When it comes to cold outreach, the quality of your list is paramount. A highly targeted list ensures that you’re connecting with the right companies and decision-makers. While many take shortcuts or rely on broad filters, we adopt a more precise and in-depth approach to create lists that perfectly match the ideal customer profile (ICP). Here’s how we do it and why it sets us apart.
The Problem with Standard Lists
A common mistake in cold outreach is using pre-made lists or scraping tools that claim to provide large, comprehensive databases. The reality is that many of these lists don’t meet the necessary criteria. Some companies are in unrelated industries, some have outdated information, and others don’t even exist anymore.
We’ve encountered lists filled with companies that:
– Aren’t in the industry they claim to be (e.g., software developers rather than true SaaS providers).
– Have been acquired or shut down.
– Don’t meet size or location requirements.
Without proper vetting, these lists waste valuable time and resources.
Our Detailed Pre-Qualification Process
To ensure quality, we use a multi-step process that pre-qualifies every company before they’re added to the list.
Applying Basic Filters.
We start by applying broad filters to narrow down companies that meet the initial criteria, such as industry, region, and employee size. However, instead of stopping here like many others do, we take several extra steps to verify accuracy.
Manual Website Verification
After filtering, we manually check each company’s website to confirm that it fits our criteria. For example, if we’re targeting SaaS companies, we ensure their business model aligns with SaaS and isn’t misrepresented as software development or consulting.
Identifying the Right Contacts
Once the company is verified, we search for the most relevant contact, typically a sales director, head of sales, or CRO. We use tools like Apollo to locate these contacts, but we don’t rely solely on automated data—we manually verify if they’re still employed by the company and active in their role.
Cross-Referencing with LinkedIn
If tools like Apollo don’t provide accurate or up-to-date contact information, we cross-reference the company’s LinkedIn page. This step not only helps us find key personnel, but it also ensures that the data is current and that the identified contacts are still with the company. This is especially valuable when we’re using multiple outreach channels, such as LinkedIn, for a more holistic approach. Reaching out via multiple channels increases the chances of engagement and provides more touchpoints for interaction.
Data Enrichment
After identifying the right person, we enrich their information using tools like Clay to fill any gaps in the contact details. We also check their LinkedIn activity to confirm they’ve been active within the past 30 days—this increases the likelihood of them engaging with outreach efforts.
Why Our Approach Stands Out
Our method goes beyond typical list-building practices, offering a deeper level of precision. While it may take longer than simply applying filters and scraping data, it results in a highly targeted list that delivers better engagement and more conversions. Here’s why our approach makes a difference:
– Accuracy: Each company and contact is manually verified to ensure they align with the ICP and fit your campaign’s objectives.
– Quality Over Quantity: We focus on fewer, higher-quality leads to minimise wasted efforts on irrelevant or outdated prospects.
– Current and Reliable Data: By cross-referencing with LinkedIn and using enrichment tools, we ensure that our contact information is up-to-date and complete.
– Multichannel Synergy: Cross-referencing contacts with LinkedIn is especially beneficial when combining outreach channels, such as email and LinkedIn, for a more comprehensive approach to connecting with prospects.
– Targeted Engagement: With verified companies and the right decision-makers, your outreach efforts are more likely to result in meaningful conversations and conversions.
The Bottom Line
Building a cold outreach list that works requires attention to detail and thorough verification. While many take shortcuts, we prioritise accuracy, quality, and relevance. Our approach ensures you’re targeting the right companies with up-to-date contact information, leading to more productive conversations and a higher success rate.
By cross-referencing contacts and using multiple outreach channels like LinkedIn, we create a more holistic approach that boosts engagement and opens up multiple avenues for connecting with your audience. In cold outreach, precision matters—and we’re committed to getting it right.
Ready to Improve Your Outreach?
If you’re tired of wasting time on outdated or irrelevant lists, let us help you target the right companies and decision-makers. Reach out to us today to discuss how we can build a highly tailored outreach list for your campaign that delivers real results.
Let’s schedule a consultation to explore how our process can improve your outreach success. CLICK HERE