So you need a list of real, useful B2B leads—not a pile of outdated email addresses or random LinkedIn profiles. Maybe you’re a founder, sales pro, or marketer sick of buying overpriced “lead lists” that are mostly garbage. This guide will show you, step by step, how to actually build a targeted list using Peopledatalabs—a tool with a ton of data, but not much handholding.
If you want fluff, this isn’t it. Here’s how to do it right, what to skip, and how to avoid the rookie mistakes.
Step 1: Get Clear on Who You Actually Want
Don’t even open a tool until you really know who you’re after. “Decision-makers at SaaS companies” is too vague. The more specific you are, the less wasted time and junk data you’ll deal with later.
Nail down: - Industry (e.g., B2B SaaS, manufacturing, logistics) - Company size (employees, revenue, funding stage) - Geography (country, state, city, remote) - Seniority and roles (job titles, departments) - Tech stack or other firmographics (optional, but powerful if you know your ideal fit)
Pro tip: Write a one-sentence “lead profile.” Example: “I want Heads of Marketing at US-based SaaS companies with 50–200 employees using HubSpot.”
This is the foundation. Don’t skip it.
Step 2: Sign Up and Get API Access
Peopledatalabs doesn’t work like a drag-and-drop web app. It’s built for folks who are comfortable with data, APIs, and maybe a little coding or spreadsheets.
Here’s what you need to do: 1. Create an account — Standard stuff. Use a business email if you can. 2. Get your API key — You’ll find this in your dashboard after sign-up. 3. Review their docs — Seriously, do this. Their API documentation is where you’ll spend a lot of time. Bookmark it.
Heads up: There are free trials, but you’ll hit limits fast. Paid plans aren’t cheap. If you’re just dabbling, see if you can get a one-off export or demo from their sales team.
Step 3: Build Your Search Query
This is where most people screw up. Peopledatalabs works by letting you query their database using filters. The better your filters, the better your list.
You can use the API directly, or try the “Person Enrichment” in their dashboard for smaller, manual searches. Most serious users will want the API for bulk results.
Key filters to use:
- job_title (e.g., “CMO”, “Head of Marketing”)
- company.industry (e.g., “Software”, “Information Technology”)
- company.size (employee count ranges)
- location (city, state, country)
- skills or keywords (helpful for niche roles)
- company.tech (if you want companies using specific software)
Example API query (in plain language): - Give me people with “Head of Marketing” in their job title, - At US-based SaaS companies, - With 50–200 employees.
Actual API request looks something like: json { "job_title": "Head of Marketing", "location_country": "United States", "company_industry": "SaaS", "company_employee_count": { "min": 50, "max": 200 } }
(Your format may vary—read their docs.)
Don’t: - Use too many filters at once, or you’ll get zero results. - Rely on vague job titles like “Manager” or “Executive.” Be specific.
Do: - Start broad, then narrow your search as needed. - Run test queries to see what comes back. Tweak as you go.
Step 4: Export or Extract Your Data
Once you’ve got a query that returns real results, you’ll want to actually use the data. Here’s where things get less user-friendly.
Options:
a) Use the Dashboard (for small lists)
- You can sometimes export up to a few hundred leads directly as CSV.
- Not all filters are available, and you’ll hit export limits fast.
- Good for pilots or proof-of-concept, but not for scale.
b) Use the API (for real lists)
- Most people will write a short script (Python, etc.) to pull results.
- Peopledatalabs returns paginated results—plan for this if you want more than a few hundred.
- Dump the results into a CSV or Google Sheet for review.
What you get: Usually, you'll see name, job title, company, emails (sometimes), LinkedIn URLs, and sometimes phone numbers. Data quality varies—don’t expect 100% accuracy.
Pro tip: Set a reasonable limit. Pulling 50,000 “leads” at once is a waste. Start with a few hundred, review, and refine.
Step 5: Clean and Validate Your List
Here’s the truth: No data source is perfect. Peopledatalabs is better than most, but you’ll still get: - Old job titles - Bounced emails - Duplicates - People who have left the company
Always: - Deduplicate your list (by email, LinkedIn URL, or name/company). - Verify emails using a tool like NeverBounce or ZeroBounce. Don’t burn your domain on bounces. - Spot check a random sample—Google them, check LinkedIn, see if they’re real.
Skip: - Buying into anyone’s claim that “our data is 95% accurate.” That’s marketing, not reality.
Step 6: Append Useful Data (Optional, but Smart)
If you want to get fancy—or just want better personalization—enrich your list with a few extras: - LinkedIn URL: Most outreach starts here now. - Company website: Good for research and validation. - Industry tags or tech stack: For segmenting and targeting. - Seniority level: Not always reliable, but can help you prioritize.
You can use Peopledatalabs’ “enrichment” endpoints, or cross-reference with other tools if you’re up for it. Don’t go overboard. More columns don’t mean more meetings.
Step 7: Actually Use the List (and Don’t Be Weird)
Now you’ve got a list. Here’s what not to do: - Don’t blast generic emails to everyone. Nobody likes spam. - Don’t treat the list as gospel. Use it as a starting point, not the end-all.
Instead: - Personalize your outreach. Mention something specific. - Connect on LinkedIn before emailing, if possible. - Keep track of replies and update your list as you go.
Pro tip: A “smaller, better” list always beats a massive, useless one.
What Works, and What Doesn’t
What works: - Tight, specific targeting - Manual review and cleanup - Layering data from more than one source
What doesn’t: - Overly broad searches (“all VPs in the US”) - Blindly trusting the data - Thinking tools replace real research
Ignore anyone selling “fully automated outbound.” It’s never fully automated, and the good stuff takes some work.
Keep It Simple, Then Iterate
Building a targeted B2B lead list with Peopledatalabs isn’t magic—it’s just structured work. Start with a clear target, get your filters right, pull a manageable list, and clean it up. Don’t chase perfection or try to automate everything at once. Try, review, tweak, repeat.
The best lists come from real thought, not just the fanciest tools. Stick with it, and you’ll end up with leads you actually want to talk to—not just names in a spreadsheet.