Looking for B2B influencers isn’t like scrolling for fashion bloggers on Instagram. You’re after people who know their stuff, not just those with big followings. This guide is for marketers, founders, or anyone who needs a real list of B2B influencers—no fluff, no fake reach numbers, and definitely no wasted hours on LinkedIn rabbit holes.
We’ll walk through building a focused influencer list using Influencers Club. The tool promises good filters and better data, but—like any tool—it’s only as useful as your process. Here’s how to get it right, step by step.
Step 1: Get Clear on What “Targeted” Actually Means
Before you even touch a tool, nail down your criteria. “Targeted” is only meaningful if you know who you want and why.
Ask yourself: - What industry or niche? (SaaS, fintech, HR tech, etc.) - What job titles matter? (CMOs, founders, consultants, analysts, etc.) - Where do they post? (LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs, podcasts?) - Company size or type? - Geography? (Are you running a U.S.-only campaign, or is EMEA in play?) - What actually moves the needle for your audience—technical expertise, big audience, or just the right connections?
Pro tip: Write down your “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.” This will keep you honest when you’re tempted to pad your list with people who look good on paper but don’t fit.
Step 2: Set Up Influencers Club and Learn Its Filters
Sign up for Influencers Club. You’ll need a paid plan for serious B2B lists—be ready for that. Play around with the dashboard before you start searching.
Key features to pay attention to:
- Filter by platform: For B2B, LinkedIn and Twitter (X) are usually your main targets. Instagram and TikTok are mostly a waste unless you’re in a very specific niche.
- Audience size filters: Don’t get blinded by big numbers. Sometimes, 5,000 followers in a niche is gold; 500,000 randoms is just noise.
- Industry/vertical tags: These aren’t always perfect, but they help.
- Job titles and company filters: Use these, but watch for weird data. Many “founders” have nothing to do with your space.
- Geography: Get specific. “USA” is too broad for most B2B needs.
What to ignore: “Influence scores” and other vague metrics. Look for real-world signals—like activity, engagement, and relevance.
Step 3: Build a List Using Real Filters, Not Hopes and Wishes
Now, start building. Here’s what works:
- Start broad, then narrow down.
Run a wide search in your industry/vertical and see what comes up. Expect some junk—filters aren’t magic. - Layer on job titles.
For B2B, titles matter way more than for B2C. “VP Marketing” is not the same as “Marketing Assistant.” - Check platform activity.
Someone with 20,000 followers who last posted in 2021 is dead weight. Influencers Club can show you recent activity—use it. - Refine by company size or type.
Want people from startups? Enterprises? Use those filters if they matter to your campaign. - Geography:
Don’t just filter by country. Drill down to region or city if it’s relevant. U.S. “tech” is not the same as European tech.
Watch out for: - Inflated follower numbers (especially on Twitter/X) - People who are “influencers” in name only (check their content) - Outdated bios or info
Step 4: Vet Your List—Don’t Trust Any Tool Blindly
No matter how good the data, you’ll need to sanity-check your list. Automation gets you 80% there, but it can’t spot the fakes or the “thought leaders” who haven’t posted anything original in years.
How to vet quickly:
- Scan recent posts: Are they posting about your niche, or just generic content?
- Check engagement: Do they get thoughtful comments, or just likes from bots?
- Google them: Are they cited in industry blogs, speaking at events, or just self-promoting?
- Look for red flags: Anyone selling “influencer” services, posting junk links, or obviously buying followers deserves the boot.
Pro tip: If you’re short on time, sample-check. Spot-check every 10th name on your list. If you see lots of junk, tighten your filters and try again.
Step 5: Export, Organize, and Clean Your List
Don’t just export a CSV and call it good. Most exported lists are a mess: duplicate entries, missing info, and plenty of people who aren’t a fit.
What to do:
- Clean up duplicates (easy in Excel or Google Sheets)
- Add columns for manual notes: Mark “vetting needed,” “good fit,” “pass,” etc.
- Standardize job titles: People call themselves all sorts of things—try to group similar ones.
- Tag by platform: Note if someone is strong on LinkedIn vs. Twitter; don’t assume both.
Optional but useful:
Add a column for “outreach priority.” Rank 1–3 based on fit and influence. This saves a ton of time later.
Step 6: Sense-Check for Diversity and Reach
It’s easy to end up with a list of people who all look the same—same background, same companies, same takes. B2B audiences are more varied than that.
Do a quick check: - Are you skewed too heavily in one direction (e.g., all North American SaaS founders)? - Any actual practitioners, or just “consultants” and “gurus”? - Are there voices from underrepresented groups? (This isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s good business sense.)
If your list is too narrow, go back and tweak your filters.
Step 7: Don’t Overthink—Test and Iterate
Your first “highly targeted” list won’t be perfect. That’s fine. The real test is outreach—do these people actually engage? Do they influence your buyers? If not, adjust.
What actually works: - Smaller, focused lists beat giant, generic ones every time. - Outreach is easier when you know why each name is on the list. - Real engagement > vanity metrics
What to ignore: - Hype about “micro-” or “nano-” influencers changing everything. In B2B, credibility and connections matter more than arbitrary follower tiers. - Tools that promise “AI-powered influencer discovery” with no way to check the results.
Pro Tips and Final Thoughts
- Don’t pay for extra data you don’t need. Influencers Club’s premium features are tempting, but only pay for what you’ll actually use.
- Build in public. Consider sharing (some of) your process with your team or network. You’ll get feedback and catch mistakes early.
- Stay skeptical. No tool is perfect. Use Influencers Club as a starting point, not a crutch.
- Keep your list fresh. B2B moves fast—people change jobs, lose relevance, or just disappear. Rebuild or refresh your list every quarter.
That’s it. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. Start small, stay focused, and tweak as you go. The best B2B influencer lists aren’t the longest—they’re the ones you can actually use.