What is the ideal number of steps in a sequence?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but a good sequence typically includes 3 to 5 steps spaced out over 7 to 14 days. This gives you enough touchpoints to stay top-of-mind without overwhelming your prospect.

A simple and effective sequence might look like:

  1. Day 1 – Intro email or LinkedIn connection request

  2. Day 3 – Follow-up message (LinkedIn or email)

  3. Day 6 – Value-add or check-in message

  4. Day 10 – Final nudge or light reminder

Each step increases your chances of getting a response while showing persistence and professionalism.

Things to consider:

  • Shorter sequences (2–3 steps) work well if you’re reaching out to warm contacts or referrals.

  • Longer sequences (5+ steps) can be effective for colder outreach or when you’re targeting multiple channels (LinkedIn and email).

  • Be sure to stop the sequence when someone replies—Scout handles this automatically.

Pro tip: Focus each message on a single goal—starting a conversation. Keep it short, personalized, and low-pressure.

With Scout, you can test and tweak different sequence lengths to see what works best for your audience.

Contact Look-Ups

Unlock verified email and LinkedIn info for your target contacts so you can reach out directly. Each time you unlock a person’s contact information (email, LinkedIn, and more), it counts as a contact look-up. Your plan includes a set number of credits to use toward these look-ups.