AI will destroy Outbound - What can LinkedIn still save?

AI will destroy outbound - trust, relationships and LinkedIn automation to the rescue?

In recent years, technology has evolved rapidly and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has begun fundamentally to change the way we work in sales. While AI can be a valuable tool for Account Executives (AEs) and Sales Development Representatives (SDRs), it can do research work, improve emails, enrich lead lists and yes, even automate the dreaded email sequences, I firmly believe that this is where the beginning of the end of AI outbound lies: unbridled “outbound experts” are relying on AI-powered outbound campaigns and expecting miracles. But more emails do not mean more success.

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Here's the reality: a better email from a machine won't solve your problems. AI doesn't really understand how you use your product or what your competitors are doing. Outbound will only work in 2024 if you take it slower and more carefully. Too many rely on AI instead of investing the human labour that really matters.

The future of sales? Quality over quantity. AI can assist, but your network and personal relationships are the real key to success. Use LinkedIn wisely, build trust, and never leave out the human touch.

While AI is making it easier and easier to send emails, it is also making it harder and harder to actually reach the relevant audience. In a world where trust and relationships are more crucial than ever in B2B, the question is: how can we adapt?

Trust, relationships, personal branding and the network are becoming more important - can this be scaled?

The disruptive influence of AI requires a radical refocus on trust and relationships. And this is where LinkedIn Automation comes in. It's no longer enough to just send better emails. It's about building trust and systematically growing your network - and this is where tools like HeyReach, Expandi, LaGrowthMachine and Lemlist can make a crucial difference.

1. Outbound is not what it used to be
   AI has changed the outbound game - and not for the better. Automated emails that might have generated a handful of leads in the past now end up unnoticed in the spam folder. AI-controlled systems may increase the quantity, but they lack quality. The recipients see through the tactics and react accordingly: they ignore them.

2. Trust and relationships as the key to success
   In an increasingly digitalized world, the personal network is more valuable than ever. LinkedIn has established itself as a platform that can foster trust and relationships - provided you use it correctly. Instead of relying on mass emails, the focus is now on targeted relationship building. Your network is not just a pool of contacts, but a strategic asset that needs to be nurtured.

3. LinkedIn automation: the tools of the future
   This is where tools such as HeyReach, Expandi, LaGrowthMachine and Lemlist come into play. These tools allow you to use LinkedIn in a way that helps build trust and relationships. They automate the right processes without losing the personal touch. This allows you to systematically reach out to new contacts, expand your network and strengthen your personal branding at the same time.

4. Systematic approach for the entire team
   LinkedIn Automation doesn't just work for lone wolves. If you use these tools with your entire management team, you can multiply your reach. A structured approach, where everyone in the team specifically maintains their networks on LinkedIn, leads to an increased presence and a higher level of trust throughout the organization.

Example of a LinkedIn workflow in HeyReach.

AI will destroy traditional outbound emailing - there is no way around it. But this is not the end, but the beginning of a new era. Trust and relationships will be the new currencies in B2B, and LinkedIn is the platform that gives you access.

Traditional outbound will still work in 2024 - but you need to slow it down and do it much better.

Too many successful sales experts want the exact opposite. They want AI to do the work for them - magically and without much effort. This will be the death of the classic outbound.

Not completely, but it will herald the end of low-quality email sequences and the end of the outbound process for many companies. Today, there are simply too many who aren't willing to put in the human labor to get it right - even with a great AI assistance system on their side.

If you want to be successful in 2024, you need to approach the game differently. Focus on quality over quantity, use AI wisely, but never lose sight of the human factor. Your network, your trust, and your relationships are the key to success. And yes, LinkedIn can play a crucial role in this - if you do it right.