Search People

Action Overview

The Search People action enables advanced searches across LinkedIn’s professional network. By specifying multiple criteria such as name, job title, keywords, or company details, you can identify potential leads, prospects, or professionals relevant to your workflows.

This action returns a list of matching LinkedIn profiles grouped listed within the people variable. You can use this output to streamline prospecting and data enrichment efforts.

Use Cases

• Identify a list of potential users when the Search User action hasn't been able to find the correct user.
• Lead Identification – Locate professionals matching specific roles or industries for sales or marketing outreach.
• Talent Acquisition – Identify candidates based on job titles, industries, or skills.
• Market Research – Discover individuals in a target market or industry for insights and networking.

Inputs and Required Data

First Name (optional) – The first name of the LinkedIn user to search.
Example: John

Last Name (optional) – The last name of the LinkedIn user to search.
Example: Doe

Title (optional) – The title of the user.
Example: Sales, Founder, CEO

Search Keywords (optional) – Keywords to refine the search.
Example: Marketing, Digital Transformation, Healthcare

Company Name (optional) – The name of the organization.
Example: Acme Corp

Company ID (optional) – The unique ID of the organization (obtainable from the Search Company action).
Example: 3185

Past Company ID (optional) – The ID of a past organization (also obtainable from the Search Company action).
Example: 3456444

Limit (optional) – Restrict the number of results. Default is 15, with a maximum of 50.

Response

The Search People action returns:

• People – A newline-formatted list of one or more profiles. Each profile block includes the same keys (Name, Provider ID, Public ID, Location, Industry, Headline, Profile URL, Network Distance). Profiles are separated by a line that contains --.

Sample People response:

(Note: To retrieve detailed profile data for any individual result, use the Retrieve User Profile action combined with a Provider ID.)

Obtaining Inputs

Inputs are typically mapped dynamically from CRM fields (e.g., {{contact.first_name}}, {{contact.company_name}}). Combining names, titles, and company IDs improves match accuracy.

Workflow Integration

1. Trigger the Action – Add the Search People action to a workflow (e.g., when a new lead enters a specific pipeline).
2. Map Input Fields – Pass First Name, Last Name, Title, Keywords, and company details (Name, ID, or Past ID).
3. Retrieve Output Data – Store the returned People results in CRM fields or use them in downstream actions such as Retrieve User Profile or Send Invitation.

Related Actions

• Search User – Use when you have exact details like first name, last name, and company.
• Retrieve User Profile – Fetch full professional details for identified leads.
• Send Invitation – Automate sending connection requests to identified profiles.

Common Errors and Troubleshooting

No Results Found

• Cause: Criteria too broad or inaccurate.
• Solution: Add more specific filters such as title, company, or keywords.

Invalid Input

• Cause: Incorrect or missing field formatting.
• Solution: Ensure all input values are properly structured.

Best Practices

• Use a combination of keywords, titles, and company filters for precise searches.
• Leverage Company ID instead of text-based company names when possible for accuracy.
• Limit results to a manageable number (default 15–20) to keep workflows efficient.

Advanced Tips

• Segmented Searches – Run multiple searches with variations (e.g., location, industry, past company ID) to build a broader list.
• Fallback Strategies – Use multiple Search People steps: if one set of criteria fails, fall back to a different keyword, company ID, or industry.
• Automation Opportunities – Use returned People results to trigger workflows for invitations, nurture sequences, or profile enrichment.

FAQs