LinkedIn Auto-Follow from Sheets | n8n

The simplest way to automate LinkedIn profile following with n8n. This beginner-friendly workflow reads profile URLs from a Google Sheet and follows each user automatically—no coding required.

Key Takeaways

• 4-node workflow makes this perfect for n8n beginners starting with LinkedIn automation
• Automatic tracking marks followed profiles in your Google Sheet to prevent duplicates
• No coding required - just connect, configure, and click run
• Platform-safe with ConnectSafely's compliant automation

Why Follow More People?

According to LinkedIn's networking research, strategic following is a key growth tactic.

Following someone on LinkedIn:

• Puts your profile in their notifications
• Shows your content in their feed (if they follow back)
• Opens the door for future connections
• Helps you stay updated on industry trends

This workflow supports your broader LinkedIn growth strategy.

Workflow Overview

This is a 4-node workflow - perfect for n8n beginners:

Manual Trigger → Get Profiles → Follow Each → Mark Complete

Video Tutorial

Watch the complete setup walkthrough:

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Install ConnectSafely Nodes

In your n8n instance:

1. Go to Settings → Community Nodes
2. Search for n8n-nodes-connectsafely
3. Click Install
4. Restart n8n when prompted

Or via command line:

npm install n8n-nodes-connectsafely

See the complete n8n integration guide for detailed instructions.

Step 2: Set Up Google Sheets

Create a new spreadsheet with these columns:

Column A	Column B
Profile URL	Status
https://linkedin.com/in/person1
https://linkedin.com/in/person2

Step 3: Configure Credentials

Google Sheets:

1. Go to Google Cloud Console
2. Create OAuth 2.0 credentials
3. Add Client ID and Secret to n8n

ConnectSafely.ai:

1. Log into ConnectSafely dashboard
2. Go to Settings → API
3. Copy your API Key
4. Note your Account ID

Step 4: Build the Workflow

Node 1: Manual Trigger

• Just drag it in - no config needed
• Click to run the workflow

Node 2: Google Sheets (Read)

• Operation: Read Rows
• Document: Your spreadsheet
• Sheet: Sheet1
• Range: A:B
• Filter: Status is empty

Node 3: ConnectSafely.ai

• Operation: Follow User
• API Key: Your key
• Account ID: Your account
• Profile URL: {{$json["Profile URL"]}}

Node 4: Google Sheets (Update)

• Operation: Update Row
• Document: Same spreadsheet
• Sheet: Sheet1
• Row: Current row
• Status: "done"

How to Use

Adding Profiles to Follow

1. Open your Google Sheet
2. Add LinkedIn profile URLs to Column A
3. Leave Column B (Status) empty

Running the Workflow

1. Open n8n
2. Click on the Manual Trigger node
3. Click "Execute Node" or "Execute Workflow"
4. Watch as profiles are followed

Checking Results

• Your Google Sheet updates in real-time
• "done" appears next to followed profiles
• n8n shows success/failure for each action

Best Practices

Don't Go Too Fast

Following LinkedIn's rate limit guidelines:

• Follow 20-50 people per session
• Wait a few hours between batches
• LinkedIn has rate limits

Use ConnectSafely's built-in rate limiting for automatic protection.

Quality Over Quantity

Only follow people who:

• Are in your industry
• Create content you want to see
• Might follow you back

Curate Your List

Good sources for profile URLs:

• LinkedIn search results (see our search export template)
• Commenters on popular posts
• Speaker lists from conferences
• Company employee pages

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
"Invalid Profile URL"	Ensure URLs are complete (include https://) and formatted like https://linkedin.com/in/username
"Rate Limited"	You're going too fast. Wait 24 hours and reduce batch size
"Authentication Failed"	Check your ConnectSafely API key, verify LinkedIn account is connected, ensure subscription is active

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I auto-follow LinkedIn users from a Google Sheet with n8n?

Use n8n with ConnectSafely.ai to read profile URLs from Google Sheets and follow each user automatically. The workflow tracks completion status to prevent duplicates. Setup takes 15 minutes with just 4 nodes. See the n8n integration guide for step-by-step instructions.

Is it safe to automate LinkedIn follows in 2026?

Yes, when done correctly. According to LinkedIn's community guidelines, keep follows to 20-50 users per session with delays between actions. ConnectSafely's rate limiting protects your account automatically by mimicking human behavior patterns.

What is the daily limit for following people on LinkedIn?

Safe practice is 50-100 follows daily spread across multiple sessions. Start conservatively at 20-30 follows per day. According to industry best practices, quality matters more than quantity—follow people in your industry who are likely to follow back.

Does LinkedIn notify users when I follow them?

Yes, LinkedIn sends a notification to users when you follow them. This is actually beneficial for networking—it puts your profile in front of potential connections without requiring connection request approval, acting as a "soft touch" before sending a formal request.

What's the difference between following and connecting on LinkedIn?

Following lets you see someone's posts one-way without approval. Connecting creates a two-way relationship that requires the other person to accept. Following is less intrusive and perfect for warming up prospects before sending connection requests. Learn more about LinkedIn networking strategies.

What's Next?

Once you're comfortable with this workflow, level up with:

• Send Connection Requests to Commenters - Network from engagement
• DM Profile Visitors - Scale your conversations
• AI-Powered Connection Requests - Add personalization

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Grow your LinkedIn network automatically. Start your ConnectSafely free trial and build your following today.