Your Outreach Playbook

LinkedIn Launch Kit
Week 1–2 Execution Guide

Everything you need to turn 10 hand-picked founders into 1–2 qualified calls. Profile optimization, personalized connection requests, DM templates, and a response playbook — all in one place.

14 daysDuration
2–3 hrs/wkTime required
10 prospectsTier 1 + Tier 2
1–2 callsExpected outcome
01 Profile Optimization
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Do these before sending a single connection request. Your profile is the first thing prospects check after seeing your DM — if it doesn't say "SaaS GTM partner," they decline or ghost.

Headline — Current vs. Recommended

Current: "Founder, Sapelo Agency, Director, Writer" — Too generic. Doesn't signal SaaS GTM expertise. Competing keywords dilute positioning.

# Headline Option Why It Works
A Best I help B2B SaaS scale revenue through strategic video positioning Immediate founder-to-founder alignment. SaaS buyer pain (scaling revenue). Clear in 12 words.
B Founder, Sapelo Agency | Helping SaaS founders turn complex products into pipeline Retains founder credibility. Specific pain point. Clear GTM outcome.
C Video Strategist | Helping SaaS companies scale through storytelling Role clarity (not just "director"). SaaS-specific language. Benefits-focused.

About Section — Copy-Paste Ready

Replace the first two paragraphs. Lead with problem-solution, not passion/craft — founders scroll past "multi-hyphenate writer."

Paragraph 1 — Problem-Solution
I partner with Series A-C SaaS founders to solve a specific problem: complex products don't sell themselves. When your product does something innovative but confusing, video becomes your best GTM channel. I work with you to craft compelling narratives that turn qualified prospects into pipeline.
Paragraph 2 — Credibility
I'm a founder myself — Sapelo Agency — and have spent 8+ years directing commercials, branded content, and product narratives for ambitious companies. My background spans production (USC MFA in Directing), storytelling, and B2B marketing. I bring both creative rigor and business acumen to every project.
Paragraph 3 — Social Proof
I work best with founders who value both quality and efficiency. Recent clients have seen measurable improvement in pipeline velocity within 90 days of video launch. Let's talk if your product deserves better storytelling.

Featured Section — What to Pin

  • Case Study One-Pager (Acellent) — foundational social proof
  • Recent SaaS video project — shows category expertise
  • Founder testimonial — "efficient, timely, professional" from SaaS client
  • Article on "Video GTM for SaaS" or "Why Complex Products Need Video"

15-Minute Quick Wins Checklist

Expected impact: Implementing headline + about section changes lifts connection acceptance from ~55% to 70–80% and DM reply rate from ~22% to 30–40%. Prospects check your profile immediately after your DM — profile-to-message alignment is the conversion lever.

02 Week 1 — Connection Requests
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Send 2–3 per day, Tue–Thu, 9–11am PT. Like/comment on their recent post 24h before sending — acceptance rate goes 60% → 75%+. Never copy-paste without personalizing the company-specific detail.

Tier 1 — Hot Prospects (Days 1–2)

Snehal Fulzele — Uptiq
FinTech AI • Finexus Agentic LOS integration
Connection Request (300 char max)
Hey Snehal — saw the Finexus Agentic LOS integration just dropped. Impressive automation for loan workflows. We help FinTech platforms nail product walkthrough video (huge for advisor adoption). Would love to compare notes on how you're tackling advisor onboarding.
Elad Ferber — Synthpop
Healthcare AI • Claim to Fame podcast
Connection Request
Hey Elad — caught your podcast appearance on Claim to Fame. Healthcare automation is moving fast—but adoption still hinges on clinician education. We specialize in video GTM for regulated verticals (HIPAA-compliant video hosting, etc.). Would be curious to hear how Synthpop's thinking about clinician adoption.
Bar Winkler — Wonderful
Enterprise AI Agents • $150M Series B
Connection Request
Bar — congrats on the $150M Series B close (exceptional execution). Enterprise adoption of agents requires visual credibility (customers need to see it working, not just read specs). We've been building the video GTM layer for AI platforms. Would love to hear how you're thinking about customer success storytelling.
Cameron McCord — Nominal
Defense/Aerospace • Series B
Connection Request
Cameron — Nominal's Series B is impressive. Hardware teams learning complex workflows is huge friction. We specialize in technical video content for engineering platforms (think: interactive walkthroughs for defense/aerospace). Would love to grab 15 min to understand your GTM strategy.
Kevin Mandia — Armadin
Cybersecurity • Mandiant founder
Connection Request
Kevin — the Armadin play makes total sense: Mandiant proved threat hunting scales, now AI automates it. Enterprise security buyers watch attack simulations before committing. We've built infrastructure for this. Would be curious about your GTM roadmap.

Tier 2 — Warm Prospects (Days 3–5)

Prospects 6–10: Nick Darman (Alvys), Kimia Hamidi (NationGraph), Winston Weinberg (Harvey), Filip Kaliszan (Verkada), Matt Harpe (Basis). Use same format — reference their recent LinkedIn posts, Series B announcements, or podcast appearances. Spend 3 min researching each before sending.

Pro Tips

  • Personalization is non-negotiable. Mention something specific or don't send.
  • Timing: Tue–Thu 9–11am PT = highest founder availability. Friday/weekend = ignore.
  • LinkedIn algorithm favors engagement — like/comment → wait 24h → send request. Acceptance rate: 60% → 75%+.
  • Tone: Sound like a founder (short sentences, casual). Not an SDR.
  • Never mention pricing or features in the connection request.
03 Week 2 — Follow-Up DMs
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Wait 48 hours after each acceptance, then send Template A. Choose template based on prospect temperature. Move fast — reply within 2 hours if possible.

Template A — Conversation Starter

For hot prospects (Tier 1). Send 48h after connection accepted.

Template A (customize bracketed sections)
Hey [Name], thanks for connecting. I was thinking about your [specific milestone/post]—you mentioned [specific detail]. We've been seeing similar patterns with SaaS founders hitting Series A. Would be worth comparing notes if you're open to a quick call. No pressure either way.

Customizations:

  • Snehal: "...your post on Finexus—you mentioned advisor adoption friction. We've been seeing similar patterns..."
  • Elad: "...your podcast on Claim to Fame—you mentioned clinician trust gaps. We've been seeing similar patterns..."
  • Bar: "...your Series B announcement—you mentioned enterprise customer success scaling. We've been seeing similar patterns..."

Template B — Soft Value Offer

For warm prospects (Tier 2). Send 3–5 days after Template A if no response.

Template B
Hey [Name], one thing we've been tracking—teams in [their vertical] that adopt [their product type] struggle most with [common GTM challenge]. We put together some research on what converts fastest. Happy to share a quick summary if it's interesting. No strings attached.

Customizations:

  • Cameron: "...teams in aerospace/defense adopting hardware testing platforms struggle most with engineer education..."
  • Winston: "...teams in legal adopting enterprise AI struggle most with partner confidence..."

Template C — Direct Ask

For prospects who replied positively. Send 5–7 days after Template B.

Template C
Hey [Name], I've been impressed by [specific company achievement]. I have a quick idea for [their vertical] GTM that you might find interesting. Would 15 minutes make sense in the next week? Can do Zoom or phone, whatever works.
04 Response Playbook
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Classify the reply into one of 4 scenarios. Copy-paste the response. Personalize company names. Reply within 2 hours — momentum dies fast.

Scenario 1
INTERESTED — "Tell me more" / "What does this cost?"
Response
Thanks [Name]. Most founders we talk to don't realize how much video clarity impacts Series A narrative. Quick version: We produce founder-positioned GTM videos ($10K–$25K range) that replace 5 investor decks. Real differentiator? We interview you, find your actual GTM differentiation (usually buried in conversation, not your deck), then produce 2-3 short videos that sound like you—raw, specific, confident. Series A investors decide on narrative clarity, not polish. Most GTM videos are committee mediocrity. Ours don't sound like that. Would a 20-min call make sense to see if this applies to [their_company]'s raise?
Scenario 2
SKEPTICAL — "We already have a video vendor" / "Not sure this is for us"
Response
I hear that, [Name]—most vendors are production-focused, not narrative-focused. That's actually the problem: beautiful videos nobody remembers. Here's what we actually do differently: Instead of taking your brief and making a video, we interview your founder (1-2 hours), figure out what investors are actually missing from your narrative, then script the video around that. I saw your [recent news: "Series B announcement"]. The problem I see founders face? Investors know you can sell product. They're deciding if you can lead a company. Most GTM videos don't address that. Quick question: In your last investor conversation, where did they push back on your narrative?
Scenario 3
SOFT NO — "Not right now" / "Maybe later"
Response
Makes sense, [Name]—timing matters. Here's what I'd say: If you're thinking about Series A fundraising in the next 6 months, save this thread. Narrative work is the part everyone does last, then regrets. When you hit one of these, that's when this becomes urgent: • First institutional investor expressions of interest • Your advisor says "your deck feels generic" • You're 4–6 weeks from Series A conversations Let me know when that happens. Happy to help.
Scenario 4
WHO IS THIS? — "How did you get my info?"
Response
Fair question—I'd be skeptical too, [Name]. I found you because [source: "your Series B announcement" / "one of your users recommended I talk to founders"]. Figured you were worth reaching out to. Here's my honest take: I don't think you need another vendor. I think you might have a narrative problem you haven't articulated yet. Most founders tell me the same thing—"Our deck is fine, our product is the issue." But investors I talk to? They're deciding based on founder clarity, not feature parity. Quick question: When you pitch [their product type] to investors unfamiliar with your space, do you spend 5 minutes explaining your company, or do they get it in 30 seconds?
05 Case Study — Acellent One-Pager
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Send this ONLY if a prospect requests examples or asks "How does this work?" Don't lead with it — let them ask.

The Acellent Story

The Challenge: Acellent builds structural health monitoring systems for Boeing, Airbus, and NASA. World-class tech. But explaining distributed sensors and damage quantification algorithms to procurement? Nearly impossible.

The Solution: A 90-second narrative video instead of a 40-slide deck. Showed the problem ($2M+ downtime costs), the proof (Boeing/NASA using the system), and the ROI (detect critical failures 3 months early, automate 40-hour/month inspections).

Results: 25–30% faster sales cycles. Prospects moved 3–5 days faster through pipeline. Contract sizes 15–20% larger (informed buyers understand full scope).

Vertical-Specific Intro Messages

Choose the version that matches your prospect's vertical. These go after a connection is established and they ask for examples.

FinTech/Payment Founders
Hey [Name] — Saw this case study and thought of [your company]. Acellent had the same problem we see with fintech founders: incredible technology, hard to explain quickly. They turned a 60-minute technical pitch into a 90-second video that showed the ROI (not the sensors). Sales reps finally had something to send that made the business case before the first call. Your product is probably similar—complex under the hood, simple value on the surface. That's where video actually becomes a GTM multiplier.
Healthcare/Compliance Founders
Hey [Name] — You're solving a problem that's boring but critical. That's the hardest thing to sell. Saw a case recently: Acellent does structural monitoring for aircraft (regulated, high-stakes). Their buyers were regulators and procurement teams—not engineers. Those people didn't care how the sensors work, they cared about reducing catastrophic failures. One video showed: "Automated inspection replaces 40 manual hours/month. Zero point failures since deployment. FAA-ready audit trail." That single asset moved their entire pipeline. Wondering if something similar could unlock yours.
Enterprise/Security Founders
Hey [Name] — Building something where the problem is obvious (everyone agrees you're needed) but positioning is hard? I looked at Acellent's case: massive problem (undetected structural damage could kill people and cost $2M+), but their buyers were CIOs and procurement, not engineers. Their breakthrough was one 90-second explainer showing actual ROI through real customer wins (Boeing, Airbus, NASA). That video became their #1 closing asset. Reps stopped explaining and started showing. Might be useful if you're seeing friction between "everyone agrees we need this" and "hard to get moving."
06 Execution Checklist
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Check items off as you complete them. Progress saves automatically.

Week 1 — Launch
Week 2 — Follow-Up
Week 3 — Spillover
07 Expected Results
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60–70%
Connection acceptance rate from Tier 1 prospects
25–35%
DM reply rate from accepted connections
40–50%
Call booking rate from DM respondents
1–2 calls
Expected qualified calls from 10 prospects in 2 weeks

If 2+ calls booked: Start prep — case studies, pricing strategy, pilot scope. This is a win.

If 0–1 calls booked: Revisit Tier 3 prospects or run LinkedIn ads targeting similar founders. Report what worked and what didn't — data is the outcome.

Target deal size: $10K–$25K. Two qualified calls = $20K–$50K pipeline.