When it comes to prospecting and lead creation, how can you get ahead quickly? Is it a good idea to purchase B2B data lists?
It is common knowledge that there are no shortcuts in this field. Build your own network of connections and potential customers.
On the other hand…what if you could afford it?
When you Purchase a B2B data lists, you can reduce your research time in half, allowing you to get to the selling and pitching phases more quickly.
Is it a good idea to acquire a marketing database? Perhaps it’s a mistake disguised as a benefit.
This tutorial will teach you how to acquire data lists in an intelligent and strategic way, without the typical downsides.
Other topics covered in this article include:
- What’s the Purpose: Why Purchase B2B data lists?
- Purchase B2B data lists: why it Is Not a Good Idea?
- Mistakes You’re More Likely to Make when you Purchase B2B data lists
- When Making Shopping Lists, What to Keep an Eye Out for?
What’s the Purpose: Why Purchase B2B data lists?
Why you should buy B2B Lists? Many would have already highlighted the corns of when you purchase B2B Data lists, we will explain here how and what you should keep in mind in order to ensure that you purchase the right B2B data that works and the data can be useful to your lead generation process.
An Unprecedented Stream of New Prospects
No matter how many B2B industry professionals warn it’s a poor idea, organizations continue to be tempted to the notion of purchasing database lists. Honestly, it’s not that unexpected. Purchasing a marketing database is a simple approach to expand your customer base. You don’t have to go through mountains of data to discover the correct provider.
It takes a lot of time to scour the internet for all the information you need about potential customers. B2B data purchases allow you to bypass the research stage while still providing the data necessary to support your marketing effort. There’s no use in doing your own research if you’re going to get current, reliable information in the end.
Opportunity to Buy Curated B2B Mailing Lists
Ideally, you will be able to purchase a B2B database relevant to your target market. Many of the negative perceptions associated with purchasing email lists are based on how things used to be. However, even in the last several years, purchasing databases has gotten much more complex. Companies will not just offer you a jumbled list of customers, regardless of whether or not they suit your buyer profile.
Instead, a reputable B2B data source will allow you to customize the list of contacts you get based on industry, company size, geographical region, and other factors. The option to acquire tailored B2B email lists is maybe the most important reason why database purchasing remains popular despite its unfavorable image.
Purchase B2B data lists: why it Is Not a Good Idea?
Purchasing leads under the correct conditions and from the appropriate suppliers may save you time while providing you with the same prospects you would obtain via your own research efforts. However, we can’t discuss B2B list purchasing without mentioning some of the horror tales that firms have endured over the years.
Here are a selection of those “archetypal” horror stories, along with some explanations for why they occasionally play out the way they do:
1. The Bane of Spammers
A business purchases an email list from a data provider and immediately begins sending form emails to the contacts. Each email is written in the same manner and immediately begins promoting the company’s product or service. The receivers not only choose not to react, but they also designate the emails as spam. Email filters eventually identify the B2B company’s email address as a source of spam, which means that the majority of the company’s emails never reach their intended recipient.
What happened? There are a few errors here. To begin, if you opt to purchase a database list, it is not an excuse to avoid all of the work. You do not need to research email addresses or contacts, but you must critically consider the database information to identify the best technique for reaching the prospect. Consider demographics, firmographics, technology, client bases, and pain issues. The database list contains a lot of this information. Other details will have to be discovered on your own. You may approach each individual with a unique introduction or pitch if you have the correct information. This ABM-style strategy is much more likely to provide a responsive customer.
Second, if other B2B marketers purchased the same contact list as you, you would have to work twice as hard to avoid the spam button. One of the reasons why purchasing databases has such a terrible image is because unscrupulous data suppliers offer the same list over and over again. As a result, contacts on such lists are overwhelmed with emails they don’t want from shady firms. Anyone who has received junk email for months or years is more likely to label communications from unknown senders as spam.
2. Obsolete and ineffective
A corporation purchases a B2B marketing database in the hopes of revitalizing its existing contact list. This time, the marketers get it right. They investigate their prospects, attempt to learn about their wants, and design communications that (hopefully) will not be treated with hatred. Despite this, half of the emails are undeliverable, and another 40% go unanswered. Only a few of the hundreds of contacts purchased by the B2B marketing firm get answers, and only one or two clinch agreements.
What happened? Subpar data suppliers supply outdated and incorrect data listings. This is something you should keep in mind while looking for contact lists. Contacts and decision-makers at large corporations are constantly getting promoted or assuming new positions. Because of these frequent migrations, even valuable databases don’t last long. A reputable data provider will monitor changes and ensure that you get up-to-date information.
3. A Saturated Market
A corporation purchases a data list of contacts who are relevant to its industry and buyer persona. Unfortunately, when the marketers begin sending out pitches, they discover that they have already pitched to the majority of the prospects. As a consequence, many of the prospects are no longer prospects since they just purchased items or services in the same market area.
What happened? If you are thinking about purchasing a database for marketing purposes, you must assume that your rivals are doing the same. In this situation, the corporation most likely purchased a data list from a provider that sold the same list to numerous other businesses. As a result, the possibilities were sifted through and weren’t really valuable. Sure, these same relationships may be valuable in a few years when those firms are ready to acquire again. However, no B2B marketer purchases a contact list with the intention of using it in two years. You purchase a B2B marketing database for instant usage.
To prevent paying for squandered leads, choose a data provider that allows you to create a contact profile containing industrial, demographic, and technological information. The more sophisticated your profile selection, the more unique your contact list will be.
Mistakes You’re More Likely to Make when you Purchase B2B data lists
Because of examples like the ones above, experts often advise against purchasing B2B data lists. Indeed, these tales demonstrate that purchasing a marketing database does not always go as planned. However, as previously said, the corporations in the preceding examples made some rather obvious blunders when obtaining their data lists.
Ultimately, most data list horror tales are the result of two separate errors.
The first is that you have no idea who you are contacting. In the first instance, this miscalculation was the B2B marketing firm’s fatal fault. It’s tempting to acquire a database only to send emails to everyone on the list. You could attempt this strategy if you see purchasing leads as a “shortcut” or “head start.”
However, before you send an email, consider how the “contact immediately” desire contradicts every B2B best practice you’ve learnt. When you create your own lists from scratch, it is hard to act on this inclination, which is why professionals favor that way. When you complete your research to discover contact and lead information, you automatically acquire important information about prospective customers. This information may then be used to carry out ABM, even with fresh connections.
Spend some time to research contacts
Even if you purchase a database, spend some time researching each contact and creating a customer profile. When you demonstrate that you understand a prospect, they are more likely to react favorably to your email.
The second most frequent mistake when purchasing contact lists is neglecting to thoroughly investigate the data seller. Your database will be only as good as the corporation that sold it to you. So, don’t simply purchase a list and expect high-quality data. Instead, properly investigate and examine the firm from whom you are purchasing. Not all data suppliers are made equal, and conducting some research can help you distinguish between the excellent and the poor.
What to Look for in Shopping Lists when you Purchase B2B data lists
Many “experts” would advise you that purchasing B2B lists is industrial suicide. However, purchasing email lists is not the issue in and of itself. Instead, the issue is purchasing weak lists from subpar providers. Finding a reputable provider will allow you to get the advantages of purchasing B2B data lists while avoiding the drawbacks and hazards.
To create the ideal list, follow these steps:
1. Choose a Reliable Partner
Simply said, certain data sellers are known to be “shady.” The good news is that in the era of the internet, organizations with a negative reputation have nowhere to hide. Looking for indicators of an excellent data vendor’s reputation will help you choose one. These signs may include well-designed corporate websites, easily accessible contact information, and current internet reviews.
Look for businesses that provide free trials of their data list services. These merchants are confident enough in their product to allow you sample it for free. After sampling it, they are certain that you’ll want to buy it, which is a great sign. Furthermore, if you try the free trial and have a terrible experience, you are under no obligation to purchase a database list from the firm. You may use the free trial until it expires, then return to the drawing board to locate an alternative data provider.
2. Pick a Reliable B2B Database
Just because a data seller seems trustworthy does not necessarily imply that they have the contact lists you want. Even when you’ve found the “correct” provider, you’ll need to put in some effort to get a worthwhile database.
Here are some tips to help you make the proper list:
Avoid purchasing from a firm that provides “one size fits all” lists:
In the realm of B2B marketing, the idea of “one size fits all” does not exist. Every business has a unique industry, marketing specialty, and consumer persona. A competent data provider will allow you to create bespoke contact lists depending on your requirements (instead of trying to sell you a pre-existing list).
Purchase a list that you may alter to some extent:
The top data providers will provide you with intelligent profile selection choices that allow you to hone in on the relevant contacts based on firmographic, demographic, technological, and geographic data.
Inquire with your dealer how often the lists they offer are updated:
You should look for a data seller that continuously maintains and updates contacts, rather than one who offers outdated, dead lists. Purchasing an up-to-date list can save you hours or days of crafting emails that will just bounce the moment you hit “Send.”
There is a very good read on linkedIn about pros and corns of purchasing B2B data lists. It will provide you insights on what to and not to expect when you purchase b2b data lists.
We are happy that Iscope Digital is the only B2B data provider that meets all of the above criteria. Our software is the B2B data source you’ve been looking for. With advanced profile selection choices, geographic targeting capabilities that cover 90 countries, complete firmographic and technographic data. A smart and dynamic data that monitors and updates contacts as they change jobs. Interested? Contact us right now!
