Your cold outreach not working? You're probably stuck on one channel.
Most founders blast emails OR spam LinkedIn connection requests, then wonder why nobody replies. The problem isn't your message. It's your approach. Single-channel outreach doesn't scale. B2B buyers now use 10 different channels before making decisions (up from 5 in 2016). If you're only showing up in one place, you're invisible.
The fix? Multi-channel outreach, combining email and LinkedIn into one automated sequence. Done right, it gets you 2-3x more replies without 2-3x more work.
This guide shows you how to automate LinkedIn and email outreach together, with a copy-paste sequence you can launch this week.
Why Single-Channel Outreach Doesn't Scale
Manual outreach takes too long. You're either chained to your inbox or refreshing LinkedIn all day. And when you finally send 50 messages, you get maybe 2-3 replies. That's not a system, it's a grind.
Here's what the data shows: 80% of sales require 5+ touchpoints. But 44% of salespeople give up after one attempt. Meanwhile, 60% of responses come after the third touchpoint, which most people never reach because they're doing everything manually.
If your outbound sales isn't scaling, the answer isn't more hours. It's a multi-channel outreach strategy powered by automation.
Multi-Channel Outreach: What It Is and Why It Works
Multi-channel outreach is coordinating touchpoints across email, LinkedIn, and sometimes phone into one seamless sequence. Instead of treating each channel separately, you orchestrate them so the prospect sees your name multiple times, in multiple places, without feeling spammed.
The numbers back it up: Multi-channel B2B campaigns see 24% higher ROI than single-channel. Coordinated LinkedIn + email + phone outreach drives 40% higher engagement. And 66.9% of outbound campaigns now combine LinkedIn and email because it works.
The best part? With the right AI outreach tool, you can run personalized outreach at scale without hiring an SDR team. That's automated sales outreach that actually converts.
Email vs LinkedIn: Which to Use When
Should you use email or LinkedIn first? Both have strengths. The magic is knowing when to deploy each.
Email:
- Reply rate: 5-10%
- Best for: Detailed pitches, follow-ups
- Volume limits: 50-100/day per inbox
- Personalization: Easier to scale with AI
LinkedIn:
- Reply rate: 7-15%
- Best for: Warm intros, relationship building
- Volume limits: ~100 actions/day
- Personalization: Profile data makes it easy
The rule of thumb: Start with LinkedIn to warm the connection, then follow up via email with more detail. Or flip it: email first to introduce yourself, LinkedIn to reinforce. Either way, showing up in both places builds familiarity and trust.
The 10-Day Automated Sequence (Copy This)
Here's a proven B2B outreach playbook combining LinkedIn and email. This multi-channel sales cadence uses 7 touchpoints over 10 days, enough to get noticed without being annoying.
Day 1, LinkedIn: Send a personalized connection request. No pitch. Just a reason to connect (mutual connection, shared interest, or specific observation about their company).
Day 2, Email: Send your first cold email. Reference that you connected on LinkedIn. Keep it short: problem, hint at solution, soft CTA.
Day 4, LinkedIn: If they accepted, send a short message. If not, view their profile (they'll see the notification). Stay visible.
Day 5, Email: Follow-up email with added value: case study, relevant insight, or quick tip related to their pain point.
Day 7, LinkedIn: Engage with their content (like or comment on a recent post). Or send a voice note if connected, these get 3x higher response rates.
Day 9, Email: Third email addressing a specific objection or sharing social proof. Keep momentum.
Day 10, Email: Breakup email. "Should I close your file?" These often get the highest reply rates because they create urgency without pressure.
This outbound sales sequence works because it's persistent but not pushy. Each touchpoint adds value or changes the angle. And when you automate it with the right AI sales sequences tool, it runs in the background while you focus on closing.
How AI Makes Multi-Channel Actually Work
Here's the truth: multi-channel outreach is powerful but complex. Coordinating email, LinkedIn, timing, and personalization manually? That's a full-time job.
This is where AI for sales outreach changes everything. Modern AI outreach tools can:
- Research prospects and write personalized first lines automatically
- Schedule LinkedIn and email sequences with perfect timing
- Rotate between channels based on prospect behavior
- Scale outbound without hiring an SDR team
Can AI personalize outreach at scale? Yes, and that's the whole point. The best AI prospecting tools don't just blast templates. They pull real data (job changes, funding rounds, LinkedIn activity) and craft messages that feel human. That's automated personalized outreach that actually gets replies.
Think of it as an AI SDR for outbound, handling the repetitive work while you focus on conversations that close.
3 Mistakes That Kill Multi-Channel Campaigns
1. Same message, different channel. Don't copy-paste your email into LinkedIn. Each channel has its own tone. LinkedIn is conversational. Email can go deeper. Adapt.
2. Too many touches, too fast. Hitting someone on email AND LinkedIn on the same day feels aggressive. Space your touchpoints 2-3 days apart minimum. Persistence beats spam.
3. No clear ICP. Multi-channel amplifies your message, good or bad. If you're targeting the wrong people, you'll just annoy more of them. Define your ICP first, then build sequences.
FAQ
How do I automate LinkedIn and email outreach together?
Use a multi-channel outreach software that connects both channels. Tools like Smartlead (for email) combined with LinkedIn automation can run coordinated sequences. Or use an all-in-one AI outreach platform that handles both.
What's the best multi-channel outreach sequence?
7-12 touchpoints over 2-3 weeks, alternating between email and LinkedIn. Start with a LinkedIn connection request, follow with email, and weave in profile views, content engagement, and follow-ups. The 10-day sequence above is a proven starting point.
How many touchpoints before someone replies?
On average, 60% of replies come after the third touchpoint. Most deals require 5+ touches. Don't give up after one or two attempts, that's where most salespeople fail.
Ready to automate your multi-channel outreach? Starnus orchestrates email and LinkedIn sequences with AI: personalized messages, perfect timing, zero manual work.