Building a targeted LinkedIn lead list is the first step for effective outreach. This means identifying who you want to connect with (e.g., office managers, workplace designers, etc.) and using LinkedIn’s tools to find them. Follow these steps to create a quality lead list from scratch:
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Define Your Ideal Profile: Outline your ideal client profile (ICP) before searching. For The Mellow, this might be:
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Industry: Companies in tech, design, co-working, or other office-based industries in the Bay Area.
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Role/Title: Office Managers, Facilities Directors, Workplace Experience Managers – people who handle office environment decisions.
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Company Size: Perhaps mid-sized companies (50-500 employees) that have ofto outfit.
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Location: San Francisco Bay Area (since we focus on local outreach).
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Pain Points: Need to improve office aesthetics, employee well-being, or green credentials (problems our plant design service can solve).
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Use Advanced Search Filters: On LinkedIn, go to the search bar and choose the People filter. Then click All Filters (or use Sales Navigator if available) to refine your search. Filter by location (San Francisco Bay Area), current companies or industries (e.g., tech startups, design firms), and job titles. The more specific your filters, the more relevant your results. For example, select “People” > Location: San Francisco Bay Area > Title: Office Manager (you can add multiple titles or use keywords).
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Leverage Boolean Keywords: LinkedIn’s search allows Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to combine terms for precision. For instance, to find workplace managers in San Francisco, you could search:
("Office Manager" OR "Workplace Experience") AND "San Francisco".
This query will return profiles that have either “Office Manager” or “Workplace Experience” (coordinator, manager, etc.) in their profiles and mention San Francisco. Boolean logic helps include variations of titles or exclude irrelevant terms (using NOT) so you only get relevant leads. -
Scan and Save Prospects: As results come up, identify those that match your target. You can save leads in Sales Navigator or simply keep a note/spreadsheet of promising names, titles, and companies if using the basic LinkedIn. Look for profiles that show engagement or interest in office design/employee wellness (e.g., someone who posts about office culture or has projects related to workplace improvement).
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Build a Quality Network: Don’t just compile a list – start engaging with it. Before reaching out, consider following some prospects or interacting with their posts. This soft approach increases the chance they recognize your name when you eventually connect. It’s better to have 50 highly relevant, warm leads than 500 random cold ones.
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Keep Your List Organized: Categorize your leads:
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Mark priority leads (e.g., an office manager of a 200-person company moving to a new office soon).
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Note any common connections (if someone in your network can introduce you, that’s gold).
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Use a simple CRM or spreadsheet to track when you plan to connect or if you’ve sent a request.
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Refresh and Refine: A lead list isn’t one-and-done. Revisit your search weekly or monthly:
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People change jobs or new people join LinkedIn – saved search alerts can inform you of new matches.
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Adjust criteria if needed (maybe you find a certain industry is more responsive and want to focus there).
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Add notes on outcomes (e.g., if a lead connected and showed interest, mark them for follow-up).
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By following these steps, even a beginner can build a strong LinkedIn lead list tailored to The Mellow’s niche. Remember, quality and relevance are key. A clear focus on office managers/designers who value great workspace design will yield a list that’s ready for your outreach efforts.