If you’ve ever stared at a giant, messy spreadsheet and thought, “There’s got to be a better way to find the right leads,” you’re not alone. This guide is for sales folks, marketers, and founders who want a practical, no-nonsense approach to finding and organizing quality leads — without wasting hours on busywork.
We’re going to dig into how to use filters in Lonescale to build laser-focused lead lists. You’ll learn where the filters actually save you time, what’s worth tweaking, and what you can pretty much ignore.
Why filters matter (and where people go wrong)
Anyone can dump a bunch of company names into a list. The real trick is finding the companies and contacts who are actually a good fit for what you’re selling. Filters help you slice through the noise. But here’s the catch: too many people go filter-crazy, adding so many requirements that they end up with either zero results or a list that looks good on paper but is useless in practice.
Think of filters like a coffee sieve — you want to keep the good stuff and let the rest fall away. But if you use a sieve that’s too fine, you won’t get any coffee at all.
Step 1: Get clear on what a “target” looks like (before you open Lonescale)
Before you start clicking through filters, write down — yes, actually write — what makes a lead valuable to you. Ask:
- What industry or niche do they need to be in?
- Company size — tiny startup, mid-sized, or big fish?
- Geographic location — is local important, or are you worldwide?
- Do you need specific tech stacks, funding status, or recent hires?
Don’t get paralyzed by details. If you don’t know yet, pick a few basic traits. You can always adjust later.
Pro tip: The tighter your definition, the less time you’ll waste chasing leads who never had a chance.
Step 2: Fire up Lonescale and start a new lead list
Login, head to your dashboard, and start a new lead list. Lonescale’s interface is pretty straightforward, but don’t be fooled — it’s easy to gloss over important options when you’re in a rush.
- Click “New List”
- Give it a name that actually means something (“Q2 SaaS Prospects,” not “List 7”)
- Choose the right data source. Lonescale can pull from various sources (LinkedIn, job boards, company databases). Pick what fits your ICP (Ideal Customer Profile).
What to ignore: Don’t get hung up on every single source. Start with one or two that you know have the right kind of companies.
Step 3: Use filters to narrow down your universe
Here’s where things get interesting — and where a lot of people mess up. Lonescale lets you filter by:
- Industry
- Company size (employee count, revenue)
- Location
- Technologies used
- Funding rounds or status
- Job openings / recent hires
- Keywords in company descriptions
How to approach filtering:
- Start broad, then go narrow. For example, choose “SaaS” and companies with 11-50 employees, then see how many results you get.
- Watch the results counter. If your results drop from 5,000 to 12 when you add a filter, you’ve gone too far.
- Stack filters logically. Don’t try to find “SaaS companies, using Stripe, in Ohio, who just raised Series B, with open Product Manager jobs, using Hubspot, and have a dog-friendly office.” That’s a unicorn hunt.
Honest filter advice:
- Industry: Usually a good starting point. But industry tags are sometimes wrong or too broad. If you’re not getting traction, loosen up.
- Company size: Super useful if you know you’re after a certain stage. But don’t obsess over a 10-person difference.
- Location: Only filter by city/state/country if it really matters. Otherwise, you’ll just shrink your pool.
- Tech stack: This can be gold if your product relies on integrations. But tech tags are often incomplete. Use as a bonus, not a requirement.
- Recent funding: Good for B2B SaaS who want “companies ready to buy.” Not relevant for everyone.
Pro tip: If you’re new, set up a few lists with slightly different filters. Compare the results — you’ll learn what works (and what just kills your list size).
Step 4: Inspect, don’t just export
Before you hit that tempting “Export” button, look through your filtered list. Pick 5-10 companies at random and do a gut check:
- Do these companies actually fit your ideal profile?
- Are there obvious duds (wrong industry, way too big/small, etc.)?
- Are the contacts relevant, or are you getting random employees?
If the list doesn’t look right, retrace your filters. It’s way faster to fix it now than after you’ve wasted time emailing the wrong people.
What to ignore: Fancy features like “AI lead scoring” or “intent signals” — at least at first. These can be flaky or based on data you can’t verify. Trust your eyeballs before trusting the algorithm.
Step 5: Add relevant contact filters (if you need people, not just companies)
If your goal is to reach actual humans, Lonescale offers contact-level filters:
- Job title (e.g., CTO, Head of Marketing)
- Department
- Seniority
- Location
Tips for getting real contacts:
- Job titles: Use broad keywords (e.g., “marketing”) before going hyper-specific (“Head of Growth for APAC”).
- Seniority: “Manager+” often works better than just “Director” or “VP.” People’s titles are all over the place.
- Don’t expect perfection: Not every company will have every contact you want. Aim for “good enough.”
Pro tip: Download a small sample first. Check if the emails and LinkedIn profiles are up-to-date. There will always be some duds — that’s just reality.
Step 6: Save, label, and document your filters
Once you’re happy with your list, save your filter set. This lets you quickly rerun the same search later, or tweak one thing without starting over.
- Use clear labels (“SaaS, US, 11-50, Raised Seed”) so you know what’s inside at a glance.
- Document your logic in a note or spreadsheet. The best filter recipe is the one you can actually remember and repeat.
What to ignore: Don’t overcomplicate things with huge, multi-layered filter sets unless you really need them. Simple, repeatable filters usually work best.
Step 7: Export and sanity check (again)
Export your list (CSV, Excel, or direct CRM push if you trust the integration). Before you go wild with outreach, spot check for:
- Duplicates (yes, they sneak in)
- Obvious junk (wrong geography, missing emails, weird job titles)
- Any “edge cases” you missed
This is where most people get lazy — don’t be that person. Ten minutes here saves you hours later.
Step 8: Iterate based on real-world feedback
After you run your first campaign, keep track:
- Which leads replied? Who bounced? Who was totally off-target?
- Adjust your filters based on what actually works, not just what you think should work.
Pro tip: Over time, you’ll build a few “go-to” filter sets that just get results. Save and reuse them.
What not to worry about (seriously)
- The latest AI buzzwords: Lonescale has some AI features, but 90% of your success comes from smart filtering, not magic algorithms.
- Exhaustive lists: You don’t need every possible lead. Focus on relevance, not raw volume.
- Chasing perfection: You’ll always have a few bad apples. It’s the cost of doing business.
Wrapping up: Keep it simple, stay curious
Building targeted lead lists in Lonescale isn’t rocket science, but it does take a bit of discipline. Start with clear criteria, use filters with restraint, and sanity-check your results. Don’t fall for shiny features or get bogged down in tiny details. Iterate, learn, and remember: a small, accurate list will always beat a giant, messy one.
Now, get out there and build a list you’ll actually want to use.