How To Use Apollo.io To Find LinkedIn Leads

Finding the right people to talk to is the first step in making money online. You can use Apollo.io to find LinkedIn leads. It's a tool that helps you search for professionals by their job title, company, industry, and more. This guide will show you exactly how to use it, even if you've never tried sales or outreach before.

YouTube Tutorial

Watch a related video for this article

Private Player

How To Use Apollo.io To Find LinkedIn Leads tutorial

PlayBack 10sSkip 10sMuteFullscreen

0:00 / 0:00

Seek video timeline

Volume80%

This player is designed to keep users on your site during normal playback.

YouTube branding and behavior are controlled on a best-effort basis. This wrapper minimizes YouTube UI, but YouTube still owns the underlying embed technology.

This video matches the topic of the guide and uses the same private player layout as the rest of the site.

Watch on YouTube

Getting started with lead generation can feel overwhelming. Many beginners waste time talking to the wrong people. Apollo.io helps you focus your efforts on prospects who are most likely to be interested in what you offer. We'll walk through setting up your account, building targeted lists, and using the data to make genuine connections on LinkedIn.

By the end of this article, you'll know how to use Apollo.io to build a list of potential clients or partners. You'll understand the basic steps to turn those leads into conversations that can grow your online income.

Table of Contents

What is Apollo.io and Why Use It for LinkedIn?

Getting Started with Apollo.io: Your First Steps

How to Build Your First Targeted Lead List

Connecting Your Apollo.io Leads to LinkedIn

Comparison of Lead Generation Methods

Common Mistakes to Avoid

How to Get Started Today

FAQs

What is Apollo.io and Why Use It for LinkedIn?

Apollo.io is a sales intelligence platform. In simple terms, it's a giant, searchable database of business professionals. You can use filters to find people based on where they work, their job role, the industry they're in, and other details.

The Problem Apollo.io Solves

Finding leads on LinkedIn manually is slow. You have to search, click on profiles, and copy information one by one. Apollo.io automates this search. It lets you find hundreds of relevant profiles in minutes based on very specific criteria.

How It Connects to LinkedIn

Apollo.io doesn't replace LinkedIn. It supercharges it. You use Apollo to build your list of ideal prospects. Then, you use that information to send personalized connection requests and messages on LinkedIn itself. It gives you the "who" so you can focus on the "how" of building a relationship.

Getting Started with Apollo.io: Your First Steps

You don't need to pay anything to start. Apollo.io has a free plan that's perfect for beginners.

Step 1: Sign Up for a Free Account

Go to the Apollo.io website and sign up with your email. The free plan gives you access to basic search features and a limited number of contact exports each month. This is enough to learn and start small.

Step 2: Set Up Your Profile

Fill in your basic information. Tell Apollo what industry you're in or interested in. This helps the platform understand your context, but it doesn't limit your searches.

Step 3: Understand the Dashboard

The main areas you'll use are:

• Search: This is where you find leads.
• Lists: This is where you save and organize the leads you find.
• Sequences (Paid Feature): This is for automated email outreach. You can ignore this on the free plan for now.

How to Build Your First Targeted Lead List

The key to success is being specific. Don't just search for "marketing manager." Think about who your ideal client or partner really is.

Define Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)

Ask yourself these questions:

• Industry: What industry do they work in? (e.g., SaaS, Real Estate, E-commerce)
• Company Size: Do they work at a small startup or a large corporation?
• Job Title: What is their specific role? (e.g., "Head of Marketing," "Founder," "IT Director")
• Location: Are you looking for people in a specific country, state, or city?

Using the Search Filters in Apollo.io

Go to the "Search" tab and click "People." Start adding filters based on your ICP.

1. Add a Title Filter: Type in a job title like "Marketing Director."
2. Add an Industry Filter: Select an industry like "Information Technology & Services."
3. Add a Location Filter: Choose a country or region.
4. Add a Company Headcount Filter: For example, set it to "51-200" for mid-sized companies.

As you add filters, Apollo will show you the number of matching profiles. Aim for a list of 50-200 people to start. If you get 10,000 results, your filters are too broad. If you get 5, they're too narrow.

Saving and Exporting Your List

Once you have a good set of results, click "Save to List." Name your list something clear, like "US SaaS Marketing Directors." On the free plan, you can export a CSV file with the contact details of these leads. This file will have names, companies, and often their LinkedIn profile URLs.

Connecting Your Apollo.io Leads to LinkedIn

Now you have a list. It's time to connect.

The Manual Connection Method

This is the best way for beginners. It builds real relationships.

1. Open your exported CSV file.
2. Open LinkedIn in another browser tab.
3. Take the first name and company from your list.
4. Search for that person on LinkedIn using the search bar.
5. Visit their profile and click "Connect."

Crucial Tip: Always add a note! Don't send the default connection request. Write a short, personalized note. Mention something specific, like a recent post they shared or a project their company is working on. A simple "Hi [Name], I saw your work at [Company] and thought your insights on [Topic] were great. I'd like to connect" works well.

Scaling Up Your Outreach

As you get comfortable, you can use tools to help with this process. LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a paid LinkedIn tool that integrates well with Apollo data. Some browser extensions can also help you visit profiles faster. Start manually, then explore these options if you need more speed.

Comparison of Lead Generation Methods

Here’s a quick look at different ways to find LinkedIn leads.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Spamming People: Sending generic, copy-pasted messages to hundreds of people will get your account flagged. Always personalize your connection requests and messages.
2. Being Too Salesy, Too Fast: Your first interaction should be about building a connection, not making a sale. Offer value first—share an article, congratulate them on a work anniversary, or ask a thoughtful question.
3. Not Following Up: Many people connect but then say nothing. If someone accepts your request, send a brief thank-you message to start a conversation.
4. Targeting the Wrong People: If you sell website design, a CFO is probably not your buyer. Spend time defining your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) before you search.
5. Giving Up Too Soon: Lead generation is a numbers game. Not everyone will reply. Consistency over weeks and months is what builds a pipeline.

How to Get Started Today

You can begin finding LinkedIn leads in the next 30 minutes.

1. Create Your Free Apollo.io Account. Use your main email address to sign up.
2. Define Your First Target. Who is one type of person you'd like to connect with? Write down their job title, industry, and location.
3. Run Your First Search. In Apollo, use the filters to find 25 people matching your description.
4. Save and Export the List. Name it "Week 1 Test" and export the CSV file.
5. Send 5 Personalized Connection Requests. Open LinkedIn, find the first 5 people on your list, and send a connection request with a short, friendly note.

Commit to doing this small task. Five genuine connections a day can lead to meaningful conversations and opportunities over time.

FAQs

Is Apollo.io really free? Yes, Apollo.io offers a free plan with limited searches and exports. It's enough to learn and start building small lists. You can upgrade later if you need more data.

Is using Apollo.io to find leads considered spam? No, not if you use it correctly. The tool helps you find people. Spam is determined by how you contact them. Always send personalized, relevant messages instead of bulk, generic pitches.

Can I use Apollo.io without LinkedIn? You can use it to find email addresses and company data. However, for most beginners, combining Apollo's search with LinkedIn outreach is the most effective and relationship-focused approach.

How many leads should I contact per day? Start very small. Aim for 5-10 personalized connection requests per day. Quality and personalization matter far more than quantity. Sending 100 generic requests is less effective than sending 10 good ones.

What's the difference between Apollo.io and LinkedIn Sales Navigator? Apollo.io is primarily a database for finding contact information. LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a tool for searching and engaging with people directly on LinkedIn. They work very well together, but you can start with Apollo's free plan alone.

Finding leads is a skill that gets easier with practice. Using Apollo.io to find LinkedIn leads gives you a clear system. You start with a targeted search, build a list, and then focus on making real human connections.

The goal isn't just to add names to a spreadsheet. It's to start conversations that could lead to clients, partnerships, or valuable advice for your online business. The first list you build is the hardest. After that, you'll know exactly what to do.

Ready to explore another way to build your online income? Check out our other guides on starting a simple service business or using AI tools to create content. Your next step is just one search away.