Lemlist

Lemlist is a sales engagement platform for cold outreach across email, LinkedIn, SMS, WhatsApp, and calls, bundling a 650M+ lead database, email/phone enrichment, and a built-in deliverability layer (lemwarm warmup). It is aimed at B2B founders, sales teams, and agencies who want list-building, multichannel sequencing, and inbox management in one tool. Personalisation features (image, video, and landing-page personalisation) and AI-assisted reply handling are part of the platform.

Lemlist wins on personalisation depth and deliverability features. The dynamic image personalisation (showing prospect's website screenshot, LinkedIn profile, etc.) genuinely improves reply rates when used tastefully. Email warm-up is built-in, which matters most tools don't include this. Pricing starts around $59/month but scales with sending volume. Compare against: Mailshake for simpler UI and lower learning curve, Reply.io for LinkedIn automation included, or Apollo if you need database and sending combined. Choose Lemlist when deliverability and creative personalisation matter more than having a contact database built-in. The multichannel sequences (email + LinkedIn + calls) work but aren't as robust as dedicated LinkedIn tools. Best for teams who've mastered basic cold email and want to level up personalisation and deliverability.

I started using Lemlist in 2017 when personalised images were its signature feature, and I have kept it in my stack ever since. The platform has matured from a cold-email utility into a complete sales engagement centre, yet it retains a clear focus on personal, creative messaging that cuts through crowded inboxes.

What I value most is the flexibility to build sequences that mirror real conversation flow. A prospect who does not answer an email receives a LinkedIn visit three days later; another who replies positively is automatically removed from further steps. The unified inbox collates every email and LinkedIn message, so I rarely switch tabs.

Deliverability remains strong. Running Lemwarm for a fortnight before heavy sending typically places my open rates near ninety per cent. The tool highlights risky words and DNS gaps before campaigns launch, avoiding most spam traps.

There are trade-offs. Advanced conditional logic requires a grasp of Liquid syntax, and multichannel steps add complexity that junior staff need time to learn. Pricing has climbed over the years: a fully featured seat now costs close to €99 monthly, which means teams must discipline their lists and campaigns to justify spend.

Even so, Lemlist regularly pays for itself. One campaign with a well-crafted image and AI-generated icebreaker can book meetings that cover a year of fees. For B2B marketers committed to personalised outreach, it remains my preferred platform.

Getting started with Lemlist

Sign up and onboarding

Begin with the 14-day free trial. After registration, the onboarding checklist guides you to connect your email, verify DNS records and enable Lemwarm. Short tutorial videos and an in-app progress bar keep first-time users on track.

Connecting email accounts

Link Gmail, Outlook or any SMTP mailbox. Add SPF, DKIM and, if possible, DMARC records for your sending domain. Activate Lemwarm for each inbox and let it run for at least ten days before scaling volume.

Connecting LinkedIn and phone

Install the Chrome extension, authenticate your LinkedIn profile and set safe daily action limits. If your plan includes call steps, integrate a dialler such as Aircall so call tasks and outcomes sync back to Lemlist.

Building a campaign

Importing or sourcing leads

Upload a CSV with custom fields, pull a saved list directly from HubSpot or search Lemlist’s internal database for verified contacts. Tag leads by segment to filter performance later.

Designing sequences

Use the visual builder to add email, LinkedIn and call steps. Insert personalisation variables throughout. Space steps sensibly, for instance an email on day one, a LinkedIn invite on day three and a follow-up email on day six. Add conditions such as “if no reply within five days, send variant B”.

Personalised images and videos

Select an image template, drop in variables such as {firstName} or {companyLogo} and preview each lead’s unique version. For video thumbnails, Lemlist can overlay the prospect’s name on a whiteboard or laptop screen to increase click-through.

Managing replies and follow-ups

Unified inbox

Email and LinkedIn responses appear in one thread per lead. Assign conversations to teammates, add internal notes and mark prospects as interested, not interested or follow-up later.

Collaboration and handover

Sales development reps can forward warm prospects to account executives by re-assigning the thread. Completed deals or opt-out requests are pushed automatically to the CRM through the native integration or a Zap.

Maximising deliverability and performance

Daily sending limits and rotation

Start with twenty emails a day per inbox and increase gradually to avoid sudden spikes. Higher plans allow inbox rotation so large sends distribute evenly across several domains.

Content checks and testing

Use Lemlist’s preview to send a test to yourself, review spam-word warnings and adjust subject lines or links. Keep images light and maintain a text-to-image ratio that favours plain copy.

Advanced tactics

Dynamic landing pages

Create a personalised page that greets the prospect by name and features tailored case studies. Link to it from your email call-to-action to boost credibility and drive responses.

Conditional branching

Employ Liquid syntax to send different follow-ups based on opens, clicks or replies. For example, if a lead clicks your calendar link but does not book, trigger a reminder email two days later.

Conclusion

Lemlist blends personalisation, multichannel orchestration and deliverability safeguards in one platform. By following structured onboarding, thoughtful sequencing and continuous performance checks, B2B marketers can turn cold leads into warm conversations at scale. Treat every message as a one-to-one note, adjust campaigns with real-time feedback and the tool will repay the effort with reliable meetings and revenue growth.

Lean B2B founders and small sales teams running multichannel cold outreach who want a built-in lead database and warmup rather than stitching separate tools together.