The Only 5 LinkedIn B2B Lead Generation Strategies That Actually Work (+ How to Pick Yours)

96% of B2B content marketers use LinkedIn for organic reach!

So if you are looking to boost your LinkedIn B2B lead generation game, but not sure which strategy actually works?

Tu n'es pas seul. 

With dozens of lead generation strategies and countless B2B lead generation tools out there, it’s easy to feel stuck. 

Whether you’re just starting or trying to optimize your efforts, choosing the right approach to lead generation on LinkedIn is key to getting real, high-quality leads.

Dans ce blog, nous vous expliquerons :

• The top 5 LinkedIn B2B lead generation tactics
• How to choose the one that fits your business best

So, if you’re serious about building a solid pipeline using LinkedIn and want to do it right, read on.

The 5 Lead Generation Strategies on LinkedIn (With Tools and Fit)

Let’s cut to the chase. 

There are really only 5 solid ways to find clients on LinkedIn—and yes, that’s all you need. 

They’re simple, effective, and a bit of effort goes a long way. 

You can try them all or pick just one that matches your vibe.

LinkedIn is where B2B and service businesses can score quality leads.

But the question is: What’s the smartest way to get those leads—without wasting time or sounding spammy?

Once you understand these 5 methods, you’ll easily pick the one(s) that suit your style, audience, and goals.

1. Inbound: Let Leads Come to You

Build a magnetic presence by sharing sharp content and optimizing your profile so leads find you, not the other way around.

• You could use AI/engagement tools like Taplio to craft smart, consistent posts and extract interesting leads.
• Optimize your profile, post helpful content (think carousels, stories, tips), and comment thoughtfully with intent.
  

It’s best for fetching authority over time effortlessly.

2. Outbound: Go Reach Out

You initiate contact. 

Done right can give quick results, no sleaze.

• LinkedIn Sales Navigator helps you track down ideal contacts using filters like title, industry, and location. Ideal for smart, targeted outreach.
• Send personalized connections, follow-up DMs, not mass spam—and keep it friendly and thoughtful.
  

Best for sales pros or people needing fast, targeted results.

3. Paid Ads: Pay to Play

Got a budget and an offer? Use ads to appear exactly where you need to be seen.

• HubSpot’s integration with LinkedIn Ads lets you sync ads right from your CRM and get instant insights. 
• Try Sponsored Content, InMail, lead-gen forms, and retargeting tools.

It works great for businesses with ad budgets and solid funnels.

4. Partnerships & Referrals: Work Your Network

Use meaningful relationships to land leads, through intros, collabs, or co-marketing.

• Partner with tools like Metadata for AI-powered audience targeting and content collaboration.
• Tap into mutual connections or organize peer collabs and get referrals rolling.
  

It works best for well-connected people, thought leaders, and consultants.

5. Off‑Platform Outreach: Use LinkedIn as a Launchpad

Find leads on LinkedIn, but reach out through email, ads, or other channels.

• Tools like Apollo.io let you enrich profiles, build outbound campaigns, and manage everything in one place.
• PhantomBuster, Clay, and Wiza help you export, enrich, and reach out using LinkedIn data.
  

Best for tech-savvy marketers, agencies, or multi-channel outreach strategists.

How to Choose the Right LinkedIn Strategy (Without Overthinking It)

There’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to LinkedIn lead generation.

What works for one founder or team might completely flop for another — and that’s okay.

Here’s the thing: your ideal strategy depends on a few key factors:

• Your niche or vertical
• Who is your ideal customer profile (ICP)?
• How urgent their pain is
• And honestly… how much time or budget are you working with
  

One Redditor summed it up perfectly: “It depends on how hungry your ICP is and how big the pain point you’re solving is.”

So how do you decide what to start with?

Use this simple decision guide. 

If you’re a founder or personal brand, building trust → Start with Inbound

People connect with people — especially in B2B.

“Founder-led content wins every time. Ditch the polished corporate posts. Post raw thoughts, client stories, and things your audience actually cares about.”

What to do:

• Post consistently (daily if you can)
• Share authentic takes, not sales pitches
• Use stories and client examples
• Repurpose content from sales calls, meetings, or emails
  

Tool tip: Use Taplio to help you stay consistent and track what works.

If you want quick wins or you’re in sales mode → Try Outbound

One Redditor said, “I consistently get 15 quality responses from 25 accepted connections by using LinkedIn Events and a thoughtful follow-up strategy.”

What to do:

• Use LinkedIn Events to find active, qualified leads
• Personalize connection requests (“Hey, saw we’re both in [industry]…”)
• Engage with their posts before pitching
• Ask questions instead of pitching right away
  

Tool tip: Apollo, Sales Navigator, or Gro can help automate and scale this process without losing the human touch.

If you’ve got a proven offer + budget → Go with Paid Ads

“Run video view campaigns and retarget with lead gen forms. Don’t sell — just add value.”

What to do:

• Start with a video campaign (30–60 secs) to build a warm audience
• Retarget viewers with lead gen forms or strategy session offers
• Try meme ads, use cases, or even client testimonials
  

Tool tip: Use HubSpot + LinkedIn Ads or Metadata.io for smart targeting and retargeting.

Pro Tip: Don’t expect someone to buy your $30K service from one ad. 

Think of the long game.

If you have a strong network → Double down on Partnerships & Referrals

You can ask happy clients to post about your product and sponsor it later — it works better than any polished ad.

What to do:

• Collaborate with partners on posts, events, or content
• Ask mutual connections for intros
• Create shareable, helpful resources for your network to pass along
  

Tool tip: Champify (for referral tracking), or just start with DMs and collabs.

If you’re tech-savvy or running multi-channel → Go Off-Platform Outreach

Scrape leads ethically from LinkedIn, then use email or ads to start conversations.

What to do:

• Use tools to build lead lists
• Reach out through personalized emails, not cold spam
• Retarget LinkedIn visitors on Facebook or Google Ads
  

Tool tip: PhantomBuster, Wiza, Apollo.io, or Clay

TL;DR — Pick What Fits You

You don’t need to try everything. Start with what fits your:

If you…	Try this strategy
Like writing + sharing	Inbound (Founder-led content)
Need leads fast	Outbound (Smart DM playbook)
Have an ad budget	Paid Ads + Retargeting
Have a great network	Partnerships/Referrals
Love automation + tools	Off-Platform Outreach

The secret? 

Stop selling and start helping. 

The best sales conversations happen when you genuinely care about solving someone else’s problems.

A mix of all these is another great way to generate organic LinkedIn leads. 

Extra Tips to Keep in Mind (From Reddit Legends):

• Meme ads surprisingly work — 2-3x better in some campaigns
• Don’t just repost — show up as you. People want real thoughts, not templates
• Consistency > perfection. Post daily if possible
• If your CEO isn’t posting — help them! Founder-led content builds trust
• Give value first. Comments, feedback, insights — it all builds goodwill

Final Thoughts: Focus Over FOMO

At the end of the day, LinkedIn B2B lead generation isn’t about doing everything — it’s about choosing the lead generation strategies that match your goals, audience, and resources.

No matter what you decide to go with, the key is to start simple, stay consistent, and keep learning what works.

Remember:

• There are tons of B2B lead generation tools out there — but they only work if your message and audience are aligned.
• If you’re not sure where to start or want faster results, teaming up with a B2B lead generation agency can help you avoid costly mistakes.
• No matter what approach you take, the most effective lead generation on LinkedIn always puts value before pitch.
  

So pick a strategy (or two), test it, and refine it. With the right B2B lead generation tactics, LinkedIn can become your most powerful growth channel.

Ready to put your LinkedIn B2B lead generation on autopilot?

Try Gro — the AI tool built for founders doing their own sales.