Our Dux-Soup users offer us great insight into how they use the tool to benefit their businesses. When thought provoking content was shared by one of our users in the Dux-Soup Facebook user group we were keen to find out more about him.
Elvin Mootoosamy is the Managing Director of Recogitate. He’s an agency partner who runs Dux-Soup on behalf of his clients. As both a Dux-Soup user and a data expert, Elvin’s technical approach has even changed some of the ways Dux-Soup HQ uses the tool to run campaigns.
We were thrilled when Elvin agreed to share his experience and the lessons he’s learned using Dux-Soup LinkedIn automation. In a recent webinar with us he shared his advice on:
Watch the webinar recording ‘4 LinkedIn lessons to optimize your campaign strategy’ to listen to all the tips that Elvin shared with us, or keep reading for a 4-point summary of how you can take your LinkedIn lead generation to a new level, using data and Dux-Soup.
If you’re new to Dux-Soup, hit the button below for your 2 week free trial.
Elvin recommends using Sales Navigator to filter the LinkedIn database. It offers enhanced features and allows more precise filtering compared to free LinkedIn.
Tip: You may be put off by the monthly cost of Sales Navigator. Elvin suggests paying for one or two months and using the time to create multiple lists. Use the Dux-Soup scan feature to extract the list from Sales Navigator and move it into excel. Once you have your compiled lists, simply cancel the subscription. LinkedIn often offers discounts of up to 50% to entice users back, so you could join again at a reduced price.
Here are a few example searches Elvin has suggested to get you going:
Elvin runs his campaigns for no more than 250 prospects. A list of this size allows him to control and measure the data, without the volume getting too unwieldy.
Here’s his rationale behind the number:
This method means his campaigns can run in parallel.
When you have your list of 250 prospects, Elvin recommends using the Dux-Soup scan feature to move the prospect information into excel.
In Dux-Soup click ‘Download data’ and it will download a CSV file to your computer. This is where you can check the data.
Once your list is complete, check the quality:
Elvin recommends using Dux-Soup Turbo. The additional features allow you to optimize your campaigns with automated follow-ups and you can also integrate with third party apps and CRM systems.
Dux-Soup Turbo also offers more control over the campaign sequencing, you can choose the order of events for your campaign which include visiting, following, endorsing your prospects, or sending InMails.
This is Elvin’s tried and tested campaign sequence - this is the one which leads to his 80% acceptance rate:
- Elvin stressed the importance of leaving at least 3 or 4 days between follow-messages. A week is ideal - essentially, the longer the better! Not everyone uses LinkedIn every day so if you want your sequence to appear real, give people time to read and process your messages.
- Consider leaving the connection message blank when you send your connection request (no. 3 in the sequence). Sounds counterintuitive doesn’t it? Elvin uses Follow up 1 for the introductory message and here’s his logic:
- The connection request is the most important part of the sequence.
- Endorse (step 4) follows the connection request because it continues to reinforce positive behavior. You can choose to endorse a skill (Elvin suggests the bottom 3 or top 3 skills) and again the profile owner is made aware of your endorsement.
- Following and endorsing are passive ways to interact with the profile and often generate a positive response. This increases the chances of getting a positive outcome in terms of opening a conversation and getting a meeting.
- In your connection message focus on the benefits for the prospect and do not mention any sales. For example, you might be interested in their feedback or experience within your sector.
Measuring your data is an important step to understanding the success of your campaign.
Once you’ve analyzed your data, you can make changes to your campaign and run it again. By reviewing the data and assessing the results you can continue to tweak your campaigns and update the strategy. It’s a way of ensuring that you’re continuously improving your methods.
Measuring your data allows you to keep track of the daily activity on your LinkedIn account (i.e., how many visits did you make, or how many messages did you send).
Ensure the Dux-Soup throttle controls are working as you expect them to. The throttling tab is found in the Dux-Soup options and is where the daily limits for visiting, scanning and connection requests are set.
It’s important to be able to keep track of where your prospects are in a campaign. For that to happen, the data needs to be in a format you can do something with.
Dux-Soup integrates with lots of different platforms including Google Sheets. You can add a Google sheet URL to Dux-Soup to push all LinkedIn actions to the Google Sheet dynamically.
Dux-Soup provides the necessary AppScript to link to your Google Sheet. To find out how to set this up have a read of the blog Building a dashboard using Google webhooks.
To see Elvin demonstrate his dashboard go to 23:51mins of the recording.
Elvin shared an example of how he approaches data analysis.
He selected 5 clients at random, each running campaigns between 2-5 weeks long. The campaign strategies for each were as follows:
These two charts show the relative activity for each:
This is what the data tells us:
There were plenty of questions for Elvin, so head to 31:11mins of the webinar recording to find out the answers to these questions (and many more):
With over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, Elvin is a seasoned professional with a wealth of knowledge and skills. As the former European Head of Trading for a UK hedge fund, he has a proven track record in equities and derivatives, having worked in both ‘buying’ and ‘selling’.
Elvin has always been driven by his passion for technology, having honed his skills as an algorithmic trader. He is committed to delivering user-centered solutions by utilizing his expertise in software development to improve clients’ experiences.
Elvin’s education is also a valuable asset, with a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London, which further solidifies his ability to tackle complex issues with a creative and innovative approach.
Handle your entire sales pipeline, track your performances, and in the end, close more deals.