If you’re tired of blasting the same generic emails to the wrong people and hoping for the best, you’re not alone. Anyone who’s done outbound sales or recruiting knows the pain—bad lists mean bad results. If you’re using Amplemarket, you’ve already got a decent tool for finding and managing prospects. The trick is knowing how to build custom contact lists that actually make sense for your outreach goals, not just dumping a bunch of random names into a bucket.
This guide is for anyone who wants to use Amplemarket to create targeted lists—whether you’re a BDR, founder, or just someone who doesn’t want to waste another minute on cold emails that go nowhere. I’ll walk you through the process, point out what’s worth your time, and flag the stuff you can safely ignore.
Why Custom Contact Lists Matter (and Where Amplemarket Fits In)
Before we dive in, let’s call out the obvious: The best sales or recruiting outreach starts with a solid list. If your contacts aren’t a fit, no amount of clever messaging will save you.
Amplemarket is helpful because it combines data (think: who your prospects are, where they work, what they do) with tools to build, filter, and organize lists. But, like any platform, it’s only as good as the work you put in. You can build laser-focused lists, or you can end up with a mess that’s no better than buying a random CSV online.
Step 1: Get Clear on Your Target
This is the part everyone wants to skip. Don’t. Before you even open Amplemarket, get really specific about who you’re trying to reach.
Ask yourself: - Are you targeting a specific industry? (e.g., SaaS, healthcare, manufacturing) - What company size matters? (Startup vs. enterprise) - What job titles or roles are a fit? (VP of Sales, Head of People, etc.) - Where are they located?
Write it down somewhere. The more specific, the better. Vague targeting = weak results.
Pro Tip: If you’re not sure, look at your best current customers and reverse-engineer what they have in common.
Step 2: Log In and Find the List Builder
Once you’re clear on who you want, log into Amplemarket. The interface changes from time to time, but the main steps are:
- Go to the “Prospects” or “Lead Generation” section (the name changes, but look for anything about finding contacts).
- Find the “List Builder” or “New List” button—usually in the upper right.
Don’t overthink this part. You’re just getting to the tool that lets you search, filter, and save contacts.
Step 3: Set Up Your Search Filters
Here’s where most people get lazy and just pick “Marketing” or “Tech” and hope for the best. Instead, take advantage of the filters Amplemarket gives you. The usual suspects:
- Industry: You can often select from a dropdown or search for keywords. Don’t just pick “Tech”—go deeper if you can (e.g., “Cloud Security,” “EdTech”).
- Company Size: Filter by employee count. Be honest about what you can handle—if you’re selling to startups, 1,000+ employees isn’t a fit.
- Location: Useful if you need to focus on certain regions (e.g., North America, DACH, APAC).
- Job Title/Seniority: Probably the most important filter. Get specific (e.g., “VP Engineering,” not just “Engineer”).
- Other filters: Some plans let you filter by funding, technology stack, hiring trends, or even recent news. Don’t fall down a rabbit hole—stick to what actually matters for your outreach.
What to Ignore: Don’t get too cute with tiny filters like “last round raised over $9M” unless you have a very good reason. Over-filtering means you’ll end up with a list too small to matter.
Step 4: Review and Refine Your Results
Once you apply filters, Amplemarket will spit out a list of contacts. Don’t just hit “Save List” and call it a day.
- Scan the list: Check if the contacts fit your criteria. Are the job titles right? Are the companies a match?
- Spot-check a few: Click into a handful of contacts. Is the data accurate? Are emails valid?
- Trim obvious mismatches: Amplemarket’s data is good, but not perfect. Remove anyone who’s clearly not a fit.
Pro Tip: If your list is too big (like thousands of contacts), tighten your filters. If it’s too small, loosen them slightly. Don’t try to boil the ocean.
Step 5: Save and Organize Your List
Now, actually save your work:
- Click “Save List” or “Create List.” Give it a name you’ll recognize—be specific. (“US SaaS VPs Q2 2024” beats “Test List 1” every time.)
- Add tags or notes if Amplemarket allows it. This helps later when you’re juggling multiple lists.
You can always come back and tweak the list or add new contacts as needed.
Step 6: (Optional but Smart) Enrich and Verify Your Contacts
No tool has perfect data. Amplemarket does a decent job with contact info, but before you start blasting sequences:
- Use the built-in email verification, if available. This cuts down on bounces.
- Consider enriching with LinkedIn profiles or company info for high-value contacts. Some Amplemarket plans do this automatically; check your subscription.
- If something looks off, Google it or check LinkedIn. A little manual review now saves embarrassment later.
What to Skip: Don’t spend hours perfecting every detail for a list of 500+ contacts. Focus on accuracy for your top 20-50 targets.
Step 7: Export, Sync, or Launch Your Outreach
Once your list is ready, decide how you want to use it:
- Sync with Sequences: Amplemarket lets you send campaigns directly from your lists. This is the cleanest workflow if you’re using their outbound features.
- Export as CSV: If you need to get the list into another tool (like your CRM or a different email platform), export it.
- Integrate with CRM: Some versions of Amplemarket sync contacts with Salesforce, HubSpot, etc. Check your settings—sometimes these integrations are flaky, so always double-check that the data came through clean.
Honest Take: If you’re running small batches, work right inside Amplemarket. For bigger or more complex workflows, you may want to export and manage in your CRM.
Tips for Keeping Lists Fresh (Without Losing Your Mind)
Building a list is just the start. If you actually want results, you need to keep your lists up to date:
- Set a recurring reminder (monthly or quarterly) to review and update your lists.
- Archive or tag contacts who bounce, unsubscribe, or change jobs.
- Don’t hesitate to create new lists for new campaigns—reusing old lists without review leads to wasted effort.
- If Amplemarket offers “dynamic” lists that auto-update based on your filters, try them out. Just keep an eye on quality.
What Doesn’t Work: Blindly trusting your list is “good enough” forever. People change jobs, companies pivot, data gets stale. A little maintenance goes a long way.
Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
- Going too broad: “Anyone in tech” isn’t a list. Get specific.
- Over-complicating filters: If you need a flowchart to explain your criteria, you’re doing too much.
- Ignoring list hygiene: High bounce rates kill your sender reputation. Always verify.
- Not testing small batches: Send to a small group first, see what works, then scale up.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Creating custom contact lists in Amplemarket isn’t magic—it’s about doing the basics right. Know your target, use the filters that matter, review your results, and keep things organized. Don’t obsess over perfection; just make sure your list is good enough to start real conversations. Iterate as you go, and don’t be afraid to trash a list that isn’t working.
If you keep it simple and stay focused, you’ll spend less time wrangling spreadsheets and more time actually reaching the right people. And in the end, that’s what moves the needle.