# LinkedIn Lead Gen for Recruiters: 70% Become SQLs | OVERTOP [Home](/)›[Success stories](/success-stories/)›[LinkedIn Ads](/success-stories/linkedin-ads/)›Hiredly LinkedIn Ads success story · Recruitment company # How a recruitment company turned 70% of its LinkedIn leads into sales-qualified leads. Hiredly needed employers, not just clicks. It sent personal messages in its CEO’s name to HR leaders, let them reply with a form that filled itself in, and then widened the audience to business owners. Lead volume rose 120% and quality held. BusinessHiredly MarketKuala Lumpur, Malaysia GoalMore employer leads that sales can close ## The results. Form fill rate compared with LinkedIn platform benchmarks; lead volume compared with the first two months of the campaign. - **70%**of LinkedIn leads became sales-qualified - **2X**Lead Gen Form fill rate vs LinkedIn benchmarks - **+120%**lead volume after widening the audience Lead-to-SQL rate is Hiredly’s average for leads that started on LinkedIn. Self-reported by the advertiser and published by LinkedIn; results for other businesses will differ. ## The challenge. Hiredly, formerly known as WOBB, is a recruitment platform that combines a job portal, headhunting and employer branding. Its customers are employers, so its growth depends on reaching the people who hire: HR teams and business owners. Other ad platforms brought leads, but not enough of the right ones. Hiredly wanted more employer leads, better quality, and messages that felt personal enough for busy HR professionals to answer. ## What they did. Conversation Ads · Lead Gen Forms · Job function and decision-maker targeting Personal messages from the CEOHiredly used [Conversation Ads](https://business.linkedin.com/advertise/ads/sponsored-messaging/conversation-ads) sent in its CEO’s name, giving HR professionals a direct, personal invitation instead of a banner.A form that fills itself inReplies led to [Lead Gen Forms](https://business.linkedin.com/advertise/ads/generate-leads) pre-filled from the member’s LinkedIn profile, so responding took a couple of taps and sales received complete details.Widened the audience after two monthsOnce the campaign proved itself, targeting expanded from HR job titles to HR and administration functions and to decision makers such as CEOs and founders.Bid to winHiredly raised its bids to stay competitive in the auction, which meant more messages delivered and more conversations started. ## Why it worked. Our read on the decisions behind the numbers, and what any business can take from them. A message is not an adA note from a CEO lands in the inbox like correspondence. For a relationship business such as recruitment, that tone fits the product.Less friction, better dataPre-filled forms remove typing on a phone, and the details come from real profiles, so the sales team starts with accurate names, titles and companies.Prove it, then expandStarting narrow and widening only after quality was proven grew volume 120% without filling the pipeline with poor leads.The whole hiring committeeHR runs the process but owners and executives sign. Reaching both sides of that decision brought in leads that could actually close. ## How we would run this play for your business. You do not need a national budget to use the same ideas. This is how Overtop Media Digital Marketing puts them to work in our [linkedin ads management](/linkedin-ads/). Write the conversationWe script message ads that sound like a person, with clear choices that lead to a booking, a download or a call.Keep forms short and pre-filledWe ask only what sales needs, and connect the form to your CRM so every lead is followed up the same day.Start narrow, then expandWe prove quality on your core audience first, then widen to the next ring of decision makers once the numbers hold.Judge on qualified leadsSales feedback on every lead flows back into targeting and bids, so the campaign keeps improving its lead quality. ## Who this play fits. You do not have to be a recruitment company to use the same approach. It is a strong fit for: - Staffing and recruiting firms - HR, payroll and benefits providers - B2B services sold to business owners - Commercial real estate and office services - Training and coaching companies - Any business that sells to a specific job title ## Want results like these? Tell us about your business and your goals. We will show you where LinkedIn ads can bring you customers, and what it would take. [Start growing with LinkedIn ads](#audit) [Or call (704) 237-0707 ›](tel:7042370707) [See how we run LinkedIn ads for our clients ›](/linkedin-ads/) ## More LinkedIn ads success stories. - [ Financial services **56%** lower cost per lead ### Alaan Read the story › ](/success-stories/linkedin-ads/alaan/) - [ Software and technology **186%** increase in return on ad spend ### Smokeball Australia Read the story › ](/success-stories/linkedin-ads/smokeball-australia/) - [ Software and technology **6X** more qualified sales meetings from marketing ### Firebolt Read the story › ](/success-stories/linkedin-ads/firebolt/) [See all LinkedIn ads success stories ›](/success-stories/linkedin-ads/) Results as published by LinkedIn in its Hiredly customer story. Self-reported; results for other businesses will differ. Analysis by Victor Bubuioc, MBA, Digital Performance and Growth Expert, published October 10, 2026.