How to Chain Phantoms to Build Automated Sequences

Chaining Phantoms lets you connect two or more individual Phantoms into a multi-step automated sequence, where the output of one Phantom automatically feeds into the next as input. This is useful when you need to perform tasks in a specific order, like scraping a list of profiles and then sending each one a connection request. You set up each Phantom separately, then link them so results flow from one step to the next without manual intervention.

Workflows already automate these sequences for you automatically, so chaining only applies when you're working with standalone Phantoms.

When to use chaining

Chaining is helpful when you want to:

• Combine multiple Phantoms into a custom multi-step sequence.
• Skip manual steps like downloading and re-uploading CSV files.
• Use results from one Phantom as the starting point for another: like extracting leads, then enriching or messaging them.

Phantoms can only be chained if they work on the same platform.
For example, a LinkedIn extractor followed by a LinkedIn messenger. If the results format doesn't match what the next Phantom needs, chaining won't be available.

Which Phantoms can be chained

You can chain Phantoms when:

• The first Phantom gives you a lead list as a result (like a profile or search export).
• The next Phantom lets you use a lead list from another Phantom to run.

To check if a Phantom supports chaining:

1. Open its setup and go to the Input to use step (usually the first or second step in your Phantom setup).
2. Look for the My Phantoms option, which lets you select a list from a previous run. 
   

Example: chaining two LinkedIn Phantoms

To illustrate chaining, here's an example using:

1. A Phantom to extract leads from LinkedIn company posts.
2. A Phantom to connect and send follow-up messages to these leads.

The goal is to extract leads from a company's posts likes and/or comments, and then automatically send those leads a message, all without downloading or uploading files.

Step 1: Set up your first Phantom

1. Go to the Solutions page in your workspace. 
2. Search for the LinkedIn Post Commenter and Liker Scraper Phantom click Use now.
3. Complete the setup steps: 
   - Paste the URL of the company post(s) you want to extract leads from.
   
   - Connect your LinkedIn account.
   - Adjust any other settings, in this example: whether you want to extract leads who commented and/or liked the company post. 
   
4. Click Save & Close and Launch this first Phantom.

You can rename your Phantom by clicking the pen icon next to its name, this makes it easier to find later when chaining.

Step 2: Add your second Phantom and connect your data

1. Return to the Solutions page in your workspace. 
2. Search for the LinkedIn Outreach Phantom, and click Use now.
3. In the Input step, choose My Phantoms as your lead source.
4. From the dropdown list:
   • Select the Phantom you just set up (the one that extracted leads).
   • Choose the file labeled results.csv.
5. Complete the remaining setup steps:
   • Write your message template.
   • Customize delays or follow-ups if needed.
6. Click Save & Close once setup is complete.

Chaining only works when the input and output formats are compatible. In this case, both Phantoms use LinkedIn profiles as input/output.

Step 3: Organize your sequence

1. Navigate to your Dashboard.
2. Drag and group the two Phantoms together to keep your sequence organized.
3. Use the toggle switches to manually launch or pause your Phantoms when needed.

Best practices

• Always make sure the results file is up to date before using it in another Phantom.
• Give each Phantom a clear name so it's easy to identify when selecting from My Phantoms.
• Each Phantom in a chain runs on its own schedule: Launching Phantom 1 doesn't automatically trigger Phantom 2. Set up repeated launches for both, with proper delays between them to stay within platform limits. See Schedule Automatic Repeated Launches.

Watch video walkthrough

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean to chain Phantoms?

Chaining means connecting two or more Phantoms so the output of one automatically becomes the input for the next, creating a multi-step sequence.

How is chaining different from using a Workflow?

Chaining connects individual Phantoms manually through result file links, while Workflows are pre-built multi-step automations with a visual interface. Chaining gives more flexibility for custom sequences.

Can I chain more than two Phantoms together?

Yes, you can chain as many Phantoms as you need. Each one passes its results to the next in the sequence.

Which Phantoms can be chained?

Any Phantom that produces an output file can be the first in a chain. The second Phantom just needs to accept the type of data the first one outputs (e.g., LinkedIn profile URLs).