How To Build B2B Prospecting List (For Beginners)

Building a B2B prospect list can feel like trying to catch a cloud with a net—intimidating and elusive. But with the right steps, even beginners can master the art of crafting a stellar list. So, whether you're a business owner, a B2B salesperson, or part of a digital marketing agency, this guide will make the process as easy as pie.

Who are you targeting?

First things first: who do you want to work with? This is where you define your dream client.

Think about:

Industries: Which industries are a perfect match for your products or services?

Locations: Are there specific countries or regions where you want to focus your efforts?

Creating a clear picture of your ideal prospect will make the rest of the process a breeze.

Where to find who you are targeting?

Now that you know who you're targeting, it's time to gather some data. Here are some fun and effective ways to do it:

1. Online Databases:

Sites like LinkedIn, Crunchbase, and industry-specific directories are like treasure maps leading you to potential prospects.

LinkedIn:

Use the search bar to find companies or individuals in your target industry. Filter results by location, industry, and company size.

There's a limit to how much you can search if you are using a normal LinkedIn account. If search volume is high (above 300 searches a month), you may wish to consider using LinkedIn sales navigator.

With LinkedIn sales navigator, you can view up to 2,500 lead results across 100 pages or 1,000 account results across 40 pages on your Sales Navigator search results page.

Depending on your target industry, it may be more effective to find all your target prospects within a industry-specific groups. You will see questions from your target prospects, which gives you insights into how you can better attract their attention in your subsequent outreach.

Crunchbase:

Use Crunchbase to search for companies by industry, location, funding status, and more. Check company profiles for detailed information, including key executives, recent news, and funding history.

Industry-Specific Directories:

Search for directories specific to your target industry (e.g., healthcare directories, tech company lists). Use these directories to find contact information and company details.

2. Google Maps:

Yes, you can use Google Maps to find businesses in your target industry and location. It's like a digital scavenger hunt!

Open Google Maps and type in the industry and location (e.g., "IT companies in San Francisco"). Browse the map and list view to find businesses that match your criteria. To gather information, click on business listings to find addresses, phone numbers, websites, and customer reviews.

There a limit for every search on google.

Google Map limit every search to 120 results max. So to get a complete listing for all businesses within your target industry, you need to craft your search keyword to limit the area of search. For example, instead of "law firm in United States" a more specific search term will be "law firm in new york, United States".

3. Social Media:

Platforms like Facebook and X (previously Twitter) are gold mines for finding business contacts and gathering company information.

Within Facebook, join Facebook groups. Engage with posts on groups. The more value you give, the more likely the community will see you as an expert and reach out if they need help.

In X, use industry-specific hashtags to find relevant companies and professionals. Follow target companies and engage with their tweets to start conversations. Look out for those commented on posts that are relevant to your target industry, they may be your ideal prospect.

Conclusion

As you gather more information online, you need a place to store all these information neatly and keep them organized. For a start, it is best to use spreadsheet. Keep it simple first.

By leveraging these platforms on the internet, you can efficiently gather data and build a robust list of potential B2B prospects. Remember to keep your data organized and regularly update your list to ensure it remains current and accurate.