Score and send LinkedIn DMs with GPT-4.1-mini, Google Sheets and Phantombuster

How it works
This workflow creates an AI-powered LinkedIn DM outreach sequence that automatically scores, messages, and follows up with prospects using Google Sheets as a lightweight CRM. When the workflow runs on a schedule, it reads prospect data from Google Sheets and filters only leads that are new or due for action. Each lead is scored by GPT-4.1-mini, which assigns a lead score, priority, and recommended message angle. Based on the prospect's outreach step, the workflow either sends a personalized first DM or a follow-up DM via Phantombuster, then updates the sheet with the latest status and next action date. Leads with no reply after the full sequence are automatically closed.

Step-by-step
Trigger and fetch prospects**
Schedule Trigger – Runs the workflow every hour automatically.
Get Prospects from Sheet – Reads all prospect rows from Google Sheets.
Filter Active Prospects – Filters leads that are new or have a NextActionDate due today. Skips Closed and Replied leads.
Batch Prospects – Processes leads in batches of 3 to respect API rate limits.
AI lead scoring**
Score Lead with AI – Sends each prospect to GPT-4.1-mini for evaluation. Returns lead score (Hot / Warm / Cold), priority, and recommended message angle.
Parse Lead Score – Extracts and maps the AI JSON response into structured fields.
Route by outreach step**
Route by Step – Checks the Step value for each lead and routes to the correct flow: Step 0 → first DM, Step 1 → follow-up DM, Step 2+ → auto-close.
DM generation, send and CRM update**
Generate First DM – GPT-4.1-mini writes a short, personalized cold DM based on role, company, and AI message angle.
Parse First DM – Extracts the generated message text.
Send First DM via Phantombuster – Sends the DM to the prospect's LinkedIn profile via Phantombuster HTTP API.
Update Sheet — First DM Sent – Updates the sheet: Status → Contacted, Step → 1, NextActionDate → +3 days.
Generate Follow-up DM – GPT-4.1-mini writes a soft follow-up referencing the first message.
Parse Follow-up DM – Extracts the follow-up message text.
Send Follow-up DM via Phantombuster – Sends the follow-up to the same LinkedIn profile.
Update Sheet — Follow-up Sent – Updates the sheet: Status → Follow-up Sent, Step → 2, NextActionDate → +2 days.
Close Lead in Sheet – Marks unresponsive leads as Closed with an auto-closure note.

Why use this?
Automates the full LinkedIn outreach sequence without manual effort
Uses AI to personalize every DM based on prospect role, company, and scoring
Manages the entire pipeline from a single Google Sheet — no extra CRM needed
Timing between steps is controlled automatically via NextActionDate
Easily customizable for different industries, message tones, or outreach sequences