Engagement & CRM Β· Workflow

Breakcold Setup: Social CRM + Unified Inbox + Auto Tasks

Configure Breakcold's pipeline, connect email and social channels to the unified inbox, and activate AI auto-task creation so follow-ups happen without manual input.

Written for operators No vendor influence Practical, not theoretical

Before You Start

60 to 90 minutes to a live Breakcold workspace

Output: CRM pipeline live, email and social channels connected, AI auto-task rules active, one lead imported and moving through the pipeline automatically.

Time required: 60 to 90 minutes on first setup. Additional channels or pipeline stages take 10 to 15 minutes once the workspace is live.

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Prerequisites

Active Breakcold paid plan (14-day trial includes full access). Gmail or Outlook account for outreach. Chrome browser for lead import. LinkedIn integration requires CRM Pro ($59/mo) or CRM Max ($99/mo), not available on Essentials.

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Social inbox: Pro or Max only

LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Telegram inboxes are gated behind CRM Pro (1 social inbox, $59/mo) and CRM Max (3 social inboxes, $99/mo). Confirm your plan before Step 3.

Workflow Overview

The 6-step setup at a glance

StepActionToolOutput
1Choose plan tier and configure workspace settingsBreakcold SettingsWorkspace live, plan confirmed, team seats assigned
2Connect Gmail or Outlook to the unified inboxBreakcold IntegrationsEmail channel connected, outbound sending enabled
3Connect LinkedIn and social channels (Pro/Max only)Breakcold Social InboxSocial conversations centralised alongside email
4Build pipeline stages and configure lead movement rulesBreakcold CRM PipelinePipeline active with auto-movement triggers set
5Enable AI auto-task creation with agent personasBreakcold AI TasksFollow-up tasks created automatically on interaction
6Import leads via Chrome extension and verify end-to-endBreakcold Chrome ExtensionLeads in pipeline, inbox active, tasks generating

Step by Step

Breakcold setup: pipeline, unified inbox, and auto tasks

  1. Choose your plan tier and configure workspace settings

    In Settings, confirm your active plan: Essentials ($29/mo, email only, 25 AI Leads/seat), Pro ($59/mo, 1 social inbox, 50 AI Leads/seat), Max ($99/mo, 3 social inboxes, 200 AI Leads/seat). Invite team members and assign seats. Your plan determines which steps below are available.

  2. Connect Gmail or Outlook to the unified inbox

    Go to Integrations, select your email provider, authenticate via OAuth, and grant read and send permissions. Connect the individual sender account you use for outbound, not a shared alias. Shared aliases break per-rep pipeline tracking.

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    Connect Smartlead for volume sending

    If you run high-volume cold email through Smartlead, connect it here so replies surface in the Breakcold unified inbox alongside direct Gmail or Outlook responses. This prevents hot replies from sitting unseen in a separate tool.

  3. Connect LinkedIn and social channels to the unified inbox (Pro or Max required)

    Navigate to Social Inbox in Integrations and connect your LinkedIn account. On Max, connect up to 3 accounts (LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Telegram). If you use Sales Navigator, connect it here so account context appears inside Breakcold contact records without switching tools.

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    No Zapier workaround on Essentials

    Routing LinkedIn messages through Zapier on Essentials creates a fragile sync that drops messages under load. Upgrade to Pro before connecting social channels.

  4. Build pipeline stages and configure auto lead movement rules

    In CRM Pipeline, create stages that match your process (example: New Lead, Contacted, Replied, Meeting Booked, Closed). In Pipeline Automation, map interaction events (reply received, link clicked) to stage transitions. Skipping this reduces Breakcold to a manual tracker.

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    Cap at 5 pipeline stages

    More than 5 stages creates reporting noise and harder automation rules. Start lean, observe where leads stall after 2 weeks, and add stages only when a missing one would change how you act on a deal.

  5. Enable AI auto-task creation and configure agent personas

    In AI Tasks settings, enable auto-task creation and set a due date window: 24h for active campaigns, 48 to 72h for relationship-based outreach. Configure AI personas per lead tier for teams where reps handle different accounts. Breakcold will not create duplicate tasks if a follow-up already exists.

  6. Import leads via the Chrome extension and verify end-to-end

    Install the Breakcold Chrome extension, navigate to a test LinkedIn profile, and import the lead into your first pipeline stage. Send a message from the unified inbox and confirm: message sent from the correct account, interaction logged, stage updated automatically, and AI follow-up task created. If all four events occur, setup is complete.

When Things Break

4 common Breakcold failures and their fixes

Most failures fall into four categories: plan limits blocking a feature, a permissions gap on channel connection, auto-tasks not enabled, or pipeline movement rules left at defaults.

If
Social inbox is greyed out or missing
This requires CRM Pro ($59/mo) or Max ($99/mo). Essentials does not include social inboxes. Confirm your plan in Settings before connecting LinkedIn.
Upgrade plan β†’
If
Auto-tasks are not generating after interactions
The AI task toggle was not enabled or interaction triggers were not configured. Go to AI Tasks settings, activate the toggle, and select the relevant trigger events. Breakcold skips task creation if a follow-up already exists for the lead.
If
Pipeline stage is not updating after a reply
Open Pipeline Automation and confirm "reply received" is mapped to the target stage transition. Also verify the lead is assigned to an active pipeline, not an untracked list.
If
Chrome extension is not creating leads on import
Grant Breakcold full site permissions for LinkedIn in Chrome Extensions settings. If permissions are correct but the import still fails, refresh the LinkedIn profile page before opening the extension again.

Common Questions

4 questions about Breakcold plans, stack, and tasks

Q Which Breakcold plan do I need for the unified inbox and auto tasks?

Email unified inbox and auto-tasks are available on all paid plans, including Essentials ($29/mo). Social inbox (LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Telegram) requires Pro ($59/mo) for 1 account or Max ($99/mo) for 3.

Q Does Breakcold replace a standalone cold email tool like Smartlead?

No. Breakcold is a CRM and unified inbox, not a high-volume sequencer. Use Smartlead for delivery and sequence logic; Breakcold centralises replies and pipeline tracking via native integration.

Q How does Breakcold's AI auto-task creation differ from a manual reminder system?

Breakcold creates a follow-up task automatically when an interaction is detected and no next action is scheduled. It also suggests the task type based on conversation context, replacing generic reminders with specific next steps.

Q Can I use Breakcold alongside HubSpot or Apollo?

Yes. Breakcold syncs contacts two-way with HubSpot and imports leads directly from Apollo without CSV exports. Both integrations are configured in the Breakcold Integrations panel.

Ready to set up Breakcold for your outbound workflow?
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