How and Where to Buy Lead Lists for Outreach Campaigns

2023-04-18

As long as lead lists have been around, there’s been a debate about whether they’re good, bad, or somewhere in between. The right lead lists can give you access to prospects that you don’t have to find or qualify on your own. Of course, it’s important that you know how to use these lists effectively, as well as where to buy them for the best outcomes. 

Some companies automatically assume that they’re on their own for lead generation. While there is something to be said for organic lead generation, SMBs and those who are on a limited timeline and need leads fast might need something better. That’s where buying lead lists can come in. Here’s what you need to know. 

What’s a lead list?

In the world of outreach and marketing, lead lists are a resource that several companies rely on to start out with qualified prospects instead of starting from scratch. These lists are digital documents or databases that contain the information about potential leads, including their contact details, demographic information, and other details. There are lists that are designed for both B2C and B2B companies, too. 

These lists are available from separate parties, or you can get them from a lead generation service that also validates the leads that it provides. This can save you even more time because you’ll already have a list of qualified leads to start contacting to make deals. 

Should I buy lead lists?

Organic leads are great when you can get them. However, they’re only one part of your marketing strategy. You need to rely on the other services and solutions that are out there, including the option to buy lead lists. Instead of spending months, or even years, trying to cultivate a good lead base, this list can deliver them on demand. 

Lead lists give your sales team or outsourced sales outreach team the chance to skip ahead to what they do best: selling. That is, of course, provided that you buy reputable lead lists. But should you buy them in the first place? That depends. 

  • If you need a quick list of prospects to start drumming up new business, a lead list could be a good investment. 
  • If you’re a small business with limited time to scale, a lead list could be the ideal solution. 
  • If your marketing team doesn’t exist or you only have one or two people for outreach, lead lists could fit the bill. 

The most important thing is that if you are going to buy lead lists, you need to make sure that you’re getting them from a reputable source. Then, the only question is how many lists or leads you want to buy. 

The pros and cons of buying leads 

There are some people who say that lead generation is something that should be done organically. They automatically assume that buying lead lists is a “cheat” or that it isn’t going to get the most reputable leads. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Although there are some less-than-reputable sources out there, there are just as many quality places to find lead lists today. 

If you choose to buy leads, here are the biggest pros and cons to keep in mind. 

Pros:

  • Buying leads saves time and money. Even if you’re spending money on leads, it still costs less than months or years of marketing efforts for organic leads. 
  • You can find lead lists that integrate with your CRM and other tools you already use, again saving even more time and effort. 
  • Lead lists can also come with validation, so you know that you’re getting vetted prospects that are more likely to convert. 

Cons:

  • Some lead lists and suppliers are unreliable. 
  • Not all leads are validated. 
  • You’re buying used leads, so you may have some who’ve already found another solution. 

How to find reputable lead lists 

The best thing that you can do is to make sure you get lists you can actually use. To do that, you’ll want to keep the following tips in mind:

  • Pay more for better quality. A cheap list is okay, but a high-quality list that costs a bit more could be a total game-changer. Unreliable data can be more costly than you realize. Not only could it mislead your marketing efforts, but it could result in you getting leads that are essentially useless. 
  • Know your audience or target market. This will help you make better decisions about which lead lists to buy and how you can use them effectively. It will also provide you with more accurate leads that are more likely to need what you have. 
  • Test the data. Even if you get a list from a source that claims to verify them all and update their lists regularly, you need to make sure that it actually works. You can do this using phone or email verification, or you can simply search leads manually and freshen up lists with modern data tools. 

These few tips can help you get started on the right foot when it comes to buying the leads that you need. 

Where should I look for leads?

As mentioned, there are several lead-sourcing sites and tools out there. Lead lists are not difficult to find. The challenge comes in making sure that you get leads that work for your business. You can buy leads through us but if you prefer to buy your own, check out these suppliers:

These are just a handful of the tools out there that can assist you with validated, useful leads that can take your business to the next level. 

When you have better leads, will you be ready for the influx of communications?

When you work with Smith.ai, you’ll always be ready. If you need help with your outreach campaigns, ask how the virtual receptionists at Smith.ai can deliver. Plus, we can even act as your 24/7 answering service, along with providing support for lead intake and appointment scheduling. To learn more, schedule a consultation or reach out to hello@smith.ai

Tags:
Sales Development
Lead Screening

Elizabeth Lockwood is the content marketing associate at Smith.ai. She focuses specifically on writing and editing engaging articles, blog posts, and other forms of publication.

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