Effective Linkedin Lead Gen

The LinkedIn Stalking Method That Feels Like a Compliment

Most insurance agents treat LinkedIn like a digital cold call.

They log in, pull up a list of “ideal prospects,” and immediately hit them with the most predictable, copy-pasted, soul-sucking DM possible:

“Hi [Name], I’d love to connect and learn more about your business. We help people just like you with [insert vague offer here].”

Ugh.
You can hear the delete button getting pressed from here.

And yet… these same agents are great on Facebook.

They’ll jump into a comment thread, crack a joke, offer a little value, keep showing up in people’s notifications — and before long, they’ve got people asking them for quotes or introductions.

Here’s the thing: the exact same approach works on LinkedIn… but almost nobody in our space uses it right.
Instead of being social, they go straight for the sales jugular.

Let's talk about being consistent in a way that feels flattering instead of forceful.

Why This Works (and Why Facebook Users Already Get It)

On Facebook, your warmest leads don’t come from blasting the feed with your sales pitch.
They come from being a familiar face — the person who’s always in the comments, celebrating wins, offering little nuggets of help, or just making the conversation more fun.

When you do this long enough, your name becomes familiar, your tone feels friendly, and when you finally send a DM, the other person is already comfortable talking to you.

LinkedIn has the exact same human wiring… but it’s clogged with spammy connection requests and instant pitches.
That’s why showing up in the comments — with actual value — stands out so much.

You’re not another stranger trying to sell them something.
You’re the person who’s been supporting them for weeks.

The Core Rule: 7 Comments Before a DM

Here’s the magic number: 7 quality comments.

When you’ve popped up in someone’s LinkedIn notifications 10 times with thoughtful engagement, you’ve earned the right to slide into their DMs without triggering the “Oh great, another salesperson” reaction.

Why?

Because by that point, you’re not a random connection — you’re a familiar name in their world.
It’s almost like walking into your favorite coffee shop and seeing the same person at the corner table every morning. Eventually, you’re going to say hi.

How to Do It 

Identify Your Targets

Make a list of people you’d love to be in conversation with:

Potential referral partners (mortgage lenders, real estate agents, CPAs, financial advisors)

Decision-makers you can’t get past the gatekeeper with (the CEO, the VP, the local plant manager)

Local business owners who you want to insure (restaurant owners, contractors, retailers)

Follow Before Connecting

On LinkedIn, you don’t have to connect to start engaging.
Hit “Follow” so their posts show up in your feed, and start reading their stuff.

Engage Like a Human, Not a Sales Robot

Your first few comments should be purely supportive or curious — no sales hooks.

“Congrats on the new location — big move!”

“This was a really interesting point about customer service — how did you come to that approach?”

“That’s a great way to look at retention. Stealing that for my own notes!”

Show Up Consistently

You don’t have to hit them every single day, but you do want to be a steady presence.
Spread those 7+ comments out over a few weeks so it feels organic, not forced.

Earn the Right to DM

After 10 or so comments — or sooner if the rapport is flowing — you can DM them with something that’s a natural continuation of the conversation.

Example:

“Hey [Name], I saw your post about expanding into the new space. Congrats again! Out of curiosity, how are you handling your risk management with the new setup? I work with a lot of owners in your position and it got me thinking.”

Or, even softer:

“Hey [Name], I really liked your post on [topic]. Made me think — do you mind if I ask you a quick question about it?”

Why This Works for Referral Partners

This method isn’t just about landing direct clients — it’s killer for getting referral partners to open the door.

Most agents try to “pitch” their value to referral partners right away:
“Let’s grab coffee so I can tell you how referring to me will help your clients.”

But if you’ve already been showing up in their world, supporting their posts, sharing their content, and generally making them look good?
By the time you DM them, it’s not a cold ask — it’s a conversation between peers.

Getting Past the CEO’s Gatekeeper

Every agency owner has that one big dream client they just can’t get in front of.
The CEO is insulated. The assistant runs interference like an NFL lineman.

Here’s how you bypass that wall with this method:

Follow the CEO on LinkedIn.

Start engaging with their posts publicly.

Don’t pitch — just compliment, add thoughtful comments, or ask relevant questions.

After 8–10 interactions, they recognize your name.

When you DM, you’re not some rando — you’re “that person who always has smart input.”

And here’s the kicker: gatekeepers guard against strangers, not familiar names.

Local Business Owners — The Goldmine Most Agents Miss

Most local business owners are on LinkedIn… but they’re starving for meaningful engagement.

They post about:

Hiring

New projects

Community events

Customer stories

What do they usually get? A few likes and a “Congrats” from their cousin.

You showing up regularly with specific, personalized comments makes you stand out like crazy.

Example:
They post a picture of their new delivery van. Instead of “Looks great!” you say:

“Love the new van wrap — great branding. I’ve seen it a few times on Main Street already!”

This is simple, but it’s sticky. You’re not just another comment. You’re someone paying attention.

How This Mirrors Facebook (and Why People Struggle on LinkedIn)

On Facebook, agents know how to warm someone up:

Like their photos

Comment on life updates

Share their wins

Keep the banter going in the comments

Then, when they finally send a message, it’s natural.

On LinkedIn? They forget all that and turn into the insurance equivalent of a spam fax.

The truth is, the same rules apply — but the bar is even lower because most people on LinkedIn are not doing this.
That means even modest, thoughtful engagement will make you memorable.

The Key: Make It Feel Like a Compliment

If your comments feel like support instead of strategy, people welcome you in.

A thoughtful comment says:

“I’m paying attention.”

“What you post matters.”

“I value your perspective.”

All of that earns you goodwill — and goodwill buys you access.

Avoid These Mistakes

Don’t pitch in comments. Nothing kills rapport faster.

Don’t “love-bomb” in one day. Spread it out so it’s natural.

Don’t fake interest. If their post doesn’t connect with you, skip it and wait for one that does.

The Long Game Pays

You might be thinking, “7 comments? That’s a lot.”

It is — but it’s also why it works. Most agents don’t have the patience.
They spray and pray with DMs, get ignored, and blame the platform.

You? You’ll be the agent who plays the long game — and the long game wins, especially when the prize is a CEO’s attention, a rockstar referral partner, or a big-ticket local business account.

Final Word

This method  isn’t about being fake or manipulative.

It’s about showing up in someone’s world enough times that, when you finally reach out, it feels like a continuation of an existing relationship — not a cold sales attempt.

If you can do this with patience, consistency, and genuine curiosity, you can get in front of people your competitors can’t even get past the receptionist with.

And you’ll do it in a way that actually feels good — for you and for them.