Exporting your LinkedIn connections to Excel is a simple way to organize and make the most of your professional network. Whether you’re in sales, marketing, or recruitment, this process helps you access key details like names, job titles, and company information in an easy-to-use format. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to LinkedIn Settings: Click your profile photo, select "Settings & Privacy", and navigate to "Data Privacy".
- Request Data Archive: Under "Get a copy of your data", choose "Connections" and submit your request.
- Download the File: Once LinkedIn processes your request (usually within minutes), download the connections.csv file from the email link.
- Open in Excel: Use Excel to view and format the data. If needed, use the "Text to Columns" tool to organize it properly.
While LinkedIn’s export provides basic details, tools like Closely can fill in gaps, such as missing emails or phone numbers, and even automate outreach campaigns. This turns your exported data into a powerful resource for targeted networking and business growth.
How To Export LinkedIn Contacts To Excel
What You Need Before Starting
Before you begin exporting, make sure you’ve got everything you need in place.
Basic Requirements
To successfully export your LinkedIn connections into an Excel file, ensure you have:
- An active LinkedIn account: You’ll need to be logged in to access your connections.
- Familiarity with CSV files: Basic knowledge of opening and working with CSV files in programs like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets is helpful.
Additionally, be mindful of any platform-specific limitations and follow US data formatting standards to avoid any hiccups during the export process.
Check the next sections for more details and important considerations before moving forward.
How to Export LinkedIn Connections Step-by-Step
Downloading your LinkedIn connection data is straightforward, but it’s best handled on a desktop for smoother navigation. Here’s how to get it done:
Access LinkedIn Settings
Start by clicking on your profile photo in the top-right corner of LinkedIn. From the dropdown menu, choose "Settings & Privacy". Once there, navigate to the "Data Privacy" section, where LinkedIn provides tools for managing your account data.
Request Your Data Archive
Under "How LinkedIn uses your data", you’ll find an option labeled "Get a copy of your data". Click it to proceed. You can either request specific data categories, such as "Connections", or opt for the "larger data archive", which includes all your LinkedIn data.
If you’re only interested in exporting your connections – ideal for creating an Excel file – select the "Connections" option and hit "Request archive".
Download and Extract the File
If you chose just the "Connections" data, LinkedIn typically processes the request within minutes. However, if you requested the full data archive, it might take 24 to 72 hours. Keep an eye on your email inbox (and check your spam folder just in case) for a message from LinkedIn containing the download link. Be sure to download the file within 72 hours, as the link will expire.
Once downloaded, extract the ZIP file. On Windows, right-click the file and select "Extract All". On a Mac, simply double-click the file. Inside the extracted folder, you’ll find a file named "connections.csv", which contains all your LinkedIn connection data.
Open and Format Data in Excel
To view your data, double-click the connections.csv file, and it will open in Excel. The file includes columns such as first name, last name, email address, company, and position for each connection.
If the data appears jumbled into a single column, you can fix this using Excel’s "Text to Columns" feature. Go to the Data tab, select "Text to Columns", choose "Delimited", and then select "Comma" as the delimiter. This will organize the information into separate columns.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Here are some tips for resolving potential problems:
- Missing Email Addresses: It’s normal for some email addresses to be absent. LinkedIn only includes email addresses for users who haven’t opted to restrict this information in their privacy settings.
- Corrupted or Unreadable Files: If the CSV file doesn’t open correctly, try opening it in a text editor to confirm the data is intact. You can then import it into Excel using the "Get Data" feature.
- Extraction Issues: If the ZIP file fails to extract, request a new data archive. LinkedIn allows you to make multiple requests if needed.
- Incomplete Data: Missing company names or job titles usually indicate incomplete LinkedIn profiles rather than errors in the export. LinkedIn only provides information that users have made publicly available.
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How to Organize and Use Your Exported Data
Now that you’ve exported your LinkedIn connections, it’s time to make that data work for you. Your CSV file is more than just a list – it’s a powerful resource for planning and refining your outreach efforts.
Understanding Your CSV File
Your exported file includes several key columns, each offering unique insights about your network. However, keep in mind that email addresses might be sparse due to user privacy settings.
- Company and Position: These columns show where your connections work and their job titles. Sales professionals and recruiters can use this information to segment their outreach by industry or role. If some entries are blank, it’s likely because those individuals haven’t updated their LinkedIn profiles or have chosen to keep certain details private.
- Connected On: This column records the date you connected with someone, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY (standard US format). This is especially useful for prioritizing recent connections for follow-up.
- LinkedIn Profile URL: This provides direct links to each person’s profile, making it easier to research connections before reaching out.
Once you understand the data, the next step is to organize it for better usability.
Format Data for Better Use
Raw CSV files can be messy, so taking the time to format your spreadsheet is well worth the effort. Start by freezing the top row in Excel or Google Sheets to keep your column headers visible as you scroll.
Enhance your spreadsheet by adding a few extra columns:
- Priority Level: Rank each connection as "High", "Medium", or "Low" based on their relevance to your current goals.
- Industry: Categorize connections by sector to make targeted messaging easier.
- Last Contact: Track the last time you interacted with each person using the MM/DD/YYYY format for consistency.
- Notes: Use this column to jot down key details, like shared interests, mutual connections, or topics from past conversations.
Leverage Excel’s filtering feature to quickly segment your data. For example, you can sort by company size, industry, or connection date to identify specific groups for outreach. This makes planning targeted campaigns much more efficient.
Use Data for Outreach Planning
With your data organized, you can now use it to guide your outreach strategy. Here are a few ways to make the most of it:
- Tailor Messaging by Company Size: Group connections by company size to customize your approach. For example, the way you communicate with a startup founder will differ from how you engage with a corporate executive.
- Focus on Recent Connections: Sort by the Connected On column to identify new relationships that need nurturing. Prioritize connections made in the last 30 days for follow-up, and consider re-engaging older ones to keep the relationship active.
- Target Decision-Makers: Use the Position column to filter for roles like Director, VP, or Manager. Focusing on decision-makers increases your chances of getting a response.
For even better organization, create separate worksheets for different outreach campaigns. For instance, you could have one sheet for “Q4 Sales Prospects,” another for “Conference Follow-ups,” and a third for “Partnership Opportunities.” This segmentation allows you to craft personalized messages that resonate with each group’s specific needs.
Finally, the Company column can uncover networking opportunities you might have overlooked. For example, if you notice multiple connections at the same organization, you can strategize warm introductions or coordinated outreach efforts. This approach often works better than cold outreach, improving your chances of success.
Improve Your Exports with Closely’s AI Tools
Once you’ve exported and organized your LinkedIn connections, the next step is to elevate your data quality and outreach efforts. Often, exported lists are incomplete, missing key details like email addresses and phone numbers. That’s where Closely’s AI-powered tools come in, transforming your basic export into a fully-equipped prospecting database.
Add Missing Contact Data with Closely
Your LinkedIn export might have gaps in contact information, but Closely’s AI-driven data enrichment fills those voids effectively. By cross-referencing your LinkedIn data with over 30 sources in real time, the platform achieves a remarkable 95% match rate for B2B lead generation. If one source doesn’t have the needed data, another steps in to ensure accuracy and completeness [3].
For example, Closely delivers an average match rate of 65% for phone numbers – turning incomplete exports into comprehensive contact lists [3]. Beyond just filling in the blanks, it creates detailed prospect profiles, complete with verified emails, job titles, and even buying signals [3].
What truly sets Closely apart is its real-time verification process, which ensures that every email and phone number provided is accurate and up-to-date. This significantly reduces bounce rates and improves the overall quality of your outreach campaigns.
"Find verified emails and direct dials from LinkedIn in seconds. Our LinkedIn email finder enriches profiles with business emails and phone numbers, runs real-time verification to cut bounces, and syncs results to your CRM. GDPR/CCPA-aligned."
- Closely [2]
Once enriched, this data seamlessly integrates into the next step: automated outreach.
Automate LinkedIn and Email Campaigns
Closely doesn’t just stop at data enrichment – it helps you take action. The platform automates LinkedIn and email outreach, allowing you to import leads directly from your LinkedIn-exported CSV files.
With Closely, you can create multichannel sequences that combine LinkedIn activities – like profile visits, connection requests, and follow-up messages – with email steps, all within a single automated workflow. It mimics natural human behavior by incorporating smart limits, delays, and warm-up modes to protect your account while increasing response rates.
The results speak for themselves. Closely users report a 35% boost in response rates and save an average of 10 hours per team member each week on manual prospecting [2]. Additionally, the platform helps generate 45% more pipeline opportunities compared to traditional outreach methods [2].
Closely’s AI also excels in personalization. Beyond simply inserting names, it researches each lead’s role, company, and recent updates to craft tailored messages using dynamic variables. This level of customization, applied across hundreds or thousands of connections, would be nearly impossible to achieve manually.
Track and Personalize Your Outreach
To keep everything organized, Closely offers a unified dashboard that consolidates all campaign activities. This dashboard, powered by enriched and verified data, simplifies managing your LinkedIn DMs, InMails, and email replies in one place. You can assign conversations to team members, tag messages for better organization, and use templates to maintain consistent communication – eliminating the need to juggle multiple tools.
Monitoring performance is a breeze with Closely’s detailed analytics. You can track metrics like opens, clicks, connection requests, reply rates, and bounce rates in real time. These insights help you fine-tune your messaging and identify what resonates with different audience segments.
Scalability is another strength of Closely. Its AI can handle unlimited daily enrichment, letting you process your entire LinkedIn export without restrictions [3]. The platform also delivers a 41% improvement in data accuracy compared to traditional methods, ensuring your outreach is built on reliable information [3].
For larger teams, Closely offers advanced features like lead scoring, web research tools, and integrations with CRMs like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Pipedrive. This means your enriched LinkedIn data syncs directly with your existing sales systems, creating a smooth workflow from prospecting to closing deals.
Conclusion: Making LinkedIn Data Management Easier
Exporting your LinkedIn connections to Excel can be a simple process. By navigating LinkedIn’s privacy settings, requesting a data archive, and downloading the CSV file, you can quickly access your network data. Once you’ve got the file, formatting it in Excel – adding clear column headers, removing duplicates, and applying standard US formatting – can turn an otherwise messy spreadsheet into a well-organized resource.
However, it’s important to note that LinkedIn’s native export has its limitations. The data often includes only basic details like names, job titles, and company names, while key contact information, such as email addresses or phone numbers, is frequently absent.
This is where tools powered by AI, like Closely, can make a difference. These platforms enhance your exported data by filling in the gaps, providing verified and enriched details, and converting a basic CSV file into a robust prospecting database.
Considering that about 80% of B2B leads originate from LinkedIn [1], refining how you manage and use this data is a smart move. With enriched data and automated outreach, a simple LinkedIn export can evolve into a powerful tool for turning your professional connections into actionable opportunities for your business.
FAQs
Why doesn’t my LinkedIn export file include email addresses or phone numbers?
LinkedIn includes email addresses or phone numbers in export files only if your connections have made this information visible and given consent for access. If these details are absent, it’s likely because they haven’t shared them publicly or allowed access.
To enhance your data, you can:
- Review your LinkedIn privacy settings to ensure they permit access to shared contact details.
- Reach out to your connections through LinkedIn’s messaging feature to politely request updated contact information, always respecting their privacy and consent.
Always handle personal data responsibly and in compliance with LinkedIn’s guidelines.
How do I make sure my LinkedIn data exports are properly formatted in Excel?
To keep your LinkedIn data exports neat and ready to use in Excel, start by downloading your data through LinkedIn’s data export feature. Once you’ve got the file, open it in Excel and ensure the data is laid out properly. If you notice combined information in a single column, use the ‘Text to Columns’ tool to split it into separate columns. Adjust the column widths to make everything easier to read.
For a polished look, format the cells to match U.S. standards for dates, numbers, or currency, depending on your requirements. You can also use filters or sorting options to quickly organize and analyze the data in a way that suits your goals.
How can AI tools like Closely improve and automate LinkedIn outreach using my connections data?
AI tools such as Closely are game-changers for LinkedIn outreach, helping you craft personalized, targeted messages that foster stronger connections and boost response rates. They also take the hassle out of repetitive tasks by automating them, freeing up your time for more meaningful interactions and reducing the risk of burnout.
With AI in your corner, you can simplify your workflow, keep engagement consistent, and fine-tune your outreach efforts. The result? Better lead generation, faster deal closures, and improved team performance across the board.