When you create a LinkedIn contact list in GetReplies, the import goes through a building phase where GetReplies fetches profiles from LinkedIn on your behalf. Users often report either the list staying stuck on "Building" for a long time, or importing far fewer contacts than requested (e.g. only 8 out of 100).
List is stuck on "Building" — is this normal?
Yes — the "Building" status is expected and does not mean something is broken. The time it takes depends on the number of contacts you requested:
Contacts requested | Approximate build time |
Up to 100 | A few minutes |
100–500 | 10–30 minutes |
500–1,000 | 30–90 minutes |
1,000+ | Several hours — leave it overnight if needed |
To check progress, go to Contacts → Lists in the left menu and look at the status and contact count on the list row. Refresh periodically — it will update when complete.
Use large imports judiciously
LinkedIn monitors scraping activity. Requesting very large lists frequently can put your LinkedIn account at risk. We recommend importing in batches of 100–300 at a time and only requesting what you plan to actively use in a campaign.
Only 8 contacts imported — why?
If you requested 100+ contacts but only 8 (or a similarly small number) came through, the most likely causes are:
LinkedIn search returned fewer results than expected — The search URL you used may have very narrow filters, or LinkedIn may have limited the results visible to your account. Try broadening your search criteria.
LinkedIn rate-limited the import — LinkedIn limits how many profiles can be accessed in a short window. If you recently ran multiple imports, LinkedIn may have throttled the results. Wait a few hours and try again with a smaller batch size (50–100).
LinkedIn account activity limits — Free LinkedIn accounts have stricter search and access limits than Sales Navigator accounts. If you are on a free account, consider running smaller batches.
Tips for reliable LinkedIn imports
Use a specific LinkedIn search URL from a filtered Sales Navigator or regular LinkedIn search.
Start with 100–200 contacts for your first import to validate the list quality before going larger.
Avoid running multiple imports simultaneously.
If the list stays stuck on "Building" for more than 2 hours with fewer than 200 contacts requested, contact support with the list name.