If you’re in charge of B2B lead gen, you already know: dumping a huge list of contacts into your CRM is easy. Finding the right people is the hard part. This guide is for sales and marketing folks who want to actually use segmentation—not just talk about it—to work smarter in LeadGenius.
You’ll learn how to slice up your lists using advanced filters, skip the fluff, and avoid the common traps. If you’re tired of chasing the wrong prospects, or if you just want to wring more value out of your contact data, this is for you.
Why bother with segmentation?
Let’s be honest: most B2B campaigns die because they’re too generic. Sending the same message to CFOs at Fortune 500s and founders at startups? You’ll get nowhere. Segmentation means you can tailor your outreach, save time, and avoid annoying people who’ll never buy from you anyway.
But segmentation only works if you use quality filters—not just “job title contains manager.”
What are advanced filters in LeadGenius?
LeadGenius is known for custom data and outreach tools, but its real power is in the filtering. “Advanced filters” just means you’re going beyond the basics—stacking multiple criteria to narrow down your audience. Instead of filtering just by industry or company size, you can combine things like tech stack, funding stage, geography, and more.
It’s not magic, but it beats guessing.
Step 1: Get clear on your segmentation goals
Before you even open LeadGenius, figure out what you’re actually trying to do. Are you building a list for a specific campaign? Looking for upsell targets? Cleaning up bad data?
Don’t skip this step. If you don’t know who you’re after, no filter will help.
Questions to ask yourself: - Who are the people I really want to talk to? (Be specific) - What makes a contact valuable to me? (Role, company, intent, etc.) - What’s my outreach strategy? (Personalized emails, cold calls, etc.)
If your answer is “everyone in IT,” pause and get more specific. The narrower your focus, the better your results.
Step 2: Map out the criteria you care about
Now, list the attributes that describe your ideal contacts. These are what you’ll use as filter criteria.
Common starting points: - Job title / function: Not just “VP”—try “VP of Engineering” or “Head of Procurement” - Company size: Number of employees, revenue, or even growth rate - Industry: Go beyond broad categories; think about sub-industries - Tech stack: What tools or platforms do they use? - Geography: Country, region, or even city - Funding: Bootstrapped, VC-backed, specific funding rounds - Recent activity: Did they raise money? Launch a new product? Hire lots of people?
Pro tip: Don’t get hung up on “the perfect filter.” Pick 2-4 criteria that matter most. You can always adjust later.
Step 3: Open LeadGenius and build your filter set
Log in to LeadGenius and head to the contacts or companies module. Here’s how to actually build out your advanced segment.
3.1 Start with broad filters
Pick the “big rocks” first—industry, geography, or company size. This knocks out the obvious bad fits.
- Use the dropdowns or search boxes to select your initial criteria.
- Don’t overthink it. You can always tighten things up.
3.2 Layer on advanced filters
Now stack on the more detailed stuff. This is where the real segmentation happens.
- Job function/role: Use the AND/OR logic to combine similar titles. For example, “Head of Marketing” OR “VP of Marketing.”
- Tech stack: Filter for companies using specific tools. This is great for SaaS vendors.
- Funding events: Target companies that just raised money—they’re more likely to buy.
- Custom fields: If you’ve uploaded your own data (like intent signals or account scores), you can filter on that too.
Watch out for: - Overlapping filters that cancel each other out (e.g., filtering for “startup” and “10,000+ employees”) - Relying on one field—data isn’t always perfect. Add a backup (e.g., filter by both “title” and “department”) - Filters that sound good but don’t mean much (like “innovative” or “fast-growing” unless you can actually define and filter for those)
3.3 Use exclusion filters (what you don’t want)
Don’t forget to filter out junk. Exclude:
- Competitors
- Contacts in regions you can’t sell to
- Roles that always bounce your emails (like “info@” or “intern”)
- Companies that are too small or too big for your offer
LeadGenius lets you set NOT conditions or exclude by keywords. Use them.
Pro tip: The exclusion step often matters more than the inclusion. One bad segment can waste hours.
3.4 Preview and sanity-check your segment
Before you save or export your list, always preview. Look for:
- Odd titles that don’t fit (e.g., “Dog Walker” sneaking into a “VP” segment—stranger things have happened)
- Too many or too few contacts—are your filters too broad or too narrow?
- Any obvious data errors
Gut-check: Would you actually want to email these people? If not, tweak your filters.
Step 4: Save, name, and document your segments
Don’t just call it “Q3 Outreach List.” Use a name that describes the actual filters (e.g., “US SaaS VPs of Sales, 100-500 Employees, Series B+”).
- Save the segment in LeadGenius for future use.
- Add notes on what filters you used and why. Trust me, you’ll forget later.
Pro tip: If you collaborate with others, clear naming and documentation saves a ton of headaches.
Step 5: Test, tweak, and learn
No filter set is perfect the first time. Here’s what to do next:
- Pull a small sample and run a test outreach. See who responds.
- Track bounce rates, reply rates, and conversion.
- Adjust your filters based on feedback. If you’re getting crickets, your segment’s probably off.
Don’t throw out your old segments—sometimes a “bad” segment is just a good segment for another use case.
What actually works (and what doesn’t)
Let’s cut through some of the hype:
- What works: Combining 2-4 meaningful filters. Using exclusion filters. Previewing before you send.
- What doesn’t: Relying on one field (like title). Over-segmenting to the point your list shrinks to nothing. Believing every data point is accurate—B2B data is always a little messy.
- Ignore: Filters that sound clever but don’t align with your actual goals. “AI-powered” filters are only as good as the data behind them.
Advanced tips (for when you’re ready)
Once you’re comfortable:
- Try dynamic segments that update as your data changes.
- Use LeadGenius’s intent signals (if available) to spot buyers who are actively looking.
- Upload your own enrichment data for even sharper filters.
- Build “lookalike” segments—find new contacts similar to your best customers.
Don’t get lost in the weeds. The best segments are simple, actionable, and easy to explain.
Keep it simple and iterate
Segmenting B2B contacts isn’t about showing off how many filters you can stack—it’s about finding the right people, faster. Start with clear goals, use a handful of strong filters, and don’t be afraid to revisit your segments as you learn what actually works.
Trying to make it perfect from day one? That’s a trap. Build a segment, test it, tweak it, and move on. The more you use advanced filters in LeadGenius, the better you’ll get—and the less time you’ll waste chasing dead ends.