Closely.com Review | Podcastbricks

Closely is a sales engagement platform that combines LinkedIn automation, email outreach, and a B2B contact database to help businesses, marketers, and solopreneurs connect with prospects efficiently. Launched to simplify the process of finding and engaging high-potential leads, Closely leverages advanced algorithms and automation to mimic human behavior, ensuring safe and effective outreach while complying with LinkedIn’s policies and GDPR regulations. The platform is cloud-based, eliminating the need for browser extensions, and offers a user-friendly interface to manage campaigns, monitor performance, and nurture relationships.

Closely’s primary goal is to save time by automating repetitive tasks like sending connection requests, follow-up messages, and personalized emails. It also provides tools for lead enrichment, email validation, and detailed campaign analytics, making it a comprehensive solution for sales teams and individual professionals looking to scale their LinkedIn outreach efforts.

Key Features of Closely

Closely offers a robust suite of features designed to enhance LinkedIn and email outreach. Below, we explore the platform’s standout functionalities based on user reviews and available information.

1. LinkedIn Automation

Closely automates critical LinkedIn tasks, such as sending connection requests, following up with prospects, and nurturing existing first-degree connections. The platform uses smart limits and mimics human behavior to prevent account restrictions, a common concern with automation tools. Users can create multi-chained campaigns with personalized messages tailored to different scenarios, such as connection requests, follow-ups, or responses to accepted connections. Additionally, Closely supports actions like liking posts, endorsing skills, and visiting profiles to increase engagement.

2. Email Outreach

Beyond LinkedIn, Closely integrates email automation, allowing users to connect Gmail or Outlook accounts and launch email campaigns in three steps: importing audiences, mapping variables, and crafting sequences. Features like custom sending schedules, time delays, and variable use in subject lines enhance personalization. The built-in email validator ensures lists are free of irrelevant emails, improving open rates and sender reputation.

3. Lead Finder and B2B Database

Closely’s Lead Finder tool provides access to a database of over 100 million B2B contacts, enabling users to create laser-focused prospect lists using filters like location, industry, job title, skills, company name, revenue, and funding. The platform also supports CSV imports and integration with LinkedIn Sales Navigator for precise audience targeting. This feature is particularly valuable for sales teams looking to identify niche groups or event attendees.

4. Unified Inbox

Closely’s unified inbox centralizes LinkedIn and email conversations, allowing users to view, sort, and manage messages efficiently. Features like automatic refresh, response tagging (e.g., Positive, Negative, SQL), and file attachments streamline communication. This eliminates the need to switch between platforms, saving time and improving organization.

5. Campaign Analytics

Closely provides detailed analytics to track campaign performance, offering insights into metrics like connection request acceptance rates, message responses, and prospect engagement. Users can monitor over 20 key metrics, enabling data-driven optimization of outreach strategies.

6. CRM Integration

The platform integrates seamlessly with popular CRM systems, ensuring data synchronization and a comprehensive view of the sales pipeline. This is a significant advantage for sales teams managing large prospect lists and aiming to maintain consistent workflows.

7. Safety and Compliance

Closely prioritizes account safety by using dedicated residential proxies for each LinkedIn account and adhering to LinkedIn’s usage limits. It also complies with GDPR regulations, making it suitable for users in regions with strict data protection laws. The cloud-based nature of the platform reduces the risk of account bans compared to browser extensions.

Pricing

Closely offers a range of pricing plans, from a free tier to premium subscriptions, with costs varying based on features and usage limits. According to available data, pricing starts at $59 per month, though specific plans range up to $339 per month for advanced features.

Free Plan: Includes basic features, suitable for testing the platform but limited in campaign volume and functionality.
Paid Plans: Starting at $59/month, these unlock advanced features like multi-channel campaigns, lead finder access, and email validation. Higher-tier plans offer more seats for LinkedIn and email accounts, increased credits, and enhanced analytics.
Lifetime Deal (AppSumo): Closely has offered lifetime deals on AppSumo, starting at $69 for a one-time payment. These deals provide access to core features with monthly credit resets, though some advanced features may require additional codes.

Users have noted that Closely’s pricing is reasonable compared to competitors like Linked Helper or Expandi, but some find it relatively expensive for small businesses or solopreneurs. The lifetime deal is a cost-effective option for long-term users, though additional codes may be needed to scale features.

User Experience

Closely’s user interface is frequently praised for its simplicity and intuitiveness. Setting up campaigns is straightforward, with guided steps for selecting audiences, crafting messages, and launching outreach. The platform’s tutorial videos and help library are well-regarded, making it accessible even for users new to LinkedIn automation. However, some users report a learning curve when configuring advanced features, such as multi-chained campaigns or CRM integrations.

The cloud-based design eliminates the need for constant browser interaction, allowing campaigns to run in the background. Users appreciate the ability to manage multiple LinkedIn accounts and monitor responses through the unified inbox. However, occasional glitches and bugs have been reported, particularly with inbox functionality and search features, though the support team is generally responsive in addressing these issues.

Pros of Closely

Based on user reviews and platform analysis, Closely offers several advantages:

Ease of Use: The intuitive interface and guided setup make it accessible for beginners and experienced users alike.
Effective Automation: Users report a 3x increase in connection requests and a 2x rise in lead generation, highlighting the platform’s effectiveness.
Comprehensive Features: Combines LinkedIn automation, email outreach, lead finding, and CRM integration in a single platform.
Account Safety: Cloud-based design, dedicated proxies, and compliance with LinkedIn policies reduce the risk of account restrictions.
Responsive Support: The support team is praised for quick responses, though availability may depend on time zones.
Lifetime Deal Value: The AppSumo deal offers significant savings for long-term users.

Cons of Closely

Despite its strengths, Closely has some limitations:

Limited Campaign Volume: The free plan and lower-tier plans restrict the number of simultaneous campaigns (e.g., only two campaigns per LinkedIn account), which may frustrate high-volume users.
Occasional Bugs: Some users report technical issues with inbox functionality, search tools, or message scheduling.
Learning Curve: Advanced features require time to master, particularly for users unfamiliar with automation tools.
Pricing Concerns: While competitive, the monthly subscription can be costly for small businesses, and some features are locked behind higher tiers or additional codes.
Customer Support Issues: A few users have reported poor experiences with subscription cancellations and refunds, citing unclear policies.
Missing Features: Users have requested features like messaging first-degree connections, exporting data, or integrating with other social platforms.

How Closely Compares to Alternatives

Closely operates in a competitive market with tools like Linked Helper, Expandi, Dux-Soup, and MeetAlfred. Here’s a brief comparison:

Linked Helper: Offers a wide range of automation features at a lower price point but is a browser extension, increasing the risk of LinkedIn restrictions.
Expandi: Focuses on personalized outreach and is cloud-based like Closely, but its pricing is higher, and it lacks a built-in B2B database.
Dux-Soup: A browser extension for lead scraping and profile visits, it’s more affordable but less comprehensive than Closely’s multi-channel approach.
MeetAlfred: Supports multi-channel outreach (LinkedIn, email, Twitter), but its interface is less intuitive, and pricing is higher.

Closely stands out for its cloud-based design, unified inbox, and B2B database, making it a strong choice for LinkedIn-focused users. However, businesses needing broader social media integration or lower-cost options may prefer alternatives.

User Feedback and Real-World Performance

User reviews of Closely are mixed but generally positive, with an average rating of 4.3–4.7 across platforms like AppSumo, G2, and Capterra. Positive feedback highlights the platform’s ease of use, effective automation, and ability to generate leads. For example, one user reported, “Closely has been a game-changer for managing my sales pipeline on LinkedIn,” while another noted a 10x ROI from automated inquiries.

Negative reviews often focus on technical issues, limited features, or customer support challenges. Some users have expressed frustration with subscription renewals, with one stating, “They charged us again after cancellation, and support was unhelpful.” Others have noted that the platform lacks features like messaging first-degree connections or exporting campaign data, which competitors offer.

In real-world use, Closely has delivered impressive results for businesses. A marketing agency reported connecting with high-value prospects within six months, while a solopreneur praised the platform’s ability to run campaigns on autopilot. However, success depends on proper campaign setup and adherence to LinkedIn’s limits.

Is Closely Worth It?

Closely is a powerful tool for businesses and professionals looking to streamline LinkedIn and email outreach. Its strengths lie in its user-friendly interface, comprehensive feature set, and focus on account safety, making it ideal for sales teams, marketers, and solopreneurs. The B2B database and CRM integration add significant value, while the lifetime deal on AppSumo offers a cost-effective entry point.

However, the platform isn’t perfect. Occasional bugs, limited campaign volumes, and a learning curve for advanced features may deter some users. Customer support issues, particularly around subscriptions, are a concern, and businesses needing extensive integrations or lower pricing may find alternatives more suitable.

For those prioritizing LinkedIn automation with a cloud-based, safe, and scalable solution, Closely is worth considering. The free trial and 60-day money-back guarantee provide a low-risk way to test its capabilities.

Final Thoughts

Closely.com is a robust LinkedIn automation tool that simplifies outreach and lead generation, offering a compelling mix of automation, analytics, and integration features. While it excels in ease of use and safety, it faces challenges with occasional technical issues and customer support. Compared to competitors, Closely strikes a balance between functionality and affordability, particularly for LinkedIn-focused users. By addressing user feedback and expanding features, Closely has the potential to become a top-tier sales engagement platform. For now, it’s a solid choice for businesses looking to boost their LinkedIn presence and drive growth through automated outreach.