Getting your first 10 B2B leads is the hardest part.Not 100. Not 1,000.Just the first 10.Because at the start:<ul><li>You have no audience</li><li>No social proof</li><li>No idea what actually works</li></ul>Most founders get stuck here and assume they need:<ul><li>Ads</li><li>Expensive tools</li><li>Or a big network</li></ul>You don’t.In fact, most people fail because they’re making basic prospecting mistakes (I broke these down here → <a href="https://www.nexaleadgen.com/blog/7-linkedin-prospecting-mistakes-that-kill-your-lead-generation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“7 LinkedIn Prospecting Mistakes That Kill Your Lead Generation”</a>).This is the exact system I’d use to get my first 10 leads from LinkedIn today.<h2>Step 1: Define ONE Clear ICP</h2>If you target everyone, you get no one.Bad example:<blockquote>“I help businesses generate leads”</blockquote>Good example:<blockquote>“I help SaaS founders get leads from LinkedIn”</blockquote>Even better:<blockquote>“I help early-stage SaaS founders get their first 20 leads using LinkedIn”</blockquote>Clarity = higher reply rate.If you’re unsure how to approach SaaS founders specifically, read this → <a href="https://www.nexaleadgen.com/blog/best-linkedin-lead-generation-strategies-for-saas-founders" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Best LinkedIn Lead Generation Strategies for SaaS Founders”</a><h2>Step 2: Manually Find 20–30 Ideal Prospects</h2>Don’t overcomplicate this.Search on LinkedIn:<ul><li>“SaaS Founder”</li><li>“Co-founder SaaS”</li><li>“Indie Hacker”</li></ul>Apply filters:<ul><li>Recent posts</li><li>Active profiles</li></ul>You want people who:<ul><li>Are posting</li><li>Are building</li><li>Actually need leads</li></ul>If you’re relying on tools for this, you might be doing it wrong →<a href="https://www.nexaleadgen.com/blog/how-to-find-linkedin-leads-without-sales-navigator" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> “How to Find LinkedIn Leads Without Sales Navigator”</a><h2>Step 3: Warm Them Up (Most People Skip This)</h2>If you send cold messages immediately, you’ll get ignored.Instead:<ul><li>Like 2–3 of their posts</li><li>Leave a thoughtful comment</li><li>Follow them</li></ul>This takes 2 minutes but increases replies massively.<h2>Step 4: Send a Simple, Non-Spam Message</h2>Don’t pitch.Don’t sell.Don’t write paragraphs.Use this:<blockquote>“Hey, saw your post about [topic] — how are you currently getting leads for your SaaS?”</blockquote>That’s it.Why it works:<ul><li>It’s natural</li><li>It starts a conversation</li><li>It doesn’t feel like a pitch</li></ul>If you’re currently using tools like Apollo and not getting results, you should read this → <a href="https://www.nexaleadgen.com/blog/apollo-alternative-best-tools-for-linkedin-lead-generation-2026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Apollo Alternative: Best Tools for LinkedIn Lead Generation (2026)”</a><h2>Step 5: Turn Conversations into Leads</h2>Once they reply:<ul><li>Ask 1–2 questions</li><li>Understand their problem</li><li>THEN mention what you’re doing</li></ul>Example:<blockquote>“Got it — I’ve been working on a system to help SaaS founders get leads from LinkedIn. Happy to share what’s working if you want.”</blockquote>No pressure.No push.Just value.If you’re comparing tools at this stage, this breakdown will help → <a href="https://www.nexaleadgen.com/blog/nexa-vs-apollo-which-lead-generation-tool-is-better-for-linkedin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Nexa vs Apollo: Which Lead Generation Tool Is Better for LinkedIn?”</a><h2>Step 6: Do This Daily (Consistency Wins)</h2>Do this every day:<ul><li>10 new prospects</li><li>10–15 warm interactions</li><li>5–10 messages</li></ul>Within a week:<ul><li>Conversations start</li><li>Replies increase</li><li>Leads come in</li></ul>Tools can help scale this later, but don’t rely on them early → <a href="https://www.nexaleadgen.com/blog/best-linkedin-lead-generation-tools-for-saas-founders-2026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Best LinkedIn Lead Generation Tools for SaaS Founders (2026)”</a><h2>Common Mistakes to Avoid</h2>❌ Sending long copy-paste messages ❌ Pitching in first message ❌ Targeting “everyone” ❌ Not following upAgain most of these are explained in detail here →<a href="https://www.nexaleadgen.com/blog/7-linkedin-prospecting-mistakes-that-kill-your-lead-generation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> “7 LinkedIn Prospecting Mistakes That Kill Your Lead Generation”</a><h2>⚡ Want to Speed This Up?</h2>If you want to skip manual work and generate qualified leads faster:👉 Use a system that:<ul><li>Finds verified prospects</li><li>Filters by intent</li><li>Helps you personalize outreach</li></ul><a href="https://www.nexaleadgen.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">(That’s exactly what I’m building with Nexa.)</a><h2>Final Thoughts</h2>Your first 10 leads don’t come from hacks.They come from:<ul><li>Clear targeting</li><li>Real conversations</li><li>Consistency</li></ul>Once you get those first 10:<ul><li>You understand your market</li><li>You refine your pitch</li><li>Growth becomes easier</li></ul>Start small. Stay consistent.

Nexa Blog

How to Get Your First 10 B2B Leads from LinkedIn (No Audience, No Budget)