Question 1

What's the difference between leads and prospects?

Accepted Answer

Leads are contacts who might be interested. Prospects are leads you've qualified as having need, budget, and authority. Focus on prospect quality, not lead quantity.

Question 2

How do I define my ideal customer profile?

Accepted Answer

Analyze your best customers: industry, company size, job titles, tech stack, funding stage, pain points. The more specific your ICP, the more efficient your outreach.

Question 3

Are lead databases accurate?

Accepted Answer

Accuracy varies: 70-90% for emails, 60-80% for phones. Use verification tools. Expect some bounce. Multiple sources improve coverage. Quality data costs more but wastes less time.

Question 4

How many leads do I need?

Accepted Answer

Work backwards: revenue goal ÷ average deal size = deals needed. Deals ÷ close rate = opportunities. Opportunities ÷ meeting rate = leads needed. Know your funnel math.

Question 5

What's better: inbound or outbound lead generation?

Accepted Answer

Both. Inbound (content, SEO) compounds over time but is slow. Outbound (cold email, calling) is faster but doesn't scale linearly. Most startups need outbound early, then build inbound.

Question 6

How do I find leads without paying for tools?

Accepted Answer

LinkedIn search (limited but free), Twitter/X lists, Product Hunt, GitHub, industry forums, conference attendee lists, podcast listeners, newsletter subscribers. Manual but zero cost.

Question 7

Which lead database should I use?

Accepted Answer

Apollo: best value for startups. ZoomInfo: most data but expensive. LinkedIn Sales Navigator: best for relationship selling. Hunter: email-finding focus. Start with one and expand.

Question 8

How do I enrich my existing leads?

Accepted Answer

Use enrichment tools (Clearbit, Apollo) to add missing data: company size, funding, tech stack. This enables better segmentation and personalization.

Question 9

Is buying lead lists worth it?

Accepted Answer

Generally no. Purchased lists have poor accuracy and damage sender reputation. Build your own lists from reliable sources. Quality over quantity always.

Question 10

How do I avoid wasting time on bad leads?

Accepted Answer

Clear ICP definition, qualification questions early, lead scoring based on fit and behavior, quick disqualification process. Time spent on bad leads = time not spent on good ones.

Question 11

What's intent data and is it worth it?

Accepted Answer

Intent data shows companies actively researching solutions like yours. Can be valuable for timing outreach. Expensive though—usually for later-stage companies. Tools: Bombora, G2.

Question 12

How do I find leads at specific companies?

Accepted Answer

LinkedIn for org charts, Apollo/ZoomInfo for contact info, company websites for team pages, press releases for new hires. Build account maps for strategic targets.

Question 13

How often should I refresh my lead data?

Accepted Answer

People change jobs every 2-3 years on average. Refresh quarterly for active campaigns. Monthly verification for high-priority accounts. Old data = bounced emails.

Question 14

How do I handle GDPR with lead data?

Accepted Answer

B2B cold outreach is generally allowed under legitimate interest, but honor opt-outs immediately, include unsubscribe options, and don't buy sketchy lists. Know your jurisdiction's rules.

Question 15

What's the best way to organize leads?

Accepted Answer

Segment by ICP fit, buying stage, source, and last activity. Use your CRM's list/segment features. Regular hygiene to remove bounces and unresponsives. Clean data = clear thinking.

Question 16

How do I prioritize which leads to contact first?

Accepted Answer

Score based on: ICP fit, recent activity/intent signals, engagement with your content, timing indicators (funding, hiring). Focus energy on highest-probability opportunities.

I need to find more potential customers

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Hunter.io

Lusha

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