Posted by Jonathan Kidder on March 28, 2021June 5, 2023

There’s no denying that LinkedIn is an exceptional platform for finding prospects, but physically reviewing the massive number of profiles to find qualified people is time consuming, to say the least. Undoubtedly, you have a long to-do list so having access to scraping technology can drastically reduce the time it takes to gather new leads for top talent.

What is a Web Scraping Tool?

Data scraping is a means of gathering specific information from websites or platform databases using special programming languages. This programming is intricately designed in a way that mimics a human by being able to successfully pass captcha tests and bypass other restrictions that platforms, like LinkedIn, implement in order to protect their data. I wrote more about this topic here: Understanding LinkedIn’s Search Limitations.

Following is a list of the best tools designed specifically for scraping LinkedIn Profiles that will enable you to prospect faster and easier than ever before.

1. SalesFinder

SalesFinder will compile a list of relevant leads, based on specific criteria you provide, such as positions for hire as well as certain companies. The Salesfinder tool will scrape LinkedIn profiles and websites and create a targeted list of candidates for you including their contact information much faster than could be done manually. Plus, the scraping technology of SalesFinder adheres to LinkedIn’s service terms. SalesFinder offers a free version as well as paid tiers based on your needs.

2. Proxycrawl LinkedIn Scraper

ProxyCrawl makes it possible for you to gather quality, targeted data from major platforms including Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, and Instagram. The technology is able to bypass captchas and keeps users anonymous, thus preventing you from being blocked. The free trial version allows up to 1,000 requests, followed by a monthly fee.

3. Web Scraper

Web Scraper is a Chrome plugin and useful for extracting data from a wide range of websites. Although it does require a bit of tweaking to get the data results desired, Web Scraper has the ability to identify various types of data including texts and web links, as well as special webpage coding such as Python, PHP, and JavaScript. Then, based on your queries, the data can be downloaded into a CSV file or compiled into sitemaps. Pricing is based on credits, ranging between 100,000 and 2,000,000 pages.

4. Octoparse

The AI programming in Octoparse makes scraping data easier than ever. Its advanced technology and ability to imitate a real person not only protects your anonymity by using several IP addresses and authenticated logins when extracting data, but you can also setup scheduled times for extraction. Whether your goal is to collect information on clients or competitors, Octoparse can scrape practically any online platform or web page including blogs, social media and e-commerce sites. The 14-day free trial allows you to give Octoparse a test run and compile up to 10,000 records that are stored in the cloud. After that, monthly subscription fees range from $75 to $249.

5. Scrab.in

Designed by growth hackers to answer every question about how to generate sales leads through LinkedIn. Automate smart engagement strategies to reach your prospects sooner and hit your SQLs goals faster!

Scrab.in works as a Chrome extension and is useful for lead generations, as well as automating your online interactions, whether visiting a social platform or directly messaging chosen LinkedIn profiles. Pricing plans are based on scans and visits.

6. Import.io

Import.io can be customized to scrape specific data from LinkedIn profiles. The more you use the software, the better trained its AI becomes, enabling you to tweak the extractions and setup schedules according to your needs. In addition to compiling profile data, you can also use it to stay up to date on what your competitors are doing – great for leveraging your own business. The monthly pricing tiers range from $199 to $999.

7. ParseHub

ParseHub scraping tool doesn’t require any coding knowledge, yet allows you to extract data from LinkedIn and other web pages. The programming is designed to dodge proxy restrictions and bot detection protocols, while protecting you from being blocked. Choose between JSON and Excel formatting. The monthly subscription fee of $149 allows you to virtually store your data output, whereas the free version limits functionality and permits desktop storage only.

8. ScrapeStorm

The ScrapeStorm software can handle massive scraping tasks and compile the data into a wide range of formats including Excel, CSV, Google Sheets, and more. It was created by former Google crawler programming experts and the interface and data extraction abilities is impressive. There is a limited free version whereas $49.99/month will give you full access.

9. Helium Scraper

If you’re in search of a user-friendly, no coding required program, Helium Scraper’s interface is a simple point and click method. It will extract an assortment of information from LinkedIn, including specific job positions and profiles for both individuals as well as businesses. There is a single user license fee of $99, but the free 10-day version gives you access to all programming functions to see if its right for you.

10. Scraper

Another Chrome extension, Scraper is useful for gathering email addresses from social media sites or to scrape data that can help you boost SEO and page rank. The extracted information is compiled into easy-to-use spreadsheet or CSV file format. While there is a paid version of Scraper, the free account satisfies the needs of 98% of users.

11.Scrapingdog LinkedIn Scraper API

Scrapingdog’s LinkedIn Profile Scraper API lets you scrape profile data easily. Be it individual, company, or profiles you want to get on your custom parameters, Scrapingdog has got you covered. You can scrape 1 million LinkedIn profiles in a day with the pace at which this API works. The first 1000 GET requests are free to test your needs.

The minimum plan starts at $30 a month.

With all these viable Scraper tool options, you can start building a list of qualified prospects today, in a fraction of the time it takes to manually review LinkedIn profiles. Take these recommendations.

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Jonathan Kidder

With more than 12 years of recruitment experience, Jonathan has helped startups and small businesses find the talent they need. He runs the blog WizardSourcer, which explores the latest trends in talent sourcing, provides reviews of recruitment tools, and features interviews with prominent figures in the industry.