10 LinkedIn Campaign Ideas to Generate More Leads

A powerful LinkedIn campaign is not a generic, one-size-fits-all approach. The most effective strategies use a variety of actions and timelines to create unique, memorable sequences that resonate with your specific audience. This guide provides 10 distinct campaign ideas that break free from a single format, using different numbers of steps and a mix of actions to get your message heard.

What Makes a Powerful LinkedIn Campaign?

Before you start any campaign, you should understand the basic rules of success. A powerful campaign is built on three main principles:

• A Clear Goal: Know exactly what you want to achieve. Do you want to get new leads, book a meeting, or get someone to download a resource?


• A Multi-Step Plan: People rarely reply to the first message. A good campaign has a sequence of actions over a few days or weeks.


• Personal and Valuable Messages: Every interaction should feel like it's coming from a real person. Offer value, not a sales pitch, in your first few messages.

Looking for more tips on what makes a campaign successful? Avoid these common LinkedIn lead generation mistakes.

10 LinkedIn Campaign Ideas To Generate Leads

Effective LinkedIn campaigns go beyond a single message. They're a strategic series of actions designed to build trust and start a conversation. Here are 10 unique campaign ideas you can use to get your message heard and generate leads on LinkedIn.

Campaign Idea 1: The "Engagement Starter" Campaign

This is a simple, non-intrusive campaign designed to get on a prospect's radar before ever sending a message. It's a great way to warm up a new prospect.

• Goal: Get a prospect to notice you before you send a connection request.


• Target Audience: Professionals in your field who are active on LinkedIn.

Campaign Sequence:

1. View Profile (Day 1): Start by viewing the prospect's profile.


2. Like a Post (Day 2): Find a recent post from the prospect and "like" it. This sends a notification and shows you are paying attention.


3. Connection Request (Day 3): Send a simple connection request.
   
   • Message: "Hi [First Name], I'm a big fan of your recent posts on [Topic]. Would love to connect and follow your insights!"
   
   

Campaign Idea 2: The "Webinar Invite" Campaign

This campaign is designed to get registrations for a free event, using a series of messages to build interest and create a sense of urgency.

• Goal: Get new connections to register for a free webinar or online event.


• Target Audience: Professionals who could benefit from the knowledge shared in your webinar.

Campaign Sequence:

1. View Profile (Day 1): View the prospect's profile.


2. Connection Request (Day 2): Send a polite, direct connection request.
   
   • Message: "Hi [First Name], I saw you work in [Their Industry] and am connecting with other leaders in the space. Would be great to connect and share ideas!"
   
   
3. Webinar Offer (Day 5 - if they accepted): Send a message with a clear offer.
   
   • Message: "Thanks for connecting, [First Name]! I'm hosting a free webinar next week on [Webinar Topic] and thought you might find it helpful. Here's the link to register: [Link]"
   
   
4. Last Call (Day 9 - if they haven't replied): Send a final reminder before the event.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], just a friendly reminder about our webinar on [Webinar Topic] this week. There are a few spots left—hope to see you there!"
   
   

Financial planners use LinkedIn events to get face-to-face with high quality leads.

Campaign Idea 3: The "Client Success Story" Campaign

This campaign is all about using social proof to start a conversation. It builds trust by showing a proven result from a company like theirs.

• Goal: Get new connections to engage in a conversation about a success story.


• Target Audience: Marketing directors who work at companies similar to your past clients.

Campaign Sequence:

1. View Profile (Day 1): View the prospect's profile.


2. Endorse a Skill (Day 2): Endorse one of their top skills.


3. Connection Request (Day 3): Send a connection request.
   
   • Message: "Hi [First Name], I saw your role at [Company]. I often work with other marketing leaders to help them [achieve a specific result, e.g., get more website traffic], and would love to connect."
   
   
4. "Success Story" Message (Day 7 - if they accepted): Send a message with a case study.
   
   • Message: "Thanks for connecting, [First Name]! I recently helped a company very similar to yours improve their [specific result] by [mention a key strategy]. I’ve attached a quick summary of what we did."
   
   
5. The Question (Day 12 - if they haven't replied): Send a polite question.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], just following up on the success story. I’m always curious about how other marketing directors handle [a specific problem]. How are you approaching that challenge right now?"
   
   

Outreach is a powerful way to generate leads without ads.

Campaign Idea 4: The "Targeted-Question" Campaign

This campaign is for when you don't have a resource to share. The goal is simply to start a conversation by asking a thoughtful question about their industry.

• Goal: Start a conversation with a prospect by asking a thoughtful question.


• Target Audience: CEOs of manufacturing companies.

Campaign Sequence:

1. Connection Request (Day 1): Send a connection request.
   
   • Message: "Hi [First Name], I'm connecting with other leaders in the manufacturing industry to exchange ideas. I saw your role at [Company] and would appreciate the chance to connect."
   
   
2. The "Thought Starter" (Day 4 - if they accepted): Send a message to start a conversation.
   
   • Message: "Thanks for connecting, [First Name]! I was curious, what's one new trend you think is going to change the manufacturing industry the most in the next year?"
   
   
3. Follow Up (Day 10 - if they haven't replied): Send a gentle follow-up.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], just following up on my last question. I'm always looking to get a sense of what's on the minds of leaders. I'd still love to hear your thoughts if you have a moment!"
   
   

We recommend tracking these 10 KPIs for every LinkedIn campaign.

Campaign Idea 5: The "Content Nurture" Campaign

This is a great campaign to share valuable content over time without a direct sales pitch. It positions you as an expert and builds trust.

• Goal: Build a relationship by sharing valuable content.


• Target Audience: A large group of people in your industry.

Campaign Sequence:

1. Connection Request (Day 1): Send a connection request.
   
   • Message: "Hi [First Name], I saw your profile and thought it would be great to connect with another professional in the [Industry] space."
   
   
2. Share a Blog Post (Day 5 - if they accepted): Send a message with a link to a blog post you wrote.
   
   • Message: "Thanks for connecting, [First Name]! I recently wrote a blog post on [Blog Post Topic] that you might find helpful. I'm happy to share the link if you'd like to check it out!"
   
   
3. Share a Different Resource (Day 12 - if they haven't replied): Share a different piece of content.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], I also wanted to share a link to a podcast episode I was on about [Podcast Topic]. Let me know what you think!"
   
   
4. The Question (Day 20 - if they haven't replied): Try to start a conversation.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], I'm happy to send you a quick PDF with a summary of the tips from the podcast. Would you be interested?"
   
   

Targeting can make or break your campaign. Learn how to create targeted lists using LinkedIn's advanced search.

Campaign Idea 6: The "Email & LinkedIn Hybrid" Campaign

This campaign combines the power of LinkedIn with direct email to increase your chances of getting a response.

• Goal: Get a response from a prospect by reaching them on two different platforms.


• Target Audience: Prospects whose email addresses you have from a validated source.

Campaign Sequence:

1. Connection Request (Day 1): Send a simple connection request.
   
   • Message: "Hi [First Name], I'm connecting with other professionals in the [Industry] space and would love to connect."
   
   
2. Send Email (Day 3 - regardless of acceptance): Send a personalized email.
   
   • Subject: A thought on [Topic Relevant to their Company]
   
   
   • Body: "Hi [First Name], I just sent you a connection request on LinkedIn and wanted to follow up here. I have a few ideas on how to address that. Would you be open to a quick call?"
   
   
3. Follow Up on LinkedIn (Day 7): If they connected but didn't reply to the email, send a direct message.
   
   • Message: "Thanks for connecting, [First Name]! I recently sent you an email about [Topic]. Just wanted to check if you received it."
   
   
4. Send a Final Email (Day 14): Send a final email.
   
   • Subject: Just following up
   
   
   • Body: "Hey [First Name], I know you're busy! I wanted to follow up one last time regarding my message on LinkedIn and my email from last week. Let me know if you have a moment to connect."
   
   
5. Send InMail (Day 20): If they still haven't replied, send a final InMail.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], I'm reaching out here as a final attempt to connect. I believe my insights on [Topic] could be valuable to you. Let me know if you're interested!"
   
   

Campaign Idea 7: The "Job Change" Campaign

This campaign is highly relevant and effective because it targets a specific event in a prospect's life: a new job. This timing makes them more open to new ideas and connections.

• Goal: Connect with prospects who have recently started a new job.


• Target Audience: Professionals who have updated their profiles with a new role in the last 30-60 days.

Campaign Sequence:

1. Connection Request (Day 1): Send a connection request to congratulate them on their new role.
   
   • Message: "Hi [First Name], Congratulations on your new role as [New Job Title] at [Company]! I hope it’s a smooth transition. Would love to connect and follow your journey."
   
   
2. Value Message (Day 7 - if they accepted): Send a message with a resource that helps people in a new role.
   
   • Message: "Thanks for connecting, [First Name]! I know starting a new role can be a lot. I recently wrote an article on '3 Ways to Get Up to Speed in Your New Job' that might be helpful. I'm happy to share it if you're interested!"
   
   
3. Follow Up (Day 14 - if they haven't replied): Send a final check-in message.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], just a quick follow up on my last message. Hope the new role is going well! No worries if you're busy, but I'm here if you ever have any questions about [Your Expertise]."
   
   

Speaking of jobs. Here's how to find a job on LinkedIn.

Campaign Idea 8: The "Event Follow-up" Campaign

This campaign leverages a shared event to create an instant point of connection and bypass the "cold" feeling of a new connection request.

• Goal: Connect with people who attended the same event as you.


• Target Audience: Professionals who attended a recent industry conference or webinar.

Campaign Sequence:

1. Connection Request (Day 1): Send a connection request that references the event.
   
   • Message: "Hi [First Name], I saw you also attended the [Event Name] last week. I really enjoyed the talk on [Specific Topic]. Would be great to connect!"
   
   
2. Conversation Starter (Day 4 - if they accepted): Send a message to continue the conversation about the event.
   
   • Message: "Thanks for connecting, [First Name]! What was your biggest takeaway from the event?"
   
   
3. Follow Up (Day 9 - if they haven't replied): Send a polite follow-up.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], just following up on my message. No worries if you're too busy, but I'd still be curious to hear your thoughts on the event!"
   
   

Campaign Idea 9: The "Re-engagement" Campaign

This campaign is for reaching out to old connections who you haven't spoken to in a while. The goal is to start a new conversation and see if they're a potential lead now.

• Goal: Re-engage old connections and find new opportunities.


• Target Audience: Your own connections who you haven't spoken to in over a year.

Campaign Sequence:

1. View Profile & Like a Post (Day 1): Start by viewing their profile and liking a recent post.


2. Send Message (Day 3): Send a friendly message.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], it's been a while since we connected. I saw your recent post about [Topic] and it got me thinking. How have things been going for you at [Company]?"
   
   
3. Offer a Resource (Day 10 - if they haven't replied): Send a helpful message.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], just following up. No worries if you're too busy, but I came across this article on [Topic] that I thought you might find interesting. Hope you're doing well!"
   
   
4. Final Message (Day 20 - if they haven't replied): Send a final, polite message.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], just wanted to say hi again and hope you're having a great week! I'll leave you to it, but feel free to reach out if you need anything."
   
   

Insiders' secret: here's how many steps to add to your LinkedIn sequencesInsiders'.

Campaign Idea 10: The "Connection Call-Out" Campaign

This campaign leverages a mutual connection to build immediate trust and credibility, making your outreach much more effective.

• Goal: Get a warm introduction and a high response rate by using a mutual connection.


• Target Audience: Prospects who share at least one connection with you.

Campaign Sequence:

1. View Profile (Day 1): View the prospect's profile.


2. Connection Request (Day 2): Send a connection request that mentions your mutual connection.
   
   • Message: "Hi [First Name], I noticed we're both connected with [Mutual Connection's Name]. I really respect his/her network and would love to connect with others in it!"
   
   
3. Direct Message (Day 5 - if they accepted): Send a direct message to start a conversation.
   
   • Message: "Thanks for connecting, [First Name]! I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on [Topic related to your mutual connection's field]. Let me know what you think!"
   
   
4. Follow Up (Day 12 - if they haven't replied): Send a polite follow-up message.
   
   • Message: "Hey [First Name], just following up on my message. No worries if you're too busy, but I'm here if you ever need any help with [Your Expertise]!"
   
   

Final Thoughts

A successful LinkedIn campaign is built on strategy and variety. By using different numbers of steps and a mix of actions, you can create unique, multi-touch campaigns that stand out from the noise. The key is to be helpful, patient, and strategic in every step.

Which of these LinkedIn campaign ideas are you going to implement in your next outreach effort?