DM Setting SOPs
Converting Engagement Into Leads
Most agencies get comments, profile views, and DMs but have no system to convert them.
They treat every conversation like a one-off negotiation.
The result:
- Engagement dies in dead threads
- Ghosted conversations
- No pipeline
This SOP turns engagement into qualified leads using a value-first conversation framework.
SOP: Entry Point Scripts
You have 5 primary lead sources on LinkedIn.
Entry Point 1: They Commented on Your Post
Template
**
[Name]! Appreciate the comment on the post. You're doing [their role/function] too right?
Entry Point 2: They Viewed Your Profile
Template
**
Hey [Name], saw you checked out my profile. What's up! You working in [their industry/function], no?
Entry Point 3: You Commented on Their Post
Template
**
Hey [Name], you keep popping up on my feed. Really digging the [topic] content. You're running [their role] at [COMPANY] right?
Entry Point 4: They Sent You a Direct Inbound DM
Step 1: Send connection request first if you're not connected
Step 2: Answer their question
Step 3: Add qualification question
Template
**
[Answer their question first]
You're [doing/ running their role] at [COMPANY] right?
Entry Point 5: Automation/ Cold Outreach
Templates:
SOP: Qualification Flow (The Pivot)
Once they confirm their role, you qualify fit and pivot to your offer.
Scenario A: They Say YES - They Confirm Role
Step 1: Send Message 1 immediately after their confirmation
Ah cool! What's your [method/ tool stack/ strategy] like? Ever counted how many tools you have in your stack? 😄
Step 2: Send Message 2 right after M1 (as separate message)
Btw, we have [your offer: weekly newsletter/playbook] on [specific topic/ value]. We've had [social proof] so thought I'd send you the link if you're interested.
Step 3: Send link
Scenario B: They Say NO - They're Not in That Role
Step 1: Check their LinkedIn profile to verify if they're still ICP
Step 2a: If YES (still ICP), ask:
Oh you're not on the [role] side? Could've sworn from your profile! What are you focused on then?
Step 2b: If NO (not ICP), thank them and close thread:
Ah got it! Appreciate the reply. Keep crushing it!
Qualification question examples:
- "What's your current stack?"
- "What's your approach to [specific related area]?"
- "How are you currently handling [specific process]?"
These tell you:
- If they're ICP
- What their pain point is
- If they're actively looking for solutions
SOP: Re-Engagement (No Reply After DM 1)
If they don't reply to your first DM, don't give up.
Step 1: Check their LinkedIn profile posting frequency
Scenario A: They Post Frequently on LinkedIn
Step 2: Wait 24 hours after DM 1
Step 3: Send Message 1:
[Name] you post A LOT on here haha. That part of your [role] strategy?
Step 4: Send Message 2 immediately after M1 (separate message):
Btw, we have [your offer] where we share [specific value]. Thought I'd shoot you the link.
Step 5: Send link
Scenario B: They Don't Post Much
Step 2: Wait 24 hours after DM 1
Step 3: Send Message 1:
Hey [Name], haven't seen you post much - you running [alternative channel like ads/email/cold calling] instead?
Step 4: Send Message 2 immediately after M1 (separate message):
Btw, we have [your offer] where we share [specific value]. Thought I'd shoot you the link.
Step 5: Send link
Re-engagement timing:
- Wait 24 hours after DM 1
- If still no reply, wait 48 hours and send gif
- If still no reply, wait 24 hours and send second gif
- After that, move to nurture sequence
SOP: Post-Link Send Follow-Up
After you send your offer link, you need a follow-up system.
Scenario A: They Say Thanks But Don't Convert
Step 1: Check if they actually joined/signed up (check your CRM/Slack/Discord/email list)
Step 2: If NO, wait 48 hours
Step 3: Send:
Did you manage to [join/sign up/access it/ book a call]?
Step 4: If still no action after 24 hours, send relevant meme/gif as soft nudge
Step 5: If still nothing after 24 hours, send second gif
Step 6: Move to nurture sequence
Scenario B: They Reply But Don't Convert
Step 1: Send immediately:
Are you dealing with anything specific around [their pain point] right now?
Step 2: Wait for their reply
Step 3: Map their pain point back to your offer:
That's exactly what we cover in [offer]. Here's the link again if you want to check it out: [link]
GIF examples that work:
- "Hello? Is this thing on?" meme
- "Sliding off chair waiting" gif
- Tumbleweed rolling gif
- "Crickets chirping" gif
If your company’s brand guidelines align with this, gifs are a light-hearted pattern interrupt that show you're human. Plus they get you back to top of inbox. If they don’t align with your company’s voice and tone, ignore this.
SOP: Response Timing Rules
Speed matters. The longer you wait, the colder the lead gets.
Connection Requests:
- Accept/send ASAP (within 5 minutes during work hours)
Inbound Messages:
- Reply within 30 minutes max during work hours
Initial DMs:
- Send immediately once connection is accepted
Follow-Up Messages:
- First follow-up: 24-hour lag
- Second follow-up: 48-hour lag
- Third follow-up: 72-hour lag
- Final follow-up: 1 week later
SOP: Daily Workflow Checklist
Morning:
☐ Check for new comments on your recent posts
☐ Send connection requests to all new commenters
☐ Send connection requests to profile viewers
Throughout Day:
☐ Send entry point DMs to new connections (within 5 mins of acceptance)
☐ Reply to ongoing qualification conversations (within 30 mins)
☐ Check if leads converted (joined/signed up)
End of Day:
☐ Send re-engagement messages to ghosted threads (24hr+ old)
☐ Send follow-ups to leads who got the link but didn't convert (48hr+ old)
☐ Send gifs to threads that need soft nudge (72hr+ old)
SOP: Account Safety & Execution Rules
Writing Rules:
- Write every message manually or use AI to reword the messages (no copy-paste of same message)
- Add variation between DMs (change wording, emojis, structure)
- Go slow and steady (don't send 50 DMs in 10 minutes)
Team Coordination (for agencies with multiple setters):
- Only 1 person on the account at a time
- Use password manager to track who's logged in
- Set "office hours" for DM management (9am-5pm your timezone)
Escalation Protocol:
- If a setter doesn’t know how to handle a DM, they should screenshot it
- Send to the team lead in Slack with their proposed reply
- Get approval before sending
FAQ Tracking:
- Every time you get a new question, log it in a spreadsheet
- Build an FAQ database over time
- This becomes your team's knowledge base
300k Impression Commenting SOP
Why Commenting Might Be Your Highest ROI Activity Yet
We ran a test, commenting on LinkedIn for 10h/ day 7 days a week.
We made 541 comments from a single account.
The results:
- 4,591 to 290,147 search appearances in 7 days (6,222.25% increase)
- 315,373 total impressions (92% of them came from comments)
- 136% increase in profile views
- +7.5% week-over-week follower growth
Definitions:
- Position 1 - we were the first people to comment under a certain post.
- Position 2 - we were the second to comment.
- Position 5+ - 5 or more people commented before we did.
The stats:
- Position 1: 1,570 avg impressions per comment
- Position 2: 875 avg impressions
- Position 5+: 404 avg impressions
P.S. Most people struggle to pass 500 impressions on their LinkedIn posts.
The Strategy:
To generate a high-impression comment, only 3 things matter:
- Your comment's position (aka how fast you were)
- The creator whose post you commented on (how many impressions their posts usually get)
- The quality of your comment (do people find your comment interesting/ valuable/ engaging/ funny)
This SOP turns commenting into a distribution engine by getting top comment positions on high-leverage posts daily.
The Framework
A good comment in position 1 beats a perfect comment in position 10.
Your job is to be first, not best.
But you still need to avoid looking stupid, so:
- Read the post fully (no blind commenting)
- Understand the core point
- Write fast
- Post immediately
This is a speed game. Treat it like catching a trade.
The numbers:
Position 1 = 1,570 impressions
Position 10 = ~300 impressions
Being 10 seconds faster = 5x more distribution.
Speed is the game.
SOP: How To Write Viral Comments
The Formula:
Length: 11-25 words max
Tone: Contrarian, reframing, punchy, or dry-humored
Style: Simple language. Lowercase preferred. Human voice.
Formatting: Occasionally use emojis or CAPS LOCK for readability
Vibe: Feels like a real person, not a content creator trying to go viral
Step-by-Step Writing Process:
Step 1: Read the post fully (15-30 seconds)
Step 2: Identify the core point
Step 3: Ask yourself: "What's the contrarian take?" or "What's being left out?"
Step 4: Write 1 sentence (11-25 words)
Step 5: Read it out loud - does it sound human?
Step 6: If yes, post immediately. If no, rewrite in 10 seconds and post.
High-Performing Comment Examples:
- "most people overthink this. the answer is just [specific insight]."
- "this is the exact mistake we made scaling to 50 clients."
- "we tested this with 10K contacts. the data says otherwise."
- "everyone talks about [X]. nobody talks about [Y]."
- "the irony is [contrarian take that reframes the post]."
One idea per comment. No essays.
Comment patterns that work:
- The Data Drop: "we tested this with [number]. [result]."
- The Reframe: "everyone thinks [X]. but actually [Y]."
- The Story: "we made this mistake at [stage]. here's what we learned."
- The Contrarian: "unpopular opinion: [take]."
- The Addition: "to add to this: [insight they missed]."
SOP: Whose Posts To Comment On
Priority 1: Highest ROI Creators
These are:
- Industry leaders in your niche (50K+ followers)
- Strategic partners you want to build relationships with
- Creators whose audience perfectly matches your ICP
Action:
- If you see a new post from Priority 1, stop everything and comment within 0-20 seconds
Setup:
Step 1: Identify your top 10 Priority 1 creators
Step 2: Turn on LinkedIn mobile notifications
Step 3: Turn on desktop browser sound
Step 4: Enable notification bell for all Priority 1 creators
Step 5: Track their posting patterns (most post at same time daily)
Step 6: Set calendar reminders 5 mins before their typical posting time
Priority 2: Consistent Engagement Targets
These are:
- Direct competitors (yes, comment on their posts)
- Partner companies in your ecosystem
- Creators you consistently see in your feed but who aren’t big enough to fit in Priority 1
Action:
- Comment on every post they publish daily
Setup:
Step 1: Identify 20-30 Priority 2 creators
Step 2: Enable notification bell for all
Step 3: Check their profiles manually 2x per day (morning + afternoon)
Priority 3: Expansion Targets
Use these only when Priority 1 and 2 are quiet.
These are:
- High engagement posts in your feed (5K+ reactions)
- Viral posts from adjacent industries
- Posts from creators with 100K+ followers
Action:
- Comment opportunistically when you have time
How to identify Priority 1 creators:
- Go to your LinkedIn feed
- Find posts with 500+ reactions from your niche
- Check the author's follower count
- Check if their audience = your ICP (read their comments)
- If yes, add to Priority 1 list
Do this weekly. Your Priority 1 list should evolve.
SOP: Execution Modes
You have two modes depending on your capacity.
Mode 1: Maximizing (Default)
Doing as much as possible, everywhere possible.
The Protocol:
- Comment on every relevant post you see
- Aim for volume over perfection
- Take every opportunity for distribution
- Expand aggressively into new creators
Formula: Volume > Efficiency
Use this mode when:
- You're building initial momentum
- You have setter capacity
- You need to test new audiences
Mode 2: Optimizing (Advanced)
Doing fewer actions, but choosing only the highest-ROI ones.
The Protocol:
- Selective commenting (Priority 1 only)
- Only top positions (1-3)
- Only proven high-engagement creators
- Prioritize efficiency over coverage
Formula: Efficiency > Volume
Use this mode when:
- You've identified your best-performing targets
- You have limited capacity
- You're focusing on relationship depth over reach
When to switch modes:
Start with Maximizing for 30 days.
Track impressions per comment by creator.
After 30 days, switch to Optimizing and focus on top 20% of creators.
This is the 80/20 rule in action.
SOP: What NOT to Do
We analyzed ALL of the 541 comments from the 7 days.
Here’s what NOT to do:
❌ Comments over 50 words
- Nobody reads long comments. Keep it tight.
❌ Polite agreement ("Totally agree with this")
- Adds zero value. You're invisible.
❌ Sanitized professional tone
- E.g. "This is a great point about synergies" - sounds like a robot.
❌ "Great post" or "Thanks for sharing"
- Never do this. Just never do this.
The test:
Before posting your comment, ask:
"Would I stop scrolling to read this if someone else wrote it?"
If not, try again.
SOP: Daily Workflow
This is your daily commenting system.
Morning (First 30 mins):
Step 1: Open LinkedIn (browser sound ON)
Step 2: Check if Priority 1 or 2 posted overnight
Step 3: Comment on their most recent posts (where you still have a chance for top 3)
Step 4: Clear backlog: comment on every Priority 1 and 2 post you missed
Throughout the Day:
Step 5: Monitor notifications for new Priority 1 posts
Step 6: Comment within 0-20 seconds when notification hits
Step 7: Open feed and execute "Maximizing" mode on relevant posts
Step 8: Respond to replies on your comments (creates engagement loops)
End of Day:
Step 9: Final sweep of Priority 1 and 2 for any late posts
Step 10: Queue up notifications for tomorrow's likely posting times
Time investment:
Morning: 30 mins
Throughout day: 5-10 mins per hour (monitoring)
End of day: 15 mins
Total: ~90 mins per day for 1,000+ daily impressions.
ROI: Insane. 🙂
SOP: Advanced Tactics
Once you've mastered the basics, add these.
Tactic 1: Manual Profile Checking
- LinkedIn notifications can be delayed 2-5 minutes
- If you rely only on notifications, you'll be comment #200
Action:
Step 1: Track Priority 1 posting times for 1 week
Step 2: Set calendar reminders 5 mins before their typical posting time
Step 3: Manually check their profile at that time
Step 4: Comment immediately when you see new post
Tactic 2: Engagement Loop Creation
- When someone replies to your comment, reply back immediately
- This creates a thread that LinkedIn prioritizes
- Keeps your comment at the top longer
Action:
Step 1: Set up notifications for "Replies to your comments"
Step 2: Reply to every reply within 30 minutes
Step 3: Keep replies short (5-10 words)
Step 4: Ask a follow-up question to keep thread alive
Tactic 3: Pattern Recognition & Optimization
- Track which creators consistently give you profile views, connection requests, DMs
- Double down on those creators
- Ignore the rest
Action:
Step 1: Create a spreadsheet with columns: Creator Name, Profile Views, Connection Requests, DMs
Step 2: Track for 30 days
Step 3: Rank creators by total engagement
Step 4: Focus 80% of effort on top 20% of creators
SOP: Success Metrics to Track
Don't just comment blindly. Track and optimize.
Step 1: Create a tracking spreadsheet with these columns:
- Date
- Creator Name
- Post Link
- Comment Position (1-10)
- Impressions (check LinkedIn analytics)
- Profile Views Generated
- Connection Requests
- DMs
Step 2: Fill in daily (5 mins at end of day)
Fill the tracking sheet by EOD daily.
Step 3: Review daily
If monitoring the work of setters, review the work every EOD and EOW.
Step 4: Identify patterns
- Which creators drive most profile views?
- Which comment positions convert best?
- Which comment styles get most replies?
Step 5: Optimize based on data
- Focus on high-performing creators
- Double down on high-performing comment styles
- Cut low-performing creators
Key metrics:
- Avg impressions per comment (by position)
- Profile views per week
- Connection requests from commenters
- DMs originated from comment threads
TL;DR:
If you only remember 5 things:
- Speed > Quality - Position 1 = 5x more impressions than Position 10
- Short > Long - 11-25 words max, one idea per comment
- Priority 1 > Everything else - Focus 80% of effort on top 20% of creators
- Never write "great post" or "thanks for sharing" - Add value or stay silent
- Track and optimize - Measure what matters, double down on what works
Commenting is distribution. Execute it like a system, not a hobby.
Lead Magnet Distribution
The Lead Magnet Distribution System
A lead magnet post that gets 500+ comments is worth $50K+ in pipeline.
But only if you handle it correctly.
Most people:
- Miss 30% of comments
- Reply too slow
- Send generic DMs
- Lose leads in the chaos
This system handles 500+ comments without losing a single lead.
Pre-Post Preparation
Before your lead magnet post goes live:
1. Create the Distribution Messages (3 variations)
You need 3 different DM templates to avoid spam flags.
Template 1:
Hey [First Name]!
Here's the [name of lead magnet]: [Link]
Let me know what you think! :)
Template 2:
[First Name] -
Just sent the [name of lead magnet] your way: [Link]
Curious, [specific question related to their profile]?
Template 3:
Hey [First Name]!
Here you go: [Link]
Btw, we also have a free [newsletter/ audit call/ community/ your offer], happy to send you the link if of interest?
2. Set Up Your Branded Links
Use Dub.co to create trackable, branded short links, e.g:
go.conigma.com/signal-list-building-playbookgo.conigma.com/Cold-Email-Stack
This lets you:
- Track clicks per link
- Look more professional
- Update destination URL without changing link
3. Notify Your Setter
In your team Slack:
"Hey @setter, posting lead magnet in 10 mins on [account name]. Distribution messages are ready in Notion. Handle comments for first 45 mins."
Preparation checklist:
☐ 3 DM templates created and in Notion
☐ All links are working
☐ Branded short links created in Dub
☐ Setter is notified and ready
☐ Notion card has distribution messages ready to copy-paste
The First 45 Minutes (Critical Window)
The first 45 minutes determine if your post goes viral or dies.
LinkedIn algorithm watches:
- How fast you respond to comments
- How much engagement you get early
- If people stay on the post
Your job (or your setter's job):
Minutes 0-45: Post goes live
- Refresh notifications every 2-5 minutes
- Sort comments by "Most Recent"
- For each new comment:
If they're connected OR sent connection request:
- Accept connection request immediately
- Send them DM with distribution message (rotate templates)
- Reply to comment: "just sent this over, did you get it?"
If they're NOT connected:
- Reply to comment: "legend, send a connection request so I can fire it over 🤝"
- If they're high-value ICP, YOU send them a connection request with note
- Use variety in comment replies (bank below)
- Never let a comment sit unanswered for >5 minutes
Comment reply bank:
- "just sent this over, did you get it?"
- "check your DMs 🚀"
- "just sent you a DM - did you get it?"
- "sending over now :)"
- "on it 🫡"
- "all yours!"
- "sent! 🫡"
- "just dropped it in your inbox 📩"
- "you've got mail!"
Rotate these. Never use the same reply twice in a row.
Lead Tracking During Distribution
You need to track every single person you DM.
Use this Notion database structure:
Required fields:
- Name
- LinkedIn URL
- Lead Source ("Lead Magnet Comment")
- Date Contacted
- Distribution Message Sent? (Checkbox)
- Comment Replied? (Checkbox)
- Resource Sent (Which lead magnet)
- Joined Community? (Checkbox)
- Status (New / Engaged / Converted / Dead)
Why this matters:
- Shows you who to follow up with
- Tracks conversion rate by lead magnet
- Proves ROI to your CEO/client
- Helps you never DM the same person twice
Pro tip: Use Notion's API or Zapier to auto-create leads when you send DMs. Saves 50% of manual entry time.
Hours 2-24: Catch the Stragglers
After the first 45 minutes, your post might keep getting comments for 24+ hours.
Your system:
Check notifications every 2 hours
For each new comment:
- Same process as first 45 mins
- But now you have more time (10-15 min response time is fine)
- Still track every lead in Notion
Connection requests that come in late:
People often comment first, then send connection request hours later.
When you get a late connection request:
- Check if they commented on recent post
- Send appropriate distribution message
- Reply to their comment: "just sent that to you - check DMs 👊"
Day 2-7: Follow-Up Sequence
Most people send the resource and forget.
You're going to follow up.
Day 2: Check who joined community
Go through your Notion database:
- Mark who signed up (or booked a call, etc, whatever your offer is)
- For those who didn't join/ book a call:
Manage to join? OR Manage to sign up?
Day 3: Send value-add
For those who opened link but didn't join:
Hey [Name], saw you grabbed the [resource]. What did you think?
Btw - curious, what's your biggest challenge with [specific topic from resource] right now?
Day 5: Final push
For those who still haven't engaged:
Send GIF (tumbleweed or "hello?" meme)
Then move to weekly nurture sequence.
High-Value ICP Special Treatment
Not all comments are equal.
If someone who's VP+ at a $10M+ company comments:
1. Send connection request immediately (don't wait for them)
2. Send voice note DM instead of text:
"Hey [Name], [Your Name] here from [Company]. Saw you grabbed the [resource] - really appreciate it.
Quick question: are you guys currently [specific pain point]? Just curious if [outcome] is something on your radar.
If so, happy to share how we're approaching it. If not, no worries - just thought I'd reach out personally."
3. Tag your CEO/Founder in Slack:
"@founder - VP of Sales at $20M ARR company just downloaded playbook. Might be worth you jumping in DMs."
4. Send personalized follow-up same day:
Don't wait 48 hours. Follow up in 4-6 hours with specific value.
How to identify high-value ICPs:
- Check their headline (VP, Director, Head of, Founder)
- Check company size (go to company page)
- Check recent posts (are they actively hiring? Raising? Scaling?)
Common Mistakes That Kill Conversions
Mistake 1: Sending the link in public comment
❌ Don't: Reply with the link in the comment
✅ Do: Reply with "check your DMs!"
Why? LinkedIn flags links in comments. Plus you want them in DMs where you can convert.
Mistake 2: Copy-pasting the exact same DM
LinkedIn detects this and limits your sends.
Rotate 3+ templates.
Mistake 3: Not tracking who you've DMed
You'll end up sending 5 people the resource twice. Looks amateur.
Mistake 4: Replying to comments but not DMing
50% of people who comment WON'T send a connection request.
If they're ICP, YOU send the request.
Mistake 5: Not following up
80% of conversions happen in follow-up.
If you send the resource and ghost, you're leaving money on the table.
Lead Tracking & CRM System
Why Lead Tracking Kills Most LinkedIn Systems
You're doing great outreach. Booking calls. Building pipeline.
Then you realize:
- You DM'd the same person 3 times
- You forgot to follow up with a hot lead
- You can't remember who downloaded what
- Your CEO asks "how many leads from LinkedIn?" and you have no idea
Without tracking, you're flying blind.
And you're leaving $50K+ on the table.
The CRM Structure
You need ONE central database for all LinkedIn leads.
Database name: LinkedIn Lead Tracker
Required properties:
| Property Name | Property Type | Options / Details |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Title | — |
| LinkedIn URL | URL | — |
| Company | Text | — |
| Title | Text | — |
| Lead Source | Select | Commented on our post • Lead magnet comment • Profile view • Sent us connection request • Automation • Referral |
| Team Member | Person | Who's handling this lead |
| Status | Select | New • Connected • Engaged • Sign-up sent • Signed up • Call booked • Won • Dead |
| Date Accepted | Date | — |
| Initial DM Sent | Checkbox | — |
| Date of Initial DM | Date | — |
| Sign-up Link Sent | Checkbox | — |
| Date Link Sent | Date | — |
| Signed Up | Checkbox | — |
| Resource Sent | Select | Which lead magnet |
| Last Contact | Date | Auto-updates with formula |
| Next Follow-Up | Date | — |
| Notes | Text | — |
| Priority | Select | High (VP+, $10M+ company) • Medium (Manager, $1-10M company) • Low (IC, <$1M company) |
Pro tip: Set up a Notion template button that auto-fills Date Accepted and sets Status to "New" when you create a lead.
When to Log a Lead
Trigger: Whenever you take an action on a lead from ANY source.
Examples:
- Someone comments on your post → Log them
- Someone sends connection request → Log them
- Someone views your profile (and they're ICP) → Log them
- You comment on their post and send connection request → Log them
- Automation sends them a DM → Log them
The rule: If you interact with them, log them.
No exceptions.
Why this matters:
- You never DM someone twice by accident
- You know exactly who to follow up with
- You can prove ROI with real data
- You can fire a setter and not lose the context
The Logging Process (30 seconds)
Step 1: Create new row in database
Click "New" in your LinkedIn Lead Tracker database.
Step 2: Fill basic info (5 seconds)
- Name: First Last
- LinkedIn URL: Copy from browser
- Company: From their headline
- Title: From their headline
- Team Member: Your name
- Lead Source: How they came in
Step 3: Mark connection status (5 seconds)
If you just accepted their connection request:
- Status: "Connected"
- Date Accepted: Today
Step 4: Log first DM (5 seconds)
As soon as you send first message:
- Check "Initial DM Sent"
- Date of Initial DM: Today
- Status: "Engaged"
Step 5: Log [main action, e.g. signup link sent] (5 seconds)
When you send link:
- Check "Link Sent"
- Date Link Sent: Today
- Status: "Link sent"
Step 6: Verify next day (5 seconds)
Check sign-ups (if you're tracking sign-ups for a SaaS tool for example)
If they joined:
- Check "Signed up"
- Status: "Signed up"
If they didn't:
- Status: "Link sent"
- Next Follow-Up: 2 days from now
- Notes: "Need to send 'Manage to join?' follow-up"
Pro tip: Do batch logging.
Don't log every lead immediately. Handle 10 leads, then log all 10 in one batch. Saves time.
Views & Filters You Need
Create these filtered views in your database:
View 1: Needs Follow-Up
Filters:
- Status = "Sign-up sent"
- Next Follow-Up = Today or earlier
Sort: Next Follow-Up (ascending)
This shows you exactly who to DM today.
View 2: High Priority
Filters:
- Priority = "High"
- Status ≠ "Won" AND ≠ "Dead"
Sort: Last Contact (ascending)
This shows your highest-value leads.
View 3: Ghosted Leads
Filters:
- Initial DM Sent = Checked
- Status = "Engaged" OR "Sign-up sent"
- Last Contact = More than 7 days ago
Sort: Last Contact (ascending)
These are your re-engagement targets.
View 4: This Week's Activity
Filters:
- Date Accepted = Past 7 days
Sort: Date Accepted (descending)
This shows your weekly throughput.
View 5: Conversion Funnel
Group by: Status
This shows you:
- How many in each stage
- Where people drop off
- Your conversion rates
Set default view to "Needs Follow-Up"
This should be the first thing you see every morning.
Follow-Up Automation
You can't remember to follow up with 100+ leads.
You need systems.
Option 1: Attio/ Notion/ Airtable reminders
For each lead, set a reminder (Notion example):
- Open lead page
- Click "..." menu
- "Remind me about this"
- Set date
Notion will send you a notification.
Option 2: Zapier automation
Trigger: Next Follow-Up date = Today
Action: Send Slack message to your DM
"Hey, follow up with [Name] today: [Notion Link]"
Option 3: Daily morning view
Every morning at 9am:
- Open "Needs Follow-Up" view
- Handle all leads with Next Follow-Up = Today
- Close view
Same time. Every day. Becomes a habit.
The best system is the one you actually use.
Pick one. Stick with it.
Multi-Setter Coordination (For Agencies)
If you have multiple people DMing on the same account:
Rule 1: Assign leads to team members
Use the "Team Member" property.
Once assigned, that person owns the lead.
No one else touches it.
Rule 2: Create personal views
Each setter should have their own view:
Filter: Team Member = [Their Name]
This shows only their leads.
Rule 3: Daily sync
Every morning, check for:
- Duplicate entries (someone logged the same lead twice)
- Unassigned new leads
- Leads stuck in one stage for 7+ days
Rule 4: Quality spot checks
Manager should randomly check 10 leads per week:
- Open the lead
- Check their LinkedIn DMs
- Verify all checkboxes and dates are accurate
- Give feedback in team Slack
Accountability rule: Every interaction MUST be logged. If it's not in Notion, it didn't happen.
Reporting Dashboard
Create this dashboard in Airtable/ Notion (or export to Google Sheets):
This Week:
- New leads: ___
- Connection requests sent: ___
- Connection requests accepted: ___
- Initial DMs sent: ___
- Reply rate: ___%
- Sign-up links sent: ___
- Sign-ups: ___%
- Calls booked: ___
This Month:
- Total leads: ___
- Total conversations: ___
- Total sign-ups: ___
- Total calls booked: ___
- Total deals closed: ___
- Total revenue: $___
Conversion Rates:
- Lead → Connected: ___%
- Connected → Engaged: ___%
- Engaged → Sign-up: ___%
- Sign-up → Call: ___%
- Call → Won: ___%
Update this weekly.
Share with your team.
Setter Operating System (For Agencies)
Why Setters Make or Break Your LinkedIn System
You can't scale LinkedIn DMs by yourself.
At some point you need:
- Someone to handle comments
- Someone to respond to DMs
- Someone to accept connection requests
- Someone to track leads
But here's what happens when you hire setters without systems:
- They DM the same person 3 times
- They send generic copy-paste messages
- They miss high-value leads
- They get the account restricted
- You can't fire them without losing all context
This system prevents all of that.
Setter Roles & Responsibilities
Role 1: Lead Magnet Setter
Responsibilities:
- Handle comments on lead magnet posts
- Send distribution DMs
- Reply to comments within 5 minutes
- Track all leads in Notion
- First 45 mins after post (dedicated)
- Then ongoing for 24 hours
KPIs:
- 100% of comments replied within 10 mins of posting and by EOD
- 100% of commenters DMed (if connected)
- 100% of leads tracked in CRM/ Notion
- 100% of ICP connection requests accepted by EOD
Role 2: DM Conversion Setter
Responsibilities:
- Handle inbound connection requests
- Send initial DMs
- Run qualification conversations
- Send community links
- Follow up with ghosted leads
- Track in CRM/ Notion
KPIs:
- Respond to DMs within 30 mins
- 60%+ reply rate on initial DMs
- 25%+ sign-up rate
- 100% of conversations logged
Role 3: Comment Positioning Setter
Responsibilities:
- Comment on Priority 1 & 2 accounts
- Secure top 3 position
- Reply to comment replies
- Send connection requests to engagers
KPIs:
- 50+ comments per day
- 30%+ in top 3 positions
- 500 impressions average per comment
1-2 setters can cover all 3 roles. As you scale, they might not. Prioritize account safety over volume.
Priority System (What to Handle First)
Setters see 100+ notifications per day. They need priorities.
Priority 1:
- Inbound DMs with questions
- High-value ICP sends connection request
- Lead magnet post just went live
- Someone replies to your DM
- Respond to comments on your today’s post
Priority 2:
- Regular connection request from ICP
- Profile view from high-value ICP
- Scheduled follow-up DM
- Respond to comments on your yesterday’s post
Priority 3:
- Comment reply on external posts
- Automation DM response
- Connection request from non-ICP
Priority 4
- Logging leads in Notion (if not done during the day)
- Updating Next Follow-Up dates
- EOD reporting
Train setters to ask:
"If I only had time for one thing right now, what has the highest ROI?"
That's Priority 1.
Account Safety Rules (Don't Get Restricted)
LinkedIn will restrict your account if you:
❌ Send 50+ DMs with same text in one day
❌ Send 100+ connection requests in one day
❌ Have 2+ people on account at same time
❌ Send messages too fast (looks like bot)
Safety rules for setters:
Rule 1: Coordinate in Slack
Before logging into account:
Slack message: "Going online on [account name] for next 2 hours"
No one else logs in during that time.
Rule 2: Rotate DM templates
Never send same message twice in a row.
Use 3+ variations.
Rule 3: Daily limits
- Max 50 DMs per day per account
- Max 50 connection requests per day
- Max 100 comments per day
Rule 4: Human pacing
- Wait 30-60 seconds between DMs
- Wait 2-5 mins between connection requests
- Don't send 10 messages in 2 minutes
Rule 5: Use AdsPower for multi-account
If managing multiple accounts:
- Different browser profile per account
- Different IP per account
- Never log into 2 accounts from same device
Onboarding Checklist for New Setters
Day 1: Training
☐ Read all SOPs + watch training videos
☐ Shadow an existing setter working
☐ Get access to:
- AdsPower profile
- CRM
- Team Slack
☐ Shadow existing setter for 2 hours
Day 2: Supervised execution
☐ Handle 10 leads with manager watching
☐ Send 5 DMs with manager reviewing before sending
☐ Log 10 leads in CRM
☐ Handle 1 lead magnet post’s comments
☐ Manager gives feedback
Don't skip onboarding.
A bad setter can:
- Get your account restricted
- Piss off your ICP
- Lose high-value leads
- Ruin your brand
2 weeks of training prevents 6 months of cleanup.
Quality Control Framework
Daily QA (10 mins per setter):
Manager checks:
☐ EOD Loom was posted
☐ All comments from last 24 hours were replied
☐ All DMs from last 24 hours were replied
☐ CRM logging is up to date
☐ No duplicate lead entries
Weekly QA (30 mins per setter):
Manager randomly picks 20 leads:
☐ Opens each in CRM
☐ Opens their LinkedIn DMs
☐ Verifies:
- Dates are accurate
- Checkboxes match reality
- DMs sound natural (not copy-paste)
- Next Follow-Up dates are set
Monthly QA (2 hours per setter):
☐ Review KPIs:
- Reply rate
- Sign-up rate
- Response time
- Logging accuracy
☐ Compare to benchmarks
☐ Identify improvement areas
☐ Update SOPs based on what's working
Scaling from 1 to 5 Setters
Phase 1: Solo (You)
- Handle everything yourself
- Document what works
- Build SOPs as you go
- Track time spent on each activity
Phase 2: First Setter
- Hire VA
- Train on lead magnet distribution first (easiest)
- You handle DM conversations
- They handle comments + distribution
Phase 3: Second Setter
- Hire second person
- Setter 1: Lead magnets
- Setter 2: DM conversations + follow-ups
- You: High-value leads only + QA
Phase 4: Third Setter + Specialization
- Setter 1: Lead magnets (full-time)
- Setter 2: DM conversations (full-time)
- Setter 3: Commenting + follow-ups
- You: QA manager + strategy
Phase 5: Full Team
- 2 lead magnet setters
- 2 DM conversation setters
- 1 commenting specialist
- 1 QA manager (you or promoted setter)
