If you’re in sales, marketing, or ops and tired of sifting through a jumbled mess of accounts, you’re not alone. Most tools claim to let you “surface your best-fit accounts,” but the results are often broad, bland, or just off. If you want to actually build a targeted account list that’s useful—and not just a random export—this guide is for you.
We’ll walk through how to use advanced filters in Vector to build lists that are tight, relevant, and won’t waste your time on dead ends. No buzzwords, just clear steps and honest advice on what works (and what’s just noise).
Why “Advanced Filters” Matter—And Where Most People Go Wrong
Let’s get this out of the way: The default filters in most CRMs or prospecting tools are fine for basic sorting, but they don’t help you cut through the noise. If you just filter by industry and company size, you’ll end up with a list that’s way too broad—think “every SaaS company with 50-500 employees” (good luck selling to all of them).
Advanced filters let you zero in: nuanced firmographics, technographics, intent signals, and more. But more options also mean it’s easy to overcomplicate things or chase “shiny object” filters that don’t actually help.
What actually works? The best filters are the ones that tie directly to your real-world sales wins. If you can’t explain why a filter matters, skip it.
Step 1: Get Clear on Who You Actually Want
Before you even touch Vector, decide what a “target” account looks like for you. Don’t skip this. If you aren’t specific, you’ll end up with another generic list.
Ask yourself: - Who are our top 10 customers today? What do they have in common? - What traits have consistently led to deals or good conversations? - What do our sales and customer teams actually say about “perfect fit” accounts?
Pro tip: Write down your must-haves (e.g., “uses HubSpot,” “has a sales team of 10+,” “in the U.S.”) and your nice-to-haves. This will keep you honest when the filter options get overwhelming.
Step 2: Navigate to Advanced Filters in Vector
Once you’re ready, log into Vector and head to your account search or prospecting dashboard.
- Find the “Filters” sidebar or menu (usually top left).
- Click into “Advanced Filters.” If you’re not seeing it, double-check your permissions—some teams hide advanced options from new users.
Heads up: If you’re new to Vector, the interface is pretty straightforward, but don’t feel bad if you need to poke around. The labeling is usually clear, but there’s the occasional head-scratcher (“Signal Data,” anyone?).
Step 3: Firmographics—Start Broad, Then Tighten Up
Firmographics are your bread and butter: industry, company size, location, funding, etc.
What to use: - Industry: Be as specific as possible. If you’re after “healthtech,” don’t just select “Healthcare.” Use the subcategories. - Company size: Go by employee count or revenue, whichever actually matters to your process. Ignore “number of offices” unless it’s critical. - Location: Use regions or countries, but don’t get hung up on city-level unless your product is truly geo-specific. - Funding stage: This is gold for startups selling to other startups. But funding filters can be outdated—double-check anything that looks off.
What to ignore: - “Year founded” unless you’re laser-focused on startups or legacy companies. - “Legal entity type”—almost never useful.
Step 4: Layer in Technographics (If It Matters)
Technographics—what software/tools a company uses—are powerful if your product integrates with, competes with, or replaces something specific.
How to use it: - Filter by “uses Salesforce,” “on AWS,” “has HubSpot Marketing,” etc. - Combine with firmographics: e.g., “Retail companies on Shopify with 50-200 employees.”
Limitations: - This data is hit-or-miss. Smaller companies or recent tech adopters might not show up. - “Uses” can mean “used at some point in the last 2 years.” Always double-check when you reach out.
Step 5: Add Intent and Behavioral Signals (With Caution)
Intent data—signals that a company is “in-market” or researching solutions—is the shiny new thing. In theory, this tells you who’s ready to buy. In practice? Sometimes helpful, often noisy.
How to use it: - Look for recent website visits, downloads, or research activity in your space. - Use as a “bonus” filter, not your main one. E.g., “Show me SaaS companies with 100-500 employees, using HubSpot, who’ve viewed integration docs in the past month.”
What to watch out for: - False positives. Someone poking around your website doesn’t mean they’re ready for a sales pitch. - Tiny sample sizes. If you filter too tightly, you’ll end up with three accounts and a headache.
Step 6: Use Exclusions to Cut the Junk
Adding positive filters is only half the battle. You also need to exclude the accounts that look right on paper but are actually a waste of time.
Common exclusions: - Current customers (unless you’re upselling) - Closed-lost accounts from the last year - Companies in “do not contact” lists or problematic industries - Subsidiaries of giant multinationals where you have no chance
How to do it in Vector: - Use the “Exclude” toggle next to any filter - Upload a CSV of domains or account IDs to remove
Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to prune aggressively. A smaller, high-fit list will always beat a giant, random one.
Step 7: Test and Refine Before You Export
Before you hit “Export” or save your new list, spot-check the results.
- Scan the first 20-30 accounts. Do they look like your true targets, or is something off?
- Look for oddballs. Are there weird companies sneaking in? If so, which filter needs tightening?
- Check for gaps. Are you missing any obvious big names that should be there?
If things aren’t right, tweak your filters. This is normal—expect to iterate a few times before you get it dialed in.
Step 8: Save Your List (and Make It Useful)
Once you’re happy with your filtered list:
- Hit “Save” or “Create List” in Vector.
- Give it a clear, specific name (e.g., “2024 US SaaS >100 Employees Using HubSpot”).
- Share with your team or sync to your CRM if needed.
Don’t: Create 15 overlapping lists that nobody uses. Keep it simple, keep it clean.
What to Skip (And What Not to Obsess Over)
There are a million filters, toggles, and “AI-powered suggestions” in most platforms. Here’s what’s not worth your energy:
- AI scoring: These can be a decent starting point, but they’re often black boxes. Use your own judgment first.
- Hyper-specific job titles: If you’re building account lists (not contact lists), don’t stress over this. Save it for later.
- Vanity filters: Stuff like “number of press mentions” sounds cool but rarely translates to real sales opportunities.
If you’re not sure why you’re adding a filter, don’t add it.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Don’t overthink this. The best targeted account lists are built on a few clear, relevant filters—not every toggle under the sun. Start with what you know works. Test, refine, and don’t be afraid to toss out filters that add noise instead of clarity.
And remember: Building a good list is only the start. The real magic is in how you reach out, follow up, and learn from what works. But with a clean, tight list from Vector, you’re way ahead of most.