{"id":42403,"date":"2026-04-29T02:29:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T09:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nimble.com\/blog\/?p=42403"},"modified":"2026-05-11T02:54:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T09:54:49","slug":"linkedin-follow-up-email-sequence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nimble.com\/blog\/linkedin-follow-up-email-sequence\/","title":{"rendered":"Most LinkedIn Connections Go Nowhere. This Sequence Changes That."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You connected with someone on LinkedIn. They accepted. And then \u2014 like most LinkedIn connections \u2014 absolutely nothing happened<\/strong>. No follow-up. No conversation. Just another name in a growing list of people you meant to reach out to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A LinkedIn follow-up email sequence<\/strong> fixes this. You build it once in Nimble, enroll new connections directly from the Prospector browser extension, and the sequence follows up automatically \u2014 three emails over ten days \u2014 stopping the moment they reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post covers how to build that sequence, how to get a contact’s email address when it isn’t listed on their profile, and what you need to know about GDPR<\/a> before hitting send. For the full picture of how sequences fit into your email marketing for small business<\/a> strategy, see the complete guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


The problem with LinkedIn-only follow-up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

LinkedIn’s native messaging has a ceiling. InMail open rates are high, but the platform limits how many messages you can send, buries notifications, and gives you no way to track whether someone actually read your message. Email gives you delivery confirmation, open tracking, and no platform restrictions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moment a LinkedIn connection enters your CRM with an email address, they move from a passive social contact to an active prospect you can reach on your own terms. That shift is what makes the sequence worth building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But getting there requires solving one problem first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get someone’s email address when it isn’t on their profile<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most LinkedIn connections don’t list their email publicly. Here are the four legitimate ways to get it \u2014 in order from easiest to most effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Four ways to find a contact’s email address<\/div>\n\n \n
\n
1<\/div>\n <\/td>\n
\n Nimble Prospector enrichment Easiest<\/span><\/span>\n Add the contact via the Nimble Prospector browser extension<\/a>, then click Find Contact Info<\/strong> in the sidebar. Nimble uses an enrichment credit to search public databases for a verified email address. It works well for most professional contacts, particularly those at mid-size and larger companies. Credits are included with your Nimble plan.<\/span>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr><\/table>\n\n \n
\n
2<\/div>\n <\/td>\n
\n Check their LinkedIn contact info Often overlooked<\/span><\/span>\n Once you’re connected, click “Contact info” on their LinkedIn profile. Many people include their email address here \u2014 it’s just hidden until you’re connected and know where to look. Takes five seconds and works more often than you’d expect.<\/span>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr><\/table>\n\n \n
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3<\/div>\n <\/td>\n
\n Ask in a LinkedIn message Requires one extra step<\/span><\/span>\n Send a brief DM after connecting: “Great to connect \u2014 would it be okay to follow up via email? Happy to share something useful.” Most warm connections say yes. This is also the most GDPR-friendly approach<\/strong> \u2014 you have explicit permission before the first email goes out.<\/span>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr><\/table>\n\n \n
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4<\/div>\n <\/td>\n
\n Email pattern matching Use with care<\/span><\/span>\n If you know the company domain, tools like Hunter.io can identify the email format the company uses (firstname.lastname@company.com, for example) and verify whether an address exists. This works well for larger companies with consistent patterns. Use it for genuine prospects, not bulk prospecting.<\/span>\n <\/td>\n <\/tr><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A word on GDPR \u2014 read this before you build the sequence<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re prospecting into Europe, GDPR applies. It doesn’t prohibit B2B email outreach \u2014 but it does require you to have a legal basis for sending it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most commonly used basis for this type of outreach is legitimate interest<\/strong>: you have a genuine, reasonable belief that the contact would benefit from hearing from you, and that your interest in reaching out is proportionate and not overridden by their privacy rights. That’s a real legal standard, not a loophole \u2014 document why you believe each contact is relevant before enrolling them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n Three things every GDPR-compliant prospecting email must include:<\/strong> your full name and company, a clear explanation of how you found them, and an easy way to opt out of further emails. “Reply STOP” or an unsubscribe link both work. Test your sequence settings before going live.\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n