Export LinkedIn search results to Google Sheets using ConnectSafely.ai API
Who's it for
This workflow is built for sales professionals, recruiters, founders, and growth marketers who need to build targeted prospect lists from LinkedIn without risking their accounts. Perfect for anyone who wants to find decision-makers, build lead lists, or research target audiences at scale.
If you're running outbound campaigns, building ABM lists, sourcing candidates, or doing competitive research, this automation handles LinkedIn searches and exports results directly to your Google Sheet—no browser cookies, no session hijacking, no ban risk.
How it works
The workflow automates LinkedIn people searches by leveraging ConnectSafely.ai's compliant API, then exports structured results to Google Sheets or JSON files.
The process flow:
Define your search parameters (keywords, location, job title, result limit)
Execute the search via ConnectSafely.ai API
Process and normalize the response data
Export to Google Sheets for CRM import or further automation
Optionally save as JSON file for data backup or processing
No LinkedIn cookies required. No browser automation. Platform-compliant searches that won't get your account restricted.
Watch the complete step-by-step implementation guide:
LinkedIn Search Export Automation Tutorial
---
Setup steps
Step 1: Get Your ConnectSafely.ai API Credentials
Obtain API Key:
Log into ConnectSafely.ai Dashboard
Navigate to Settings → API Keys
Generate a new API key
Copy your API key (you'll need this in the next step)
Add Bearer Auth Credential in n8n:
Go to Credentials in n8n
Click Add Credential → HTTP Bearer Auth
Paste your ConnectSafely.ai API key
Save the credential
---
Step 2: Configure Search Parameters
Open the Set Search Parameters node and customize your search:
| Parameter | Description | Example |
|-----------|-------------|---------|
| keywords | Search terms for profiles | CEO SaaS, Marketing Director |
| location | Geographic filter | United States, San Francisco Bay Area |
| title | Job title filter | Head of Growth, VP Sales |
| limit | Maximum results to return | 100 (max varies by plan) |
Pro Tips:
Use specific keywords for better targeting
Combine title + keywords for precision (e.g., keywords: "B2B" + title: "VP Sales")
Start with smaller limits (25-50) for testing
---
Step 3: Configure Google Sheets Integration
3.1 Connect Google Sheets Account
Go to Credentials → Add Credential → Google Sheets OAuth2
Follow the OAuth flow to connect your Google account
Grant access to Google Sheets
3.2 Prepare Your Google Sheet
Create a new Google Sheet with the following columns (the workflow will auto-populate these):
| Column Name | Description |
|-------------|-------------|
| profileUrl | LinkedIn profile URL |
| fullName | Contact's full name |
| firstName | First name |
| lastName | Last name |
| headline | LinkedIn headline/tagline |
| currentPosition | Current job title |
| company | Company name (extracted from headline) |
| location | Geographic location |
| connectionDegree | 1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree connection |
| isPremium | LinkedIn Premium member (true/false) |
| isOpenToWork | Open to work badge (true/false) |
| profilePicture | Profile image URL |
| extractedAt | Timestamp of extraction |
3.3 Configure the Export Node
Open the Export to Google Sheets node
Select your Google Sheets credential
Enter your Document ID (from the sheet URL)
Select the Sheet Name
The column mapping is pre-configured for auto-mapping
---
Step 4: Test the Workflow
Click the Manual Trigger node
Click Test Workflow
Verify:
Search executes successfully
Results appear in the Format Results output
Data exports to your Google Sheet
JSON file is generated (optional)
---
Customization
Search Parameter Combinations
Sales Prospecting:
keywords: "B2B SaaS"
location: "United States"
title: "VP of Sales"
limit: 100
Recruiting:
keywords: "Python Machine Learning"
location: "San Francisco Bay Area"
title: "Senior Engineer"
limit: 50
Founder Networking:
keywords: "Seed Series A"
location: "New York City"
title: "Founder CEO"
limit: 100
Extending the Workflow
Add to CRM: Connect the Format Results output to HubSpot, Salesforce, or Pipedrive nodes
Enrich Data: Add a loop to fetch full profile details for each result using the /linkedin/profile endpoint
Chain with Outreach: Connect to the LinkedIn Connection Request Workflow to automatically send personalized invites to your search results
Schedule Searches: Replace Manual Trigger with a Schedule Trigger to run daily/weekly searches
---
Output Data Format
Each result includes:
json
{
"profileUrl": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndoe",
"profileId": "johndoe",
"profileUrn": "urn:li:member:123456789",
"fullName": "John Doe",
"firstName": "John",
"lastName": "Doe",
"headline": "VP of Sales at TechCorp | B2B SaaS",
"currentPosition": "VP of Sales",
"company": "TechCorp",
"location": "San Francisco, California",
"connectionDegree": "2nd",
"isPremium": true,
"isOpenToWork": false,
"profilePicture": "https://media.licdn.com/...",
"extractedAt": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z"
}
---
Use Cases
Sales Prospecting: Build targeted lead lists of decision-makers at companies matching your ICP
Recruiting & Talent Sourcing: Find passive candidates with specific skills and experience levels
Market Research: Analyze competitor employee profiles and organizational structures
Event Planning: Build invite lists for webinars, conferences, or virtual events
Partnership Development: Identify potential partners and integration opportunities
Investor Research: Find founders and executives at companies in specific stages/verticals
---
Troubleshooting
Common Issues & Solutions
Issue: "No results found" error
Solution: Broaden your search parameters; try removing one filter at a time
Issue: Empty company field in results
Solution: Company is extracted from headline; some profiles may not include company in their headline format
Issue: API authentication errors
Solution: Verify your ConnectSafely.ai API key is valid and has proper permissions; check Bearer Auth credential format
Issue: Google Sheets not updating
Solution: Confirm OAuth credentials are valid; check that the sheet has write permissions
Issue: Fewer results than expected
Solution: LinkedIn limits search results; try more specific parameters or upgrade your ConnectSafely.ai plan
Issue: Rate limit errors
Solution: Add delay between multiple searches; check your API plan limits
---
Documentation & Resources
Official Documentation
ConnectSafely.ai Docs: https://connectsafely.ai/docs
API Reference: Available in ConnectSafely.ai dashboard
n8n HTTP Request Node: https://docs.n8n.io/nodes/n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest
Support Channels
Email Support: support@connectsafely.ai
Documentation: https://connectsafely.ai/docs
Custom Workflows: Contact us for custom automation
---
Connect With Us
Stay updated with the latest automation tips, LinkedIn strategies, and platform updates:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/connectsafelyai
YouTube: youtube.com/@ConnectSafelyAI-v2x
Instagram: instagram.com/connectsafely.ai
Facebook: facebook.com/connectsafelyai
X (Twitter): x.com/AiConnectsafely
Bluesky: connectsafelyai.bsky.social
Mastodon: mastodon.social/@connectsafely
---
Need Custom Workflows?
Looking to build sophisticated LinkedIn automation workflows tailored to your business needs?
Contact our team for custom automation development, strategy consulting, and enterprise solutions.
We specialize in:
Multi-channel prospecting workflows
AI-powered lead scoring and qualification
CRM integration and data synchronization
Custom search and enrichment pipelines
Bulk outreach automation with personalization
By ConnectSafely