It's a snowday! That's why we're late. We're up at the lake digging out of another foot of snow and I didn't schedule this to go out.

Here's something that happened this week.

A founder I know lost everything on LinkedIn.

Years of networking, connections, and conversations—wiped out in an instant.

Like many, he turned to sales automation tools to send "authentic" connection requests at scale.

More and more there are tools out there to automate bothering you into buying something. I know because I've been testing them. They do some cool things. But they also can wipe you out.

And they got him kicked off linkedin.

I suppose it seemed like a smart move. Automate outreach, save time, book more calls.

But LinkedIn detected it and deleted his account.

He appealed to linkedin and was denied. Twice.

Now, he’s back at square one—watching competitors grow while he rebuilds from nothing.

I Tested the Tool. I Don’t Use It. Here’s Why.

AI can be a game-changer for B2B sales. But when used wrong, it’s a business killer.

LinkedIn has spent years building scrape detection tools. After the courts ruled they couldn't stop people, their terms of service limits these behaviours.

I’ve tested these tools myself. They promise effortless lead generation and “warm” outreach at scale. But here’s the truth:`

🚨 LinkedIn is cracking down. These detection algorithms are ruthless. If you're automating connections, messages, or engagement you are painting a target on your back.

🚨 Spam ≠ Scale. Sending thousands of robotic messages doesn’t create demand. It erodes trust. It burns your reputation. It tells your ideal customer : I don’t care enough to talk to you.

🚨 Your brand is your biggest asset. When you automate the wrong things, you risk coming off as another sales bot. People don’t buy from bots. They buy from people they trust.

These companies test their tools well and they try to make them undetectable.

But several things happen. First, users do things with the tool that weren't planned on. They build workflows that annoy people.

Second, they dial up the settings. These tools run super slow, and on purpose - to avoid detection. they run so slow, in fact, that you have to nail yourself to a chair to not want to increase the speed.

And third, LinkedIn is always getting smarter.

And they outsmarted him.

NOTE: I was trying to find some help searching online, and funny enough, the best advice came from one of these tool builders. I guess permanent losing your marketing engine is a feature!

Smart Founders Automate the Right Way

AI and automation aren’t the problem. The problem is what you automate.

The top 1% of LinkedIn sellers don’t spam. They run what I call "Authenticity at Scale."

Focus on automating things that don't touch the customer.

✅ Marketing Design. I have complex scripts that generate landing pages and marketing copy for tools I build. These tools can build tools that can tell the world about themselves - and give themselves away.

✅ Editing. Want to write faster? AI can sharpen your messaging, refine your tone, and suggest improvements. But your words still need to sound like you. I use Anthropic Claude and ChatGPT to help re-structure and apply copywriting rules to some of my posts.

✅ Data Collection. AI can scan profiles, anal. yze engagement, and surface the right prospects. Let tech do the heavy lifting on data, so you spend your time on real conversations. AI can organize your pipeline so you never forget who needs a response. Tools like Clay, Trigify and GPTs can take linkedin data and turn it into gold.

And on the flip side:

🚫 NEVER automate trust. Trust is created in conversations, not mass outreach.

🚫 NEVER automate relationships. Relationships grow when people feel heard, not when they receive a templated message.

🚫 NEVER automate conversations. Real engagement wins. Your best deals will come from genuine, thoughtful interactions.

The Cost of Getting This Wrong

Too many founders look for shortcuts. They want leads without conversations, growth without relationships, and sales without trust.

And Womp Womp. They fail. What happens next

❌ Your messages get ignored. If it looks automated, it gets deleted. Period.

❌ Your brand takes a hit. People remember bad outreach. And once you get labeled as a spammer, it’s game over.

❌ You get banned. If LinkedIn flags your account, there’s no warning shot. One day, you’re in. The next, you’re gone.

What Actually Works?

The best B2B sales pros don’t "spray and pray." They don’t chase vanity metrics. Likes ain't cash.

IThey do what scales and builds trust:

🔥 personalize at scale. AI helps them understand their audience better, but every message still feels real. I have written tools to help me summarize someone's profile.

🔥 lead with value. Instead of pitching right away, they start conversations. They become known for insights, not spam. I don't pitch anymore. I'll help so much it hurts - and invite people into my group.

🔥 play the long game. Relationships drive revenue. The goal isn’t leads, but trust that converts over time. Get to know people. That might be a weird thing to talk about in sales but I help people best when I'm in their head. That takes work.

Want to Build Authenticity at Scale?

If you’re ready to grow without getting banned, ignored, or blocked, let’s talk.

I've build some pretty cool tools. If you want them, shoot me a reply and I'll share them.

Be safe out there. Scale with brains first. 🚀