LinkedIn's automation crackdown is getting serious. Bans are happening daily. But here's the thing - even if you dodge the ban, your cold outreach is still getting ignored.
I get about 15 cold pitches a day. Every single one goes straight to the trash. You know what gets my attention? The person who commented on my post last week about AI tools. The one who had something interesting to say about the Harlequins' last Premiership rugby match. The entrepreneur who asked if the Maple Leafs will ever win a cup again.
That's not selling. That's being human.
Here's what most people miss: your comments on other people's content are pure visibility gold.
When you drop a thoughtful comment on a post from someone in your niche - whether that's an influencer, a competitor, or just someone doing interesting work - watch what happens to your impression count. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of people will see your comment. And when they see it, they also see your headline, your face, your personal brand.
That's free real estate.
But here's the catch: your comment has to actually add value. "Great post!" doesn't cut it. "This is so insightful!" is lazy. You need to bring something to the conversation. Share an experience. Ask a challenging question. Disagree respectfully with a specific point. Make people think.
The people scrolling through those comments? They're your potential clients, partners, and connections. Show them you have something worth saying.
I sat down with LinkedIn Expert Jasmin Alic to discuss this very topic. Check out my talk with this LinkedIn Guru who amassed a following of 335K+ followers on LinkedIn:
Here’s what not to do:
People are exhausted by cold pitches. Nobody cares about your amazing new AI tool, your revolutionary marketing service, or your game-changing platform if they don't know who the hell you are.
I don't care how good your product is. If you slide into my DMs with "Hey Jason, I noticed your profile and think we could help you scale..." I'm out. Delete. Next.
But if you start with something real? Now you've got my attention.
Talk to me about rugby. Ask me about my thoughts on the tourism marketing trends I posted about. Reference something specific from my podcast. Show me you've actually paid attention to what I put out into the world.
That's the difference between a cold pitch and a warm conversation.
Here's what entrepreneurs understand in 2025: time is more valuable than money.
I'm at a point in my life where I'd rather spend Saturday morning coaching my kids' rugby team than sitting on a three-hour sales call for "extra cheese." My Saturdays are for my family. My time is non-negotiable.
So when you ask me for a 30-minute meeting, you're not asking for 30 minutes. You're asking me to give up something I can't get back. That better be worth it.
And the only way you make it worth it? Get me to actually like you first.
Build familiarity. Show up in my world before you ask to enter it. Comment on my posts. Share your genuine thoughts. Be a human being I'd want to grab a coffee with.
Then - and only then - does your pitch stand a chance.
Warm outreach works because it's built on a foundation of actual interaction. When I reach out to someone who's already engaged with my content, my response rate is over 95%. Why? Because we've already started the conversation.
They know who I am. They've seen my thoughts on marketing, AI, business building. They've engaged with my ideas. By the time I send that message, it's not cold - it's a continuation of something we've already started.
Here's the play:
Step 1: Post valuable content consistently (4x per week minimum)
Step 2: Engage authentically on posts from people in your space
Step 3: Build visibility through thoughtful comments that showcase your expertise
Step 4: Notice who's engaging back with you
Step 5: Reach out with context and relevance - not a pitch
The relationship comes first. The business comes second.
LinkedIn isn't a slot machine. You can't automate your way to relationships. You can't cold pitch your way to trust.
You have to show up. Be genuine. Add value. Build familiarity.
Then - and only then - do people want to hear what you have to say.
Stop trying to hack the system. Start being the kind of person people actually want to connect with.
Your LinkedIn inbox will thank you.
Co Founder of Merged Media & Co Owner of Chatello.ai
He is the co-founder of Merged Media, an award-winning digital marketing agency specializing in AI-powered strategies. A sought-after speaker and educator, Jason teaches "Leading Change in Digital Tourism" at George Brown College and has presented at major events like Affiliate World and AdWorld. From his unique journey as a Japanese rockstar to building a successful agency, Jason combines creativity and innovation to help businesses worldwide scale their growth and achieve transformative marketing results.