How to Export a Lead List from LinkedIn Sales Navigator

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is an invaluable tool for sales professionals, marketers, and business development executives, offering advanced search and lead-generation capabilities. One of the key features of Sales Navigator is the ability to build customized lead lists that help you target the right prospects. However, LinkedIn does not provide a direct way to export these lists into an Excel or CSV file. This limitation can be challenging for those who want to manage their leads outside the platform. Fortunately, there are a few indirect methods and third-party tools that can help export leads from LinkedIn Sales Navigator.

This guide will walk you through various methods of exporting lead lists from LinkedIn Sales Navigator, both manually and using external tools.

Why Export Lead Lists from LinkedIn Sales Navigator?

Before diving into the process, it’s essential to understand why exporting leads is beneficial:

1. Better Lead Management: Exporting leads allows you to manage and organize contacts in your CRM or preferred platform, improving efficiency.
2. Enhanced Follow-Up: By exporting the lead list, you can set up automated follow-up emails, track communication, and nurture leads more effectively.
3. Collaboration: Exported lead lists can be shared with team members for more cohesive sales and marketing strategies.
4. Data Analysis: Exporting leads enables you to analyze trends, patterns, and behaviors across different segments, helping to refine targeting.

Method 1: Manual Export via Copy and Paste

While not the most efficient way, you can manually export a lead list from LinkedIn Sales Navigator by copying and pasting the information into a spreadsheet.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Log in to LinkedIn Sales Navigator:
   Navigate to LinkedIn Sales Navigator and log in using your LinkedIn credentials.
2. Go to Lead Lists:
   Click on “Lead Lists” from the Sales Navigator dashboard. This will display all your saved leads.
3. Select the Lead List:
   Choose the specific lead list that you want to export.
4. Copy Lead Details:
   You’ll need to manually copy the relevant information (e.g., name, job title, company) from each lead profile. Unfortunately, LinkedIn does not allow you to copy the entire list at once, so you’ll need to go profile by profile.
5. Paste into a Spreadsheet:
   Open a spreadsheet application like Excel or Google Sheets, and paste the copied information into the relevant columns.
6. Organize Data:
   Once all the lead details are copied, you can organize and format the data in your spreadsheet for easier management.

Limitations of Manual Export:

• Time-consuming for larger lead lists.
• Prone to human error.
• Limited to basic details (Name, Title, Company, etc.).
• No automation or dynamic updating of lists.

Method 2: Export Using a CRM Integration

LinkedIn Sales Navigator integrates with various Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Dynamics 365. Using a CRM integration is one of the most efficient ways to manage and export lead lists from LinkedIn Sales Navigator.

Step-by-Step Process for CRM Export (Using Salesforce as an Example):

1. Set Up CRM Integration:
   If your organization uses Salesforce (or another supported CRM), you’ll first need to set up the integration. Go to the settings in LinkedIn Sales Navigator, then navigate to “Admin” and select “CRM Settings.” Follow the prompts to connect your CRM with LinkedIn.
2. Sync Lead Lists:
   Once the integration is in place, you can sync lead lists directly from Sales Navigator to your CRM. LinkedIn Sales Navigator will allow you to save leads to your CRM system, including key details like company, job title, and contact information.
3. Export from CRM:
   Once your lead list is synced in your CRM, you can easily export the data into an Excel or CSV file. In Salesforce, for instance, go to the “Reports” section, create a new report for your leads, and then select the export option. You can choose to export the report as a CSV or Excel file.
4. Automated Updates:
   One significant advantage of using CRM integration is that your lead lists in Sales Navigator will be dynamically updated in your CRM system, ensuring you always have the latest information on hand.

Benefits of CRM Integration:

• Automated and dynamic syncing of lead lists.
• Reduces manual work and human error.
• Easily exportable from your CRM.
• Ability to track communication and manage relationships in a more organized way.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Tools

If you don’t have access to a CRM integration, you can use third-party tools to export lead lists from LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Several tools on the market specialize in scraping or exporting data from LinkedIn in compliance with LinkedIn’s terms of service.

Popular Tools for Exporting LinkedIn Sales Navigator Leads:

1. Dux-Soup
   Dux-Soup is a popular LinkedIn automation tool that helps you scrape and export leads from Sales Navigator. It allows you to automate lead generation activities, extract lead data, and export the information into CSV format.
2. Linked Helper
   Linked Helper is another automation tool that allows users to extract lead data from LinkedIn Sales Navigator and export it into Excel or CSV files. It also has CRM integration features, making it easier to manage leads.
3. Phantombuster
   Phantombuster is a cloud-based tool that offers LinkedIn scraping services. It allows you to automate the process of exporting leads from LinkedIn Sales Navigator, providing you with a CSV file containing the lead information you need.

Step-by-Step Process Using Dux-Soup:

1. Install the Tool:
   Go to the Dux-Soup website and install the Chrome extension.
2. Log in to LinkedIn Sales Navigator:
   Open LinkedIn Sales Navigator and log in to your account.
3. Go to Your Lead List:
   Navigate to your saved lead list in Sales Navigator.
4. Activate Dux-Soup:
   Open Dux-Soup and configure the settings to scrape the lead information you need. You can customize which fields to extract, such as name, company, and job title.
5. Start the Scraping Process:
   Dux-Soup will automatically visit each profile and extract the data into a CSV file.
6. Download the CSV File:
   Once the scraping process is complete, download the CSV file to your computer. You can then use this file to import the data into a CRM, email marketing tool, or simply manage it in a spreadsheet.

Limitations of Third-Party Tools:

• Some tools might not be fully compliant with LinkedIn’s terms of service, so use them cautiously.
• Exporting large lead lists can take time, depending on the tool used.
• May require a paid subscription for full functionality.

Method 4: Manual LinkedIn Messaging with Export

If you are looking to export only a few details such as names and LinkedIn profile links, another option is to send messages to your lead list and export those messages manually.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Create Lead List in Sales Navigator:
   Start by generating a lead list in Sales Navigator using advanced search filters.
2. Send Connection Requests or Messages:
   Send personalized messages or connection requests to your leads, making sure to include relevant information you might want to extract later (e.g., email address or phone number).
3. Manually Track Data in Spreadsheet:
   Keep a spreadsheet open and manually input the key information from the conversations or connection requests, such as name, company, and LinkedIn URL.
4. Export the Spreadsheet:
   Once you’ve collected all the details, export the spreadsheet for further analysis or follow-up.

Conclusion

While LinkedIn Sales Navigator doesn’t offer a native export feature, you can still export lead lists using various methods. From manual copy-pasting to leveraging CRM integrations or third-party tools like Dux-Soup, the options for extracting leads vary depending on your needs and resources. By exporting your lead lists, you can manage your sales pipeline more efficiently, enhance follow-ups, and improve your overall prospecting efforts. Select the method that works best for you, and streamline your lead-generation process today.