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Automate LinkedIn Profile Following with Google Sheets and ConnectSafely

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Created by: ConnectSafely || connectsafely

ConnectSafely

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Last update 2 days ago

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Follow LinkedIn profiles from Google Sheets via ConnectSafely

Who's it for

This workflow is designed for sales professionals, recruiters, marketers, and business development teams who need to scale their LinkedIn networking efforts. Perfect for anyone managing lead generation campaigns, building industry connections, or conducting competitor research at scale.

How it works

The workflow automates LinkedIn profile following by reading a list of target profiles from Google Sheets, processing each profile through ConnectSafely.ai's platform-compliant automation, and tracking completion status back to your spreadsheet. The automation maintains LinkedIn's compliance standards while eliminating manual clicking.

Watch the complete step-by-step implementation guide:

LinkedIn Follow Automation Tutorial

Setup steps

Step 1: Install ConnectSafely.ai n8n Package

Install the official ConnectSafely.ai community node:

Package name: n8n-nodes-connectsafely.ai

Installation Methods:

Option A: Via n8n Interface

  1. Navigate to Settings → Community Nodes
  2. Search for n8n-nodes-connectsafely.ai
  3. Click Install

Option B: Via npm

npm install n8n-nodes-connectsafely.ai

Important: A complete n8n restart is required after installation for the nodes to appear.

Step 2: Prepare Your Google Sheet

Structure your Google Sheet with the following columns:

Column Name Description Required
LinkedIn Url LinkedIn profile URL or ID Yes
First Name Contact's first name Optional
Tagline Contact's headline/title Optional
Status Processing status (pending/done) Yes
row_number Auto-generated row identifier Yes

Sample Data Format:

LinkedIn Url: https://www.linkedin.com/in/username
Status: pending

Step 3: Configure Google Sheets Integration

  1. Add Google Sheets node (Get Rows operation)
  2. Authenticate with Google OAuth:
    • Client ID
    • Client Secret
    • OAuth Token
  3. Select your document and sheet
  4. Configure to pull all rows with pending status

Step 4: Configure ConnectSafely.ai Credentials

Obtain API Credentials

  1. Log into ConnectSafely.ai Dashboard
  2. Navigate to Settings → API Keys
  3. Generate a new API key
  4. Copy your Account ID from the Accounts section

Configure n8n Node

  1. Add ConnectSafely LinkedIn node
  2. Select Follow a User operation
  3. Add credentials:
    • API Key: Paste your ConnectSafely API key
    • Account ID: Your LinkedIn account ID from dashboard
  4. Map Profile ID field:
    • Use expression: {{ $json['LinkedIn Url'] }}
    • This dynamically pulls the profile URL from each row

Step 5: Configure Status Tracking

Add a second Google Sheets node for status updates:

  1. Select Update Row operation
  2. Choose the same Google Sheet
  3. Configure column mapping:
    • Matching Column: row_number
    • Update Field: Status → done
  4. Map row_number expression: {{ $('Get row(s) in sheet').item.json.row_number }}

This ensures accurate tracking of processed profiles and enables workflow resumption.

Customization

  • Add delay nodes for large batches (500+ profiles)
  • Implement error handling for failed attempts
  • Extend to CRM integration or connection requests
  • Add analytics tracking for follow-back monitoring

Use Cases

  • Lead Generation: Follow prospects and potential customers at scale
  • Network Building: Expand your LinkedIn network with relevant industry professionals
  • Competitor Analysis: Track and follow key players in your market
  • Influencer Outreach: Connect with thought leaders and content creators
  • Event Networking: Follow attendees and speakers from conferences and webinars

Troubleshooting

Common Issues & Solutions

Issue: ConnectSafely node not appearing after installation

  • Solution: Ensure complete n8n restart (not just workflow refresh)

Issue: Authentication errors with ConnectSafely API

  • Solution: Verify API key has proper permissions in dashboard

Issue: Profile ID format errors

  • Solution: Ensure you're passing LinkedIn profile IDs or full URLs, not partial paths

Issue: Google Sheets not updating status

  • Solution: Confirm row_number column exists and mapping is correct

Issue: Workflow stops mid-execution

  • Solution: Check Google Sheets has Status column with "pending" values; verify rate limits

Advanced Configuration

Scaling Considerations

  • Batch Processing: Add delay nodes between executions for large lists (500+ profiles)
  • Error Handling: Implement error workflows for failed follow attempts
  • Retry Logic: Configure automatic retries for temporary failures
  • Logging: Add nodes to track execution metrics and performance

Integration Extensions

This workflow can be extended to include:

  • CRM Integration: Update contact records with follow status
  • Connection Requests: Modify to send personalized connection requests
  • Engagement Tracking: Monitor who follows back
  • Multi-Platform: Expand to other social networks
  • Analytics Dashboard: Feed data to BI tools for reporting

Documentation & Resources

Official Documentation

Support Channels

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