If you spend more time cleaning up prospect lists than actually reaching out to leads, you’re not alone. Building a solid B2B list is a pain—especially if you want quality over quantity. This step-by-step guide is for sales reps, marketers, and founders who want to get the most out of Uplead without wasting hours on dead ends or messy exports. Let’s cut through the noise and get you a list that’s actually usable.
Step 1: Get Clear on Who You’re Targeting
Before you even open Uplead, nail down who you want to reach. This isn’t busywork—it saves you from sifting through a pile of junk contacts later.
Ask yourself: - What industry or industries do you care about? - Company size? (Employees, revenue, or both?) - Geographic region? - Job titles or seniority? Be specific—“Sales leader” is better than “Anyone in sales.” - Anything else that matters? (Tech stack, funding, hiring trends, etc.)
Pro tip: Write this profile out. You’ll reference it constantly.
Step 2: Set Up Your Uplead Search
Once you’re clear on your target, log in to Uplead and head to the main search page.
Here’s what actually matters in the filters (and what you can mostly ignore):
Key Filters to Use
- Location: Start broad, then narrow if you get too many results.
- Industry: Use NAICS/SIC codes if you know them; otherwise, start with keywords.
- Company Size: Employees and/or revenue. Don’t trust revenue data to be perfect—employee count is usually more accurate.
- Seniority & Job Title: This is where most lists go sideways. Don’t just pick “Manager”—get specific (e.g., “Head of Marketing,” “VP Sales”).
- Contact Info: Filter for contacts with verified emails only. Otherwise, you’ll be chasing ghosts.
Filters to Be Skeptical About
- Technologies Used: This can be hit-or-miss. Uplead does an okay job here, but don’t expect 100% accuracy.
- Direct Dial Phone Numbers: Useful if you call, but coverage is thin in some industries.
Don’t waste time trying to use every filter. More filters usually means fewer, but better, results—unless you get too specific and end up with five people in the whole country.
Step 3: Refine and Preview Your Results
You’ll get a list of companies and contacts. Here’s what to look for before you hit “Export”:
- Are the job titles what you really want? (Scan down the list—there’s always some junk.)
- Are there duplicates? (Common in B2B data tools.)
- Do the companies fit your criteria? Click into a few and check—they sometimes drift from the filters.
If you see weird stuff—like a “VP of Sales” at a 3-person bakery—tweak your filters.
Pro tip: Uplead’s data is generally cleaner than most, but don’t assume it’s perfect. Always spot-check.
Step 4: Build a List (Don’t Download Everything)
It’s tempting to just export the whole set, but don’t. Build a list inside Uplead first:
- Select only the contacts you actually want (checkboxes).
- Save them to a named list (e.g., “June 2024 SaaS CTOs - US”). Be specific so you remember what’s in it.
- If you’re working with a team, share the list for review before downloading.
This way, you avoid cluttering your CRM with duplicates or irrelevant contacts. Plus, it keeps your Uplead credit usage in check.
Step 5: Verify Before Downloading
Uplead automatically verifies emails in real-time, which is genuinely useful—few competitors do this well. Only download contacts with “verified” or “valid” status. Anything else is a gamble, and bounces will hurt your sender reputation.
- Use the “Verified Email” filter if you didn’t already.
- For phone numbers, expect patchy results, especially outside North America.
Ignore: Contacts that only have generic emails (like info@ or sales@). They rarely get you anywhere.
Step 6: Export Your List the Right Way
Now, export the list. Choose CSV—it’s the most flexible format.
Before you import anywhere else: - Open the CSV and scan for weird formatting or missing fields. - Clean up job titles and remove anything that slipped through the cracks. - If you’re using a CRM, map the fields properly. Don’t just dump the file in and hope it works.
Pro tip: Keep your raw export as a backup. If something goes sideways, you’ll thank yourself.
Step 7: Enrich and Segment—But Don’t Overthink It
You might be tempted to add more data (LinkedIn URLs, company news, etc.). That’s fine—but don’t let it become a research black hole. A good-enough list you actually use beats a “perfect” list sitting in your downloads folder.
- Segment by key criteria: industry, seniority, geography.
- Add notes or tags if you’re doing manual outreach.
- If you use automation, make sure your fields are consistent.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
- Works: Filtering for verified emails, specific job titles, and employee size.
- Doesn’t: Relying on phone numbers (spotty), or trusting tech stack filters blindly.
- Ignore: Generic emails, contacts with no LinkedIn profile, or companies that don’t fit your ICP—even if the data is there.
Reminder: No data tool, including Uplead, is magic. You’ll still need to spot-check and clean.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Building a highly targeted B2B list isn’t rocket science, but it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. Start with a clear profile, use Uplead’s filters without getting fancy, and focus on quality over quantity. You can always tweak your filters and build a better list next time. The most important thing is to start, test, and improve.
Now get out there and actually use your list—because prospects don’t close themselves.