Getting Started with Handshake: A Complete Walkthrough

So you've signed up for Handshake - welcome! This guide walks you through the entire setup process, from installing the Chrome extension to launching your first trust-building campaign.

Step 1: Install the Chrome Extension

Head to the Chrome Web Store and search for "Handshake Browser Relay" or use the direct link from your dashboard. Click Add to Chrome, then confirm the permissions prompt.

The extension needs access to read page content so it can help your AI agent navigate and interact with websites authentically. It does not collect browsing history, passwords, or personal data.

Once installed, you'll see the Handshake icon in your browser toolbar. Click it and sign in with the same account you used to register.

Step 2: Connect Your Accounts

Navigate to Settings > Connected Accounts in your Handshake dashboard. Here you can link the social profiles you want your agent to operate through:

• Reddit - Connect via OAuth. Your agent will use this to engage in relevant subreddits.
• LinkedIn - Connect your profile for professional networking and outreach.
• Twitter/X - Link your account for community engagement and thought leadership.

Important: Handshake uses your real accounts and real browser session. This means every interaction looks completely authentic because it *is* authentic - it's your real profile, your real cookies, your real IP address.

Step 3: Define Your Target Audience

Go to Campaigns > New Campaign and start by defining who you want to reach:

1. Industry - Select the verticals your ideal customers operate in.
2. Role - Specify job titles or seniority levels (e.g., "VP of Marketing", "Founder").
3. Signals - Choose trigger events like "just raised funding", "hiring for X role", or "posted about Y topic".
4. Communities - Pick the subreddits, LinkedIn groups, or Twitter lists where your audience hangs out.

The more specific you are, the better Handshake can target genuine opportunities for engagement.

Step 4: Set Your Engagement Style

This is where Handshake gets interesting. Instead of blasting messages, you define how your agent should build trust first:

• Comment frequency - How often should your agent engage? We recommend starting with 3-5 genuine comments per day per platform.
• Tone - Upload examples of your writing style, or choose from templates like "Helpful Expert", "Curious Peer", or "Industry Insider".
• Topics - Define what subjects your agent should engage on. Stick to areas where you have genuine expertise.
• Boundaries - Set guardrails for what your agent should never do (e.g., never make claims about competitors, never share pricing, never be argumentative).

Step 5: Configure Outreach Rules

Once your agent has built familiarity through engagement, you can define when and how it should reach out directly:

• Trust threshold - How many interactions should happen before a direct message? We recommend at least 3-5 touchpoints.
• Message templates - Write 3-4 variations of your outreach message. Keep them short, personal, and reference specific interactions.
• Timing - Set preferred days and hours for outreach. Avoid weekends and late nights.
• Daily limits - Cap the number of direct messages per day (we recommend 5-10 to start).

Step 6: Review and Launch

Before going live, Handshake shows you a preview of planned actions for the next 48 hours:

• Which communities your agent will engage in
• What types of content it will respond to
• How many interactions are planned
• When the first outreach messages might go out (based on trust threshold)

Review everything carefully. You can approve, modify, or reject any planned action. Once you're comfortable, hit Launch Campaign.

Step 7: Monitor and Optimize

Your dashboard shows real-time metrics:

• Engagement rate - How often your comments get upvoted/liked
• Reply rate - How many people respond to your agent's contributions
• Trust score - A composite metric showing how well-received your presence is
• Outreach conversion - Response rate on direct messages
• Pipeline impact - Deals influenced by Handshake interactions

Check in daily for the first week, then weekly once things stabilize. Adjust your engagement style and outreach templates based on what's working.

That's it! You're now running a trust-first growth engine. Most teams see meaningful results within 2-3 weeks as community presence compounds.

For additional context, see Bing Webmaster Tools, Google Search Console, and Schema.org.