Linked Helper alternatives

What to do when LinkedIn automation no longer works

Despite the best efforts and ingenuity of LinkedIn automation tool developers, it is becoming increasingly harder to evade the efforts of Linkedin as the platform gets better at identifying – and banning – LinkedIn users that use automation.

This morning I woke up to this email from Linked Helper:

Apologies, please pause using Linked Helper

…Since last week, we’ve been trying our best to find a solution for the detection issue, but we unfortunately couldn’t. Although none of the LinkedIn accounts that received the warning, have been blocked, today we found that users who were on the latest Independent version of Linked Helper, also received the warning. We realize what a big risk it is for you to lose your LinkedIn account, that’s why we recommend that you stop using Linked Helper immediately. 

This is the second message in a month where Linked Helper has been forced to take drastic action and advise their customers to change how they use the LinkedIn automation tool so as to not get banned.

Although I have spent years systematically documenting and testing LinkedIn automation tools out of curiosity, I have always been vocal about the risk of using them. Now, it seems, is crunchtime. 

 

LinkedIn will punish you for using automation tools

The warnings are very clear and spelt out in LinkedIn’s Terms of Service (you can read Linkedin’s exact policy on automation tools here) which prohibit the use of “bots or other automated methods to access the Services, add or download contacts, send or redirect messages”.

As with all social media platforms, the entire business model of LinkedIn is predicated upon real people having real interactions with other real people. When you use automation tools you are undermining LinkedIn’s commercial model. It’s no surprise then that the platform is coming down hard on people that use tools like Linked Helper.

 

Linkedin is getting smarter

The problem for Linked Helper users isn’t simply that LinkedIn is banning users. It’s that LinkedIn is getting smarter at finding (and then banning) users.

LinkedIn is fundamentally an algorithm. Algorithms are trained by continual inputs. LinkedIn’s algorithm is trained to understand what human activity on the platform looks like and – by extension – what automated activity looks like. 

Visiting 500 profiles, sending 300 connection requests, messaging 100 1st connections the same series of messages every day is not human-like behaviour. As more and more people use tools like Linked Helper to do activities like this, the LinkedIn algorithm learns what automated behaviour looks like and gets better and smarter at identifying it.

 

Linked Helper alternatives

With all the doom and gloom out the way, then, what are the alternatives to Linked Helper and automation tools in general?

For any B2B marketers and salespeople that are serious about using the platform to generate leads, nurture prospects and close deals these are all legitimate alternatives:

• LinkedIn coaching: Getting 1-2-1 coaching with LinkedIn experts is an easy and personal way to learn exactly how to leverage the LinkedIn platform for your business aims. 
• Linkedin advertising: Linkedin Ads are an incredibly easy and targetted way to generate leads and brand awareness amongst your target audience. 
• Outsource LinkedIn lead generation to a human team: If you want to emulate the scale and reach that LinkedIn automation tools give you, then consider using a LinkedIn lead generation service where humans do the outreach – not automation tools

By all means – if you’re feeling brave – continue to use Linked Helper. But for those of you that wish to continue to use LinkedIn in the long term for lead generation, business development and sales enablement, those are the Linked Helper alternatives to consider.

 

 

Want to use LinkedIn to achieve your business aims quickly?

My name is Jonny Rose and I’m the founder of Win At LinkedIn, a LinkedIn coaching & lead generation service that trains B2B professionals to find leads, nurture prospects and close deals in a GDPR compliant way.

Let’s turn you into a Sales MACHINE, go here.
Use our ‘Done For You’ Lead Generation service to save you the effort, go here.