If you’re running marketing for a B2B company, you’ve probably noticed that “influencer outreach” has moved way past Instagram models and YouTube unboxing videos. Industry experts, niche podcasters, and even LinkedIn thought leaders are all being tapped by B2B brands. The problem? The tools for finding and managing these folks are a mixed bag. Some are built for B2C, some are all sizzle and no steak, and most promise more than they deliver.
This guide is for B2B marketers, sales leaders, and anyone tired of spreadsheets and cold DMs. Here’s a no-fluff walkthrough on how to actually evaluate influencer outreach platforms, plus a hands-on review of Influencers Club ([influencers-club.html]), a tool that’s popped up on a lot of “best of” lists lately. Let’s cut through the noise.
1. Decide What You Really Need (Not What the Platform Tells You)
Before you even look at feature lists, get clear on why you want an influencer platform. Most B2B companies fall into one (or more) of these buckets:
- You want to find relevant industry voices. Not TikTokers, but people your buyers listen to.
- You need verified contact info. Email addresses, LinkedIn profiles, company details.
- You want to track outreach, responses, and maybe even measure ROI.
Here’s what doesn’t matter as much for B2B:
- Vanity metrics (follower counts mean little if the audience isn’t targeted).
- Built-in campaign “marketplaces” (these are mostly for B2C collabs).
- Automated mass messaging (it rarely works and can burn bridges).
Pro tip: Make a list of “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” before you sign up for any free trials. It’ll save you hours.
2. Evaluate the Database: Breadth, Depth, and B2B Focus
What to Look For
- How many B2B-relevant profiles? Most platforms are flooded with lifestyle creators, not tech analysts or manufacturing experts.
- Industry and role filters. Can you search by vertical, company size, job title, or is it just “influencer type”?
- Geography and language. If your market is global (or hyper-local), you need options.
Influencers Club: Database Reality Check
Influencers Club claims a database of over 80 million creators. Here’s the catch: only a slice are true B2B voices. The platform does a decent job letting you filter by niche and keywords, but you’ll still wade through a lot of irrelevant results if your industry isn’t broad (think SaaS, finance, or marketing). If you need to find, say, “CIOs speaking about industrial IoT,” you’re going to need patience and precise search strings.
What works: Their filters for company size, job title, and even LinkedIn presence are stronger than most, but you’ll have to dig.
What to ignore: Don’t let the “millions of profiles” stat fool you. Focus on quality matches, not sheer volume.
3. Scrutinize Contact Data and Export Options
Why This Matters
B2B outreach lives and dies by good contact info. You want verified emails, current company data, and ideally LinkedIn URLs—otherwise, you’re back to guessing games.
Influencers Club: Contact Data
- Email accuracy: It’s solid for public-facing experts, but less reliable for senior execs who guard their inboxes. You’ll get a mix of personal and business emails.
- LinkedIn integration: They provide LinkedIn profiles for a decent chunk of their database, which is a big plus.
- Exporting: CSV export is fast, with no silly limits on the paid plans. You can move your list into HubSpot, Outreach, or your CRM without a hitch.
What works: Clean exports, and the LinkedIn fields are a lifesaver for B2B teams.
What doesn’t: No guarantee all contacts are current or that you won’t hit dead ends—this is a universal issue, not just an Influencers Club thing.
4. Outreach & Workflow Tools: Bells, Whistles, and Traps
What to Check
- Can you actually send outreach from the platform? (Some tools are just databases, not outreach tools.)
- Templates and tracking: Are there built-in templates for B2B outreach? Can you track who’s opened/responded?
- Team features: Can multiple people collaborate without stepping on each other’s toes?
Influencers Club: Outreach Features
- Outreach: As of early 2024, Influencers Club is mostly a discovery and contact data tool. There’s no built-in email sending or campaign tracking. You’ll need to plug the data into your own email tool.
- Workflow: You can tag, segment, and add notes, but it’s not a full CRM or outreach automation suite.
- Team access: Multi-user support is there, but permissions are basic.
What works: Simple tools for sorting and collaborating, but don’t expect magic automations.
What to ignore: Any hype about “all-in-one” outreach. If you need automated sequence sending, look elsewhere.
5. Pricing, Transparency, and Lock-In
What to Watch Out For
- Is pricing clear, or do you need a demo call just to get a quote?
- Are there hidden charges for exports, contact views, or “premium” data?
- Is it easy to get your data out if you want to switch platforms?
Influencers Club: The Dollars and Sense
- Pricing: They’re more transparent than most. Plans are public, and you can start small without talking to sales.
- Limits: Higher tiers unlock more data fields and exports, but the base plans are functional.
- Contracts: Month-to-month is available. No scary annual lock-in.
What works: Pricing is upfront, and you can actually trial it without a credit card.
What doesn’t: The “unlimited” claims have fine print—there’s throttling if you’re pulling massive lists.
6. Support, Integrations, and the “Can I Get Help?” Test
What Matters
- Is support human and responsive? Chatbots are fine, but you want real answers fast.
- Are there integrations with your tools? (Think: Zapier, CRMs, outreach suites.)
- Is the help documentation any good?
Influencers Club: Support and Ecosystem
- Support: Fast email response, but no live chat (yet). Tech support is knowledgeable.
- Integrations: CSV export is your friend. Direct integrations are limited, so expect some manual work if you want data to flow automatically.
- Docs: Clear, but basic. You’ll get started, but advanced use cases require some trial and error.
What works: You won’t be left hanging, and the support team knows their product.
What’s missing: Fewer plug-and-play integrations than some competitors. If you’re all-in on automation, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves.
7. Red Flags and Common Pitfalls
- Overpromising on database size. Always sample results before buying.
- No trial or demo data. If you can’t see sample contacts before paying, walk away.
- “All-in-one” claims. Most platforms can’t do everything well—pick the best tool for each job.
8. The Bottom Line: Keep It Simple, Iterate as You Go
Most B2B influencer outreach platforms either overpromise or overcomplicate things. Influencers Club is better than most for teams who want solid data and simple exports, but don’t expect a magic wand. Figure out your process, test with a small campaign, and don’t be afraid to mix and match tools. The best setup is the one your team will actually use—and can ditch easily if it stops working.
Start with the basics, focus on quality over quantity, and adjust as you learn. That’s how you’ll actually get results.