Every sales professional knows the challenge: finding prospects who are actually interested in what you’re selling. It’s hard to spot people who are already evaluating solutions.
You can find them in LinkedIn groups. LinkedIn groups offer access to thousands of professionals who’ve already raised their hands by joining communities around topics relevant to your solution.
Group membership is a clear signal of topic interest. When someone joins a LinkedIn group, they’re telling you exactly what they care about. Use it to prioritize outreach and drive conversions.
The key to winning at this strategy is to find the right groups. This guide shows you how to find all the groups where your target audience gathers, use PhantomBuster’s LinkedIn Group Members Export automation to collect up to 2,500 visible members per group, review them in your LinkedIn Leads Database, then trigger the LinkedIn Outreach automation for personalized messages that reference your common ground.
You’ll learn to turn passive group membership into active sales conversations.
Why target LinkedIn group members?
LinkedIn groups offer a unique advantage for B2B prospecting. Unlike cold outreach, where you’re starting from zero, group members have already self-selected into communities around specific topics, industries, or challenges. This creates multiple benefits:
- Pre-qualified interest: When professionals join groups, they’re signaling active interest in that topic. For instance, a sales manager who joins a “Sales Management Executives” group is telling you they care about sales leadership. That’s an insight you can use.
- Built-in personalization: Shared group membership gives you immediate common ground. Your connection requests have greater context than plain cold outreach that feels random. Mentioning the shared group typically lifts acceptance rates.
- Access to decision-makers: Many niche groups attract industry leaders and senior professionals. Joining these groups gives you access to people who might otherwise be difficult to reach through traditional prospecting methods.
- Reach hundreds of lookalike prospects: LinkedIn groups can have thousands of members. A single relevant group gives you access to an entire community of potential clients or potential customers who share professional interests.
The key is being strategic. Don’t just join groups randomly. Instead, identify where your target audience congregates, then use PhantomBuster’s outreach automation to send relevant connection requests at a safe, steady pace.
Prospecting using LinkedIn groups: A step-by-step guide
LinkedIn groups give you a great starting point for introductions and connections. But how do you use them for prospecting? Here’s a guide to take you through the full process, along with automations to scale it.
Step 1: Find relevant LinkedIn groups in your niche
Pick groups where members match your ICP by role, company size, and region to avoid wasting daily limits. Choose wisely, and the group members will directly match your target audience.
Start by searching for keywords related to your industry, your prospects’ roles, or problems your solution solves using the LinkedIn search bar. After searching, look for the “Groups” filter in the search results page to narrow down to only group results. Example: search “CRO” then select Groups to see executive communities.
When evaluating groups to join, consider these factors:
- Member count and activity: Favor groups with consistent recent posts. Size matters less than active discussions. A successful LinkedIn group shows regular member engagement, not just a large number of inactive members.
- Member composition: Check if the group members match your target audience. Click into the group page to see sample member titles and industries. Are these the people you want to reach?
- Group rules and focus: Read the group’s purpose in the group settings or description. Some groups are highly promotional, others focus on meaningful discussions. Choose groups that align with how you want to build relationships.
A focused group of sales leaders beats a generic group with more members but low engagement.
Tip: Join first and contribute. It builds credibility and keeps outreach aligned with group rules. Be active and get involved in conversations. This gives you credibility when you reach out, lets you observe conversations to understand member pain points, and helps you stay up to date on industry trends.
Step 2: Extract LinkedIn group members with PhantomBuster
Once you’ve identified a relevant group, collect member data with PhantomBuster’s LinkedIn Group Members Export automation. This step helps you analyze the profiles and segment them better.
PhantomBuster’s LinkedIn Group Members Export automation handles this process, allowing you to extract up to 2,500 members from any LinkedIn group you’re a part of.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Copy the group URL: Navigate to the LinkedIn group page and copy the full URL from your browser’s address bar.
- Access the automation: Go to PhantomBuster and select the LinkedIn Group Members Export automation. Click “Use now” to get started.
- Connect your LinkedIn account: PhantomBuster needs permission to access LinkedIn. Follow the prompts to securely connect your account.
- Configure your extraction: Paste the LinkedIn group URL into the input field. Set the number of members you want to extract (up to 2,500 visible members per group). Since you’re focusing on one group, leave the “groups per launch” field at the default setting.
- Launch the automation: Select “once” for launch frequency since this is a one-time extraction. Click save and launch the automation.
The automation extracts publicly available data from the group’s member list, including names, headlines, connection degree, and profile URLs. Note that this is limited to what’s visible on the member’s page. You won’t get full profile details yet, but you’ll have enough to filter and identify prospects.
The entire extraction typically completes within minutes, depending on the group size. Exported members flow into your LinkedIn Leads Database, where you filter by headline, location, and degree before launching outreach.
Step 3: Filter and segment leads in the LinkedIn Leads Database
Once the export is complete, you’ll have a list of 2,500 group members in your database. You now need to start filtering this data to gain insights from it. With PhantomBuster, use headline, location, and connection-degree filters to isolate your ICP from the broader group membership.
Navigate to the “Leads” tab in your automation and click “View my leads.” This opens your LinkedIn Leads Database with a filter already applied, showing only members from your recent extraction.
Now add additional filters based on your search criteria:
Filter by headline
This is often the most effective filter. Click “Add condition,” select the “headline” variable, and use “contains” to search for relevant keywords. For example, if you target sales managers, filter for headlines containing “sales.” This immediately narrows your list to prospects in sales roles.
Combine multiple filters
Stack filters (headline + location + 2nd/3rd degree) to target decision-makers. For instance, you could filter for:
- Headlines containing “sales”
- Location matching your territory
- Connection degree of 2nd or 3rd (meaning you can send connection requests)
Save your filtered list
Once you’ve applied filters, save this as a list with a descriptive group name like “Sales Managers – [location name] – Sales Leadership Group.” This creates a targeted segment you can use for outreach campaigns.
The goal is to move from thousands of members to a focused, ICP-matched list of potential connections. This targeting ensures you’re sending connection requests to the right people and not wasting your daily limits on poor-fit prospects.
Step 4: Set up automated connection requests and follow-ups
With your filtered list ready, you can automate personalized outreach at scale. PhantomBuster’s connection and messaging automations handle the repetitive work while you keep the personal touch.
Select the LinkedIn Outreach automation from your PhantomBuster dashboard. Configure it as follows:
Input your list: Choose the filtered list you just created as your source.
Craft your connection request: LinkedIn allows a short note with connection requests. Reference your shared group membership to establish common ground. For example:
“I saw you’re also a member of the Sales Management Executives group. Let’s connect!”
Keep it brief and friendly. Avoid self-promotion in initial requests. Focus on building the relationship first.
For message structure ideas, see this LinkedIn breakdown by trainer Jasmin Alić.
Schedule follow-up messages: Set up automated follow-ups that are sent out a few days after people accept your connection requests. Wait at least one day before the first follow-up. Example message:
“Hi [FirstName], I had a question. Did you already try [your solution/approach]?”
This opens a conversation naturally rather than jumping straight to a sales pitch. You’re tapping groups for networking opportunities first, sales opportunities second.
Set your limits: Configure daily invitation limits. Stay conservative with daily invitations (e.g., 10–20/day). LinkedIn’s limits change, so monitor acceptance rates and adjust. LinkedIn’s weekly caps vary by account. Keep volume modest and prioritize quality over quantity.
Launch the automation: Save your settings and activate the automation. It will now send connection requests at your scheduled pace, track acceptances, and trigger follow-ups according to your schedule.
This setup handles sends and follow-ups while you focus on real conversations.
Step 5: Monitor and optimize your outreach campaign
Once your campaign is running, use PhantomBuster’s reporting features to track performance and refine your approach.
Track these stages:
- Invitations sent
- Connections accepted
- Messages sent
- Replies received
In Reports, track connection requests, acceptance rate, replies, and time saved.
Use these insights to:
- Test different messages: If your acceptance rate is low, experiment with different connection request notes. Sometimes a simple change in wording makes a significant difference.
- Adjust your targeting: If you’re getting acceptances but poor message engagement, your targeting might be too broad. Refine your filters to focus on more qualified prospects.
- Refine your follow-up timing: Pay attention to when people respond. Some audiences engage more with messages sent on certain days or with different time gaps. For instance, most people respond to messages on Thursdays and Mondays. Send out your follow-ups at those moments to gain maximum engagement.
The goal is continuous improvement. Start with your best guess, measure results, and iterate based on what the data tells you.
Best practices for LinkedIn group member outreach
Connecting with group members is effective, but it requires thoughtful targeting and pacing. It has pitfalls. Here’s how to avoid them:
- Join before you extract: Join relevant groups yourself before extracting members. This gives you legitimacy and helps you understand group culture. You’ll also know if the group is the right match for you.
- Personalize beyond the group: When you’re reaching out to group members, don’t just stop at mentioning the shared group. Take it a step further where possible. Reference their headline, location, or any mutual connections.
- Provide valuable content: Your personal brand matters. Be sure to share valuable insights and content on your personal account regularly. That way, your group members will see virtue in connecting with you.
- Respect rate limits: Keep daily invitations modest (10–20/day to start) and adjust to stay safe. Sending connection requests too aggressively risks LinkedIn restrictions.
- Build relationships before pitching: Your goal is building relationships with like-minded individuals, not immediate sales. Focus on starting discussions and providing value first. Pitch once the lead is warm. Cory Blumenfeld shares practical ways to warm up new connections.
- Stay connected to groups: Keep contributing to those groups to build trust and visibility. This reinforces your credibility and can open doors to additional networking opportunities that go beyond the automated connections.
- Follow companies: While connecting with individuals, also follow companies that group members work for. This keeps you informed about industry news and gives you conversation starters.
Common mistakes to avoid
When you conduct outreach on LinkedIn, avoid these mistakes that even experienced professionals tend to make:
- Being too promotional: Starting with a sales pitch in your connection request kills your acceptance rate. Lead with value and relationship building.
- Ignoring LinkedIn limits: Pushing too hard, too fast gets your account restricted. Steady, quality outreach outperforms bursts of volume.
- Skipping the filtering step: Sending connection requests to all group members without filtering wastes your daily limits on poor-fit prospects.
- Generic messaging: Not mentioning the shared group in your connection request misses an easy personalization opportunity. Avoid generic lines. Reference the specific group topic or a recent post. Here’s what Gui Groscos suggests doing instead.
- Over-following up: Too many follow-ups too fast feels pushy and hurts your brand. Give people space to respond.
Frequently asked questions
How many LinkedIn group members can I export at once?
You can typically extract up to 2,500 visible members per group using PhantomBuster’s LinkedIn Group Members Export automation. Availability depends on LinkedIn’s current UI.
If you need more leads, target multiple relevant groups and combine your lists in the LinkedIn Leads Database for a larger pool of potential connections.
Will group members know I extracted their information?
No. When you collect publicly available data, members aren’t notified. Always follow LinkedIn’s terms and group rules. They’ll only see your connection request when you reach out, just like any normal LinkedIn interaction on the social network.
How many connection requests should I send per day?
Keep daily invitations modest (about 10–20 to start). Avoid building up large numbers of pending requests. Monitor your acceptance rates and adjust to maintain account safety.
What should I say in my connection request to group members?
Keep the introductions simple and reference your common ground through the shared group. Also, try to personalize your message based on the recipient’s profile or recent posts. Avoid self-promotion in initial requests. Focus on building the relationship first.
Example: “I saw you’re also a member of [Group Name]. I’d love to connect and exchange ideas!”
How long should I wait before sending a follow-up message?
Wait at least 24 hours after someone accepts your connection request before sending your first follow-up. This gives them time to review your LinkedIn profile and makes sure that your outreach doesn’t feel pushy.
Can I use this strategy for multiple LinkedIn groups?
Yes. Run exports for several relevant groups, then merge and filter the leads in your LinkedIn Leads Database. This builds a larger pool of qualified prospects who’ve shown interest in relevant topics across different communities.
You can also extract professional emails from these members.
What if I get a low connection acceptance rate?
Low acceptance rates typically indicate:
- Your connection message needs improvement
- You’re targeting the wrong audience
- Your LinkedIn profile needs optimization
To fix this, make sure your profile picture is professional, headline clearly communicates value, and profile demonstrates expertise. Finally, test different connection request messages to find what resonates.
Turn group membership into meaningful conversations
LinkedIn groups represent one of the most underutilized prospecting tools available. By identifying where your target audience gathers, extracting member lists, filtering for your ideal prospects, and automating personalized outreach, you transform passive group membership into active sales conversations.
The power of this approach lies in the intent signal. These aren’t random cold prospects. Instead, they’re professionals who’ve actively joined communities around topics relevant to your solution. They’re already engaged, interested, and part of your professional network in some way.
Start by identifying two or three highly relevant groups in your niche, join them, and participate authentically to gain valuable insights about member pain points. Then, use PhantomBuster’s export, filter, and outreach automations to connect with members who match your ICP.
Remember: automation handles the repetitive work, but relationship building still requires the human touch. While automating outreach, be sure to give that personal touch in your messaging for sustained success. Avoid self-promotion in initial requests. Focus on building the relationship first.
Ready to start connecting with group members who are already interested in your space? Start a 14-day free trial and turn relevant groups into a qualified pipeline.