9 AI Tools for LinkedIn to Boost Your Content, Marketing, and Sales

With the way things are now in the job market worldwide, not using AI on LinkedIn is like showing up to a race on foot.

I'd even say not using AI this year is like swimming against a strong current. And real-world data backs this up.

The 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report shows that 75% of knowledge workers now use AI, and leaders are far more likely to hire someone with AI skills.

So mastering these tools isn't just an advantage anymore, it's a necessity.

In this guide, we’ll cover some of the best AI tools for LinkedIn you can use for everything from content creation to sales. 

I'll break them down by use case so you can see what's effective and, just as importantly, what's safe to use.

Key highlights

• Authenticity should always come before automation. Tools like Leaps focus on creating genuine thought leadership from real expertise, and it really stands out from the generic AI content flooding LinkedIn right now.

• High-volume tools like Jasper are great for generating drafts quickly, but you have to be careful. LinkedIn is filled with so much bad AI content these days, and from my perspective, it doesn't make the people using it look good. Without serious human oversight, the output can become boring and repetitive, which can hurt your brand.

• Some all-in-one platforms like Taplio promise a lot, but they can be risky. I've seen user reports of people receiving warnings from LinkedIn about account suspension, so you should use them with caution.

• Aggressive outreach automation tools like Expandi are a high-risk, high-reward play. Personally, I wouldn't use it because LinkedIn is super strict, but it might be a fit for experienced sales teams who know how to manage the risks.

• If you're an agency, features that keep client work separate are a lifesaver. For example, I think Reply.io's workspace separation is a great solution for managing different client campaigns without getting everything mixed up.

• Tools that analyze personality, like Crystal, offer a fascinating way to improve your networking. But they aren't a magic bullet. You have to use them with serious human oversight to make sure your communication feels genuine.

• Sometimes a tool is best for one specific job. Phantombuster, for example, is what I'd consider a data extraction engine for lead research. You can use it to pull valuable info from LinkedIn and then feed it into other, safer tools for the actual outreach.

• Finally, be wary of tools that automate too many personal interactions. When I see tools like Dux-Soup automating profile visits and connection requests, I feel there's a point where AI usage just becomes a game of lies.

The 9 Best AI Tools for LinkedIn at a Glance

A marketer's guide to the 9 top AI LinkedIn tools

Alright, let's get into the details of each of these tools. We’ll explore their specific use cases, strengths, and potential drawbacks to help you figure out what's right for your strategy.

1. Leaps: Best for "anti-AI slop" authentic content creation & thought leadership

Leaps is built for executives, thought leaders, and professionals who want to build a genuine personal brand on LinkedIn, and the PR or marketing pros that support them.

If you believe your expertise is your biggest asset and want to avoid the generic, robotic content flooding the platform, this is your tool.

Its main purpose is to help you create authentic content that’s based on your actual experience and POV.

Most AI tools jump straight to writing with very little context. Leaps takes a different approach by starting with a brief, journalist-style interview to capture your thoughts and ideas.

It's also a fantastic assistant for ghostwriters and personal brand strategists supporting their clients. If I were in that role, I'd use it to streamline how I interview experts and turn their unique perspectives into great content.

This interview-first process makes all the difference. A Leaps user puts it this way: "The posts are literally based off of what I've told it from the interview. And it's so refreshing. It prioritizes quality over just trying to go viral." See how it works here.

Key features of Leaps

• AI journalist-style interviews: Captures your unique insights through guided Q&A, making sure all content is original and based on your real experiences and ideas.
• Voice-to-text options: Lets you respond to interview questions just by talking, which makes sharing your thoughts feel fast and natural.
• Expert-led content: Drafts LinkedIn posts and thought leadership articles based on your own interview answers, making sure they’re original and in your voice.
• LinkedIn content planning and scheduling: Plans and automates posting the content gotten from your perspective, helping you maintain a consistent presence on LinkedIn.
• Automated insight capture for teams: You can send interview questions to your executives and subject matter experts, who can respond on their own time via text or voice. It even sends automated email reminders to them until your due date.

Pros of using Leaps

• Generates highly original content that reflects your unique voice and expertise.
• The interview-first approach prioritizes content quality and originality.
• Streamlines the SME interview process for ghostwriters and marketing/PR teams.
• Effectively extracts deep insights that other AI tools for LinkedIn miss with their simple prompts.
• Saves time by creating structured content outlines from your own words, as Spin Sucks founder Gini Dietrich noted.
• Provides an end-to-end workflow from content creation to posting on LinkedIn in one tool.

Cons of using Leaps

• Requires a small time investment upfront for the interview (10-15 mins), which might not be for you if you're looking for instant, zero-input content.
• It’s laser-focused on content creation, so it doesn't have broader automation features for sales outreach or analytics.

Pricing for Leaps

• BASIC: $49/month
• PRO: $99/month
• PREMIUM: $149/month
• A 14-day free trial is available.
• You can also contact them for a custom plan.

Related: Best AI LinkedIn Post Generators (Prices, Reviews, Features, & More)

2. Taplio: All-in-one content management

Taplio is a feature-rich platform for anyone who wants a single tool for content ideas, scheduling, and analytics. It aims to be your all-in-one LinkedIn command center, but you should use it with a healthy dose of caution.

While some users find it makes posting consistently easier, others have run into serious trouble.

You might use its viral library to brainstorm topics, which is a huge time-saver. But if you lean too heavily on its AI writer, you risk your professional reputation or even your account getting flagged.

One user on Reddit said they got warnings their account will be suspended every time they installed their Chrome extension. While another user mentioned their posts were “robotic.”

Personally, I like that it offers access to over 5 million successful posts for inspiration. It’s a great way to see what’s working in your niche instead of just guessing.

Key features of Taplio

• AI-powered content creation: Generates post ideas, drafts, and hooks to help you overcome writer's block.
• Viral post library: Gives you access to a database of over 5 million successful LinkedIn posts for content inspiration.
• Carousel generation: Includes a tool to simplify creating engaging LinkedIn carousels from sources like URLs or PDFs.
• Lead generation & relationship building: Offers features to identify and engage with potential leads who interact with your content.
• Advanced analytics: Tracks key performance metrics like follower growth and post engagement with more detail than native LinkedIn analytics.

Pros of Using Taplio

• It combines content creation, scheduling, analytics, and engagement tools into one dashboard.
• The massive viral post library is a fantastic resource for brainstorming.
• The AI features can help streamline content creation and maintain posting consistency. 
• It simplifies the process of finding relevant people to engage with to grow your network.
• Provides detailed analytics to measure how well your content strategy is working.

Cons of Using Taplio

• There's a significant risk of receiving warnings or even account suspensions from LinkedIn, according to several user reports.
• The AI-generated content can sound robotic and generic, requiring heavy editing to match your brand voice. 
• Using a tool with known safety issues and poor AI content quality could put your professional reputation at risk.

Pricing for Taplio

• Starter: $39/month
• Standard: $65/month
• Pro: $199/month
• A 7-day Pro free trial is available.

3. Expandi: Best for high-risk, high-reward sales outreach

Expandi is what I'd call a high-risk, high-reward tool. It's designed for experienced sales teams who want to aggressively scale their LinkedIn outreach and who understand the potential consequences.

LinkedIn is super strict about these kinds of tools. Personally, I wouldn’t use it, but if it works for you, it works. The trade-off is clear when you look at what users say.

One G2 reviewer mentioned, "It has helped me get new deals and is a great tool for automating LinkedIn growth." 

But you have to weigh that against stark warnings, like from a user on Reddit who said: "I have literally lost my lifelong account with 1000+ connections because I was using expandi.io automation." You have to weigh that risk carefully.

Key features of Expandi

• Smart campaign builder: I think this feature stands out. It lets you create complex outreach flows with different steps, giving you a lot of control over your sequences.
• LinkedIn outreach automation: Automates routine tasks like profile visits, sending connection requests, and message sequences.
• Multi-channel outreach: Combines LinkedIn actions with email follow-ups right inside a single campaign.
• Analytics and A/B testing: Gives you performance data to measure what's working and test different messages.
• Integrations: Connects with tools like HubSpot and Zapier to link your outreach to your existing CRM.

Pros of using Expandi

• Effectively generates new deals if you're focused on scaled outreach.
• It's a powerful tool for automating LinkedIn growth and prospecting tasks.
• The smart campaign builder lets you create complex, customized sequences.
• It allows for multi-channel outreach by combining LinkedIn and email.
• Users praise its standout customer service.

Cons of using Expandi

• It carries a significant risk of getting your LinkedIn account suspended or even permanently banned.
• The automation it uses goes against LinkedIn's terms of service.
• There are direct reports from users who have lost their accounts while using the tool.

Pricing for Expandi

• Business Plan: $99 per month.
• Agency: Custom
• Free Trial: A 7-day free trial is available.

4. Dux-Soup: Best for budget-friendly lead generation automation

If you're a solopreneur or part of a small team just dipping your toes into LinkedIn automation, Dux-Soup is a really accessible starting point. 

It's a budget-friendly tool that helps you automate some of the more repetitive tasks in lead generation.

Its main job is to handle things like visiting profiles and sending connection requests. Personally, I don't like tools that automate these specific actions for me. 

There's a point where AI usage just becomes a game of lies, which can hurt your personal brand more than help it.

Still, many users have found it valuable for sheer efficiency. As one user noted, it lets them send "many LinkedIn connection requests with minimal effort," freeing up time for the actual conversations that follow.

Key features of Dux-Soup

• Automate LinkedIn tasks: Automatically visits profiles, endorses skills, and sends personalized connection requests and messages.
• Generate leads: Finds and engages with qualified prospects based on your specific search criteria on LinkedIn.
• Create drip campaigns: Sets up automated follow-up messages to nurture new connections over time.
• Manage your leads: Lets you tag and take notes on profiles right from the browser extension to keep your prospecting organized.
• Integrate with your CRM: Connects to tools like HubSpot and Pipedrive to sync your lead data and activities.

Pros of using Dux-Soup

• It’s a highly affordable entry point into LinkedIn automation, perfect for solopreneurs.
• It saves a lot of time by handling repetitive manual tasks.
• It can help you grow your network by automating connection requests.
• The CRM integration is a great feature for streamlining your sales workflow.
• It allows you to create automated drip campaigns to stay in front of new leads.

Cons of using Dux-Soup

• Some users find the interface unintuitive.
• Automated actions can be risky if you overuse them and might get your account flagged by LinkedIn.
• Relying too much on its automation without careful personalization can come across as inauthentic.

Pricing for Dux-Soup

• Pro Dux: $14.99/month
• Turbo Dux: $55.00/month
• Cloud Dux: $99.00/month
• Turbo Team: $55/month/seat 
• Cloud Team: $99/month/seat
• Cloud Agency: $371/month
• Annual plan comes with a 25% discount

5. Crystal: Best for tailoring communication with personality insights

Crystal is a fascinating tool that acts as a networking enhancer. 

It analyzes LinkedIn profiles to predict someone's personality type, helping you build rapport and improve how you communicate with just about anyone.

For example, if you're reaching out to a potential client, Crystal might tell you they prefer direct, data-driven messages over casual small talk. Armed with that insight, you can skip the fluff and get straight to the point.

But again, I have to be clear: you should not use this without serious human oversight. Think of it as a guide, not a script.

Key features for personalized outreach

• Personality profile analysis: It generates a DISC-based personality assessment for LinkedIn users based on their public data.
• Communication style recommendations: Crystal provides specific, actionable advice on how to speak, email, and meet with someone to build trust quickly. I especially like these recommendations.
• Behavioral pattern identification: The tool highlights a person's likely motivations, preferences, and communication style.
• LinkedIn integration: A Chrome extension displays personality insights and communication tips directly on a person's LinkedIn profile.
• Custom messaging suggestions: It recommends specific phrases, tones, and approaches to use in your outreach for more effective communication.

Pros of using Crystal

• Helps create highly personalized outreach for better first impressions. As one user explained, "Having this knowledge for the 'first impression' can go a long way."
• Provides a structured framework (DISC) for understanding different communication styles.
• Offers actionable advice that you can immediately apply to emails and conversations.
• Integrates seamlessly into your LinkedIn workflow with its browser extension.
• Useful for improving communication and collaboration within teams, not just for sales.

Cons of using Crystal

• Requires you to interpret and apply the insights correctly. Don't take its word as gospel.
• The personality analysis is a prediction and may not always be accurate. One reviewer mentioned being "a bit uncomfortable with its accuracy based on just a few vague job descriptions."
• Over-reliance on the tool's suggestions can make your communication sound formulaic or inauthentic.

Pricing for Crystal

• Free: $0/month
• Premium: $49/month
• Business: Custom
• Data: Custom

6. Shield Analytics: Best for deep content and team performance analytics

I see Shield as the perfect tool for individual creators who need more data than LinkedIn provides, and for marketing managers running employee advocacy programs. 

It’s a specialized analytics dashboard that gives you a much-needed layer of insight.

As one user called it, it's "a handy extra layer to LinkedIn's (not very good) native analytics." If you're trying to prove the ROI of your team's LinkedIn activity, Shield gives you the concrete data to do it.

Key features of Shield 

• Individual post engagement tracking: Gives you granular data on likes, comments, shares, and views for every single post.
• Follower growth analytics: Lets you monitor your follower growth over time so you can connect content efforts to audience expansion.
• Team performance comparison: Allows managers to track and compare content performance across different team members in an advocacy program.
• Centralized analytics dashboard: Pulls all your individual and team data into one place for a clear overview of your reach.
• Content resonance insights: Helps you pinpoint the topics, formats, and posts that truly resonate with your audience.

Pros of using Shield 

• It offers analytics that are far more detailed and useful than LinkedIn's native tool.
• It's designed to measure the success of employee advocacy programs. One user confirmed it's "instrumental in tracking how our employee advocacy program is progressing."
• It provides a clean, centralized dashboard to easily monitor performance.
• It helps you make data-driven decisions about your content strategy.
• It makes proving the ROI of your content marketing efforts on LinkedIn easier.

Cons of using Shield 

• It’s a specialized analytics tool, not an all-in-one platform for creation or outreach.
• It represents another subscription cost on top of any other tools you're already using.
• Its focus is solely on LinkedIn, so it doesn't offer cross-platform social media analytics.

Pricing for Shield 

• Shield: $15/month 
• Shield + AI agent: $27/month
• Annual plans come with a 50% discount.

7. Jasper: Best for high-volume content creation

Jasper has become a household name for AI content, and the go-to tool for high-volume creation. 

One user even said it enhanced their workflow and deliverables by at least a factor of 10. But you have to use it with a lot of caution. Jasper’s workflow is completely AI-led which means the posts will need heavy editing afterward.

LinkedIn is filled with so much bad AI content these days, and publishing generic posts doesn't make the people using it look good.

As another reviewer warned, “It gave me garbage constantly.” The key is treating Jasper's output as a first draft, not a final copy.

Key features of Jasper

• Brand voice: I like the brand voice feature. It allows you to train the AI on your specific tone, which helps create content that sounds more like you.
• Jasper chat: This gives you a dynamic, conversational interface to brainstorm ideas, ask questions, and generate content on the fly.
• Pre-built templates: Jasper provides a library of ready-made formats for different content types, which speeds up the creation process.
• Collaboration features: The platform enables teams to work together on documents and campaigns to streamline content workflow.
• Integrations: It connects with other marketing tools like Surfer SEO to help you optimize your content for search visibility.

Pros of using Jasper

• It significantly increases the speed and volume of your content production.
• The "brand voice" feature helps maintain consistency in your tone.
• It’s a versatile tool with a wide range of templates for different marketing needs.
• The chat interface provides a flexible and intuitive way to generate content.
• Team collaboration features support larger content operations.

Cons of using Jasper

• Its output can be generic and repetitive if you don't edit it heavily.
• You risk damaging your professional credibility on LinkedIn if you publish low-quality content.
• The AI-generated information requires careful fact-checking for accuracy.

Pricing for Jasper

• Pro plan: $69/month
• Business plan: Custom pricing
• A free 7-day trial is available for the Pro plan.

8. Reply.io: Best for agencies managing multiple client accounts

If you're at a marketing or sales agency, you know the constant fear of mixing up client campaigns. 

Reply.io is built to prevent exactly that kind of chaos, which is why it’s a great solution for agencies.

Its standout feature is "workspace separation." This creates a completely distinct digital environment for each client, so you never have to worry about leads, data, or reporting getting crossed. 

One user on Reddit shared how their team "switched to Replyio because the workspace separation actually works."

Key features of Reply.io

• Workspace separation: Allows agencies to create distinct, isolated environments for each client, ensuring campaigns and leads never overlap.
• Centralized inbox: Manages all prospect communications from different channels (email, LinkedIn, calls, SMS) in one unified view.
• B2B data search: An integrated tool to find verified contact information for prospects, helping you build targeted lead lists directly within the platform.
• Multichannel automation: Creates and automates outreach sequences that engage prospects across email, LinkedIn, phone calls, and SMS.
• Jason AI: An AI-powered sales assistant that can write emails, generate sequences from a prompt, and book meetings.

Pros of using Reply.io

• It's excellent for agencies because of its robust client account separation feature.
• It prevents critical data mix-ups and reporting errors between different client campaigns.
• Powerful multichannel capabilities combine LinkedIn, email, and other channels into one cohesive strategy.
• Strong AI features streamline campaign creation and outreach personalization.
• The built-in data search tool saves time on lead generation.
• A centralized inbox simplifies managing conversations at scale.

Cons of using Reply.io

• It may be overly complex for solopreneurs or sales teams with simpler, single-account needs.
• Agency-focused plans come at a higher price point compared to basic outreach tools.

Pricing for Reply.io

• A 14-day free trial is available.
• Email Volume: Starts at $179/month
• Multichannel: Starts at $99/month
• Hire Jason AI SDR: Starts at $500/month
• Annual plan for sales outreach plans come with a 17% discount
• Agency Core: Starts at $210/month
• Agency AI SDR: Starts at $500/month/client
• AI SDR Starter: $800/month
• AI SDR Growth: $2500/month
• Annual plan for AI SDR plans come with a 50% discount

9. Phantombuster: Best for data extraction and lead research

Phantombuster is a bit different from the other tools on this list. I see it less as a direct outreach platform and more as a powerful data extraction engine for serious lead research. If you're technically skilled and need a flexible way to scrape public data from LinkedIn, this is a tool worth looking at.

Its strength lies in pulling valuable information that you can then use in other, safer outreach tools. But, you must use this tool with caution. LinkedIn can and will ban accounts for aggressive automation, so it's critical to separate data gathering from actual outreach.

Key features of Phantombuster

• CRM enrichment: This is a feature I particularly like. It finds and adds missing data like professional email addresses or company information to your contact lists, saving you a ton of manual research.
• Data scraping for lead generation: It extracts public data from LinkedIn profiles, groups, and company pages to help you build highly targeted lead lists from scratch.
• AI-powered workflows: You can automate sequences of actions, like scraping a search result and then enriching the data for each profile found.
• Autopilot LinkedIn sequences: It runs complex data extraction campaigns 24/7 in the cloud, so you don't need to keep your browser open.
• LinkedIn outreach automation: The platform can send connection requests and messages automatically, but this feature carries a higher risk and isn't the primary way I'd recommend using it.

Pros of using Phantombuster

• It's extremely flexible for building custom automation workflows for data collection. As one user mentioned, it's "incredibly flexible. You can automate almost anything "
• Excellent for data extraction to build robust lead lists you can use elsewhere.
• Powerful CRM enrichment capabilities save hours of manual research.
• Because it's cloud-based, your automations can run continuously in the background.
• It integrates with thousands of other tools, letting you build a custom sales and marketing stack.

Cons of Using Phantombuster

• It carries a significant risk of getting your LinkedIn account suspended if not used cautiously.
• Some users say it has a steep learning curve that can be challenging for non-technical users.
• It’s more expensive than other options.
• It’s not an all-in-one solution; it works best and most safely when paired with separate outreach tools.

Pricing for Phantombuster

Phantombuster offers a 14-day free trial that doesn't require a credit card. 

• Starter: $69/month
• Pro: $159/month
• Team: $439/month
• These prices are for monthly billing; you can get a 20% discount by paying annually.

Best practices on how to use AI on LinkedIn without sounding like a robot: 

Using AI effectively is more than just turning it on. It's about using it thoughtfully to enhance your own expertise, not replace it. 

My core message is to treat AI as a creative partner, and I believe human oversight is absolutely critical. Let's walk through how to do that.

1. Treat AI as a co-pilot, not an autopilot

The best way I’ve found to use AI is as a creative partner. It’s fantastic for generating first drafts or brainstorming ideas. 

But you, the human expert, always have to be the final editor. This is how you maintain quality and authenticity.

For example, use a tool to generate a draft for a LinkedIn post, but the final 20%, the part that adds your unique personality or a specific story, has to come from you. 

I see so much bad AI content on LinkedIn, and it doesn't make the people using those tools look good. As one user found, some AI output is "boring, repetitive, and so poorly fact checked that it's genuinely faster to get a human to write it."

2. Personalize aggressively & protect your brand voice

Generic, robotic outreach is a quick way to damage your brand. I believe it’s crucial to use AI to enable deeper personalization, not just to blast generic messages. 

With a tool like Leaps, for example, because of its human-led approach of capturing your ideas and experiences before ever writing ensures your content is personal and in your voice. 

Tools like Crystal, which some call their "secret sauce," can even help you tailor your communication style to a prospect's personality. That’s a powerful way to make a better first impression.

3. Choose the right tool for the job (& measure its ROI)

No single AI tool is perfect for everything. 

It's better to pick tools based on your main goal, whether that’s content creation, data extraction, or sales outreach. 

Before you commit, ask yourself what you need to achieve and how you'll measure success.

I've seen smart marketers build a small, specialized "stack" of tools. 

For instance, one agency owner shared a great workflow using one tool for data extraction and another for outreach. This is a perfect example of using a tool for its specific strength.

4. Understand the ethical lines & safety risks

Let's be clear: using automation on LinkedIn isn't without risk. 

You have to understand the platform's terms of service and the ethical lines around data scraping to avoid getting your account suspended. And the risk is real, as I’ve shared earlier in this article. So iIt's critical to be aware of these risks before you start.

How to use LinkedIn tools safely: your guide to the dos & don'ts

Automation can be a powerful asset, but if you're careless, it can get you banned. Here’s my guide to using these tools the right way.

The "dos": Best practices for smart & safe automation

The safest approach is to use tools to enhance authentic, human-led activities. It’s all about quality over quantity, a principle that LinkedIn’s algorithm tends to reward.

• Do personalize everything: Always edit automated messages to make them specific and relevant. Personalized connection requests get higher acceptance rates, which is a positive signal to LinkedIn.
• Do prioritize cloud-based tools: These are often safer because they operate from a dedicated IP address and don't manipulate your browser in ways that LinkedIn can easily flag.
• Do stay within limits: Mimic human behavior. Don't send 200 connection requests in an hour. Keep your activity at a reasonable pace to avoid triggering warnings.
• Do focus on quality > quantity: A handful of high-quality, personalized interactions will always be more valuable, and safer, than hundreds of spammy automated messages.

The "don'ts": Red flags & behaviors that put your account at risk

Aggressive automation is a dangerous game. Certain tool behaviors and user actions are clear red flags that LinkedIn is actively looking for. Here are the big ones to avoid.

• Don't use tools that require your password: This is a major security risk and a clear violation of LinkedIn's terms.
• Don't automate too many actions too quickly: Sending a sudden, high volume of connection requests or profile views is one of the fastest ways to get your account flagged.
• Don't send generic, spammy requests: This leads to low acceptance rates and people reporting your profile as spam, which is a huge red flag for LinkedIn.
• Don't "set and forget": Automation needs constant human supervision. You need to monitor your campaigns to make sure they're running correctly.
• Don't use browser extensions that manipulate the page: While popular, these are usually easier for LinkedIn to detect than cloud-based alternatives.

Tools with a documented risk of suspension

To make the risks more real, here are a few tools that, based on user reviews and my own assessment, carry a higher risk. This isn't a blacklist, but a "proceed with extreme caution" list.

• Expandi: I see this as a high-risk tool. It can be powerful, but as I mentioned earlier, you risk losing your account because of it. 
• Taplio: Multiple users have reported receiving suspension warnings from LinkedIn while using this tool.
• Phantombuster: The fact that some users advise using it only on "burner/disposable LinkedIn accounts" is a major indicator of its risk.

The ultimate rule: Maintain the human element at all costs

The biggest "don't" is losing your authentic voice. In a world full of generic AI content, your genuine human perspective is your most valuable asset. 

There's a point where AI usage just becomes a game of lies, and you want to stay far away from that line. The goal is to use these tools to amplify your unique expertise, not to drown it in a sea of robotic content.

Frequently asked questions about AI tools for LinkedIn

How can I use AI tools on LinkedIn without getting my account banned?

You have to be careful. My best advice is to focus on quality over quantity and avoid tools that behave like obvious bots.

• Prioritize cloud-based tools over browser extensions. LinkedIn's algorithm can often detect and flag page manipulation.
• Always, and I mean always, personalize any automated messages. Generic, spammy outreach is the fastest way to get your account restricted.
• Stay well within LinkedIn’s daily limits for connection requests and messages. A good tool will have built-in safety features to manage this.

What are the biggest red flags of a risky LinkedIn AI tool?

There are definitely a few warning signs to look for. Spotting these early can save you a massive headache.

• Be wary of any tool that makes unrealistic promises, like "100+ new leads a day." If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• As I mentioned earlier, browser extensions that automate actions on the page are a big red flag. Also, check for negative reviews where users mention getting warnings or bans from LinkedIn.
• A lack of safety features, like the ability to set random delays between actions, suggests the tool isn't designed to mimic human behavior.

Should I fully automate my LinkedIn content creation with AI?

Personally, I would strongly advise against it. LinkedIn is already flooded with so much bad, generic AI content, and frankly, it just doesn't make people look good. You've probably seen it yourself, posts that are vague and sound completely robotic.

I recommend using tools that will help you amplify your thinking, not replace it…tools that have  a human-led, not AI-led process for content creation. 

This way, you’d avoid the heavy editing and hallucinations that’s common with AI tools. The key is to find a tool like Leaps that takes a human-led, AI-assisted approach. 

Because the best AI tools for LinkedIn help you pull your own unique thoughts and experiences out of your head first, and then use AI to amplify them. That’s how you create truly differentiated content that stands out.

How do I choose the right AI tool for my specific goal?

The best way I've found to approach this is to search by use case. Don't just look for a generic "AI for LinkedIn" tool. Instead, get specific about what you need to do.

First, pinpoint your main goal. Is it creating high-quality thought leadership? Is it sales prospecting? Or is it analyzing your content's performance? 

Once you know that, you can evaluate the top tools in that category based on how well they work, their safety features, and their price.

Mastering AI on LinkedIn: Your guide to staying competitive

As I said at the start, not using AI on LinkedIn this year is like swimming against an aggressive current. 

It’s simply become a necessity to keep up. Mastering these tools is no longer just an advantage; it's essential for anyone looking to stay competitive.

The key is to use them strategically. AI is a powerful assistant, but it requires your direction and expertise to be truly effective. 

My final recommendation is to move forward with a mix of enthusiasm and caution. Prioritize authenticity in everything you do, and maintain human oversight on all AI-generated content.

Your next step is to identify your primary LinkedIn goal. Once you have that, you can explore the tools I've recommended for that specific job, keeping safety and your unique brand voice top of mind. Good luck!

Related: 

• What Actually Drives Revenue on LinkedIn for Founders (Hint: It’s Not Just Posting)
• How I Built My Personal Brand on LinkedIn (Insights from a Comms Pro)
• The One Type Of LinkedIn Ghostwriter To Hire