimize targeting, automate sequences, and track engagement- so you can focus on building real connections. Start your 14-day free trial today, no credit card required.