So you want better B2B leads, minus the daily grind of checking dashboards or getting spammed by generic alerts. This guide is for the sales, marketing, or growth folks who actually want useful notifications—alerts that mean something, not just noise. If you’re using Lonescale or thinking about it, I’ll walk you through setting up custom alerts that actually work for new B2B opportunities.
Let’s skip the sales pitch and get to what matters: setting up alerts that bring you actionable leads, not headaches.
Why Custom Alerts Matter (and What to Watch Out For)
Anyone can set up a “new company added” alert. But if you’ve ever been flooded with notifications about companies that don’t fit your target, you know: more alerts just means more stuff to ignore.
Here’s what works: - Targeted filters. Alerts should be as specific as your sales team’s wish list. - Actionable timing. Alerts should land when you can actually do something with them. - Avoiding alert fatigue. Too many pings and you’ll ignore the good stuff.
Here’s what doesn’t: - Broad, generic criteria (“any tech company in the US”). - Daily digest emails with 99% junk. - Over-complicated workflows you’ll never maintain.
Now, let’s get your Lonescale alerts dialed in.
Step 1: Get Clear on What a “Good” Opportunity Looks Like
Before you touch any settings, get specific: - What company size do you care about? - What industries or technologies matter? - Which regions are relevant? - Are you after certain signals (like funding, tech stack changes, hiring activity)?
Write down your must-haves and dealbreakers. If you skip this, you’ll end up back where you started—drowning in noise.
Pro tip: If your team’s not aligned on what a “good” lead is, hash it out now. Don’t waste time fine-tuning alerts for leads nobody wants.
Step 2: Log Into Lonescale and Head to the Alerts Section
Obvious but necessary: sign in and head to the dashboard. In Lonescale, alerts are usually managed under a section called “Alerts” or “Notifications.” If you can’t find it, check the sidebar or use search.
Note: Lonescale’s UI changes now and then. If you’re lost, check the help docs or ask support. Don’t waste 20 minutes hunting for a renamed menu.
Step 3: Create a New Custom Alert
Look for a button labeled something like “New Alert,” “Create Alert,” or “Add Notification.” Click it.
Now, you’ll probably see a form with a bunch of fields. Here’s where most people go wrong: they set up alerts that are too broad, hoping to “see everything.” Don’t do this.
Instead, build your alert as if you’re describing your dream lead to a very literal robot. For example:
- Company size: 50-500 employees
- Industry: SaaS, fintech, or e-commerce
- Region: North America and Western Europe
- Trigger event: Company added new funding, or posted 3+ tech job openings in the last month
Pro tip: If you’re not sure which fields work best, set up a test alert with stricter filters. You can always loosen them later—tight is better than spammy.
Step 4: Fine-Tune the Filters
Most of Lonescale’s value comes from its filters. Here’s how to make the most of them:
- Multiple criteria: Combine filters (e.g., region + company size + industry) to cut noise.
- Boolean logic: Use AND/OR where available. “SaaS companies OR e-commerce, AND in the US.”
- Exclude junk: Block industries, small companies, or geographies you don’t care about.
- Event types: New funding, hiring spree, tech stack change, executive hires—pick what matters to your team.
What to ignore:
Don’t bother with “catch-all” alerts like “any new company added.” You’re better off with several targeted alerts than one mega-alert that tells you nothing.
Step 5: Set Your Notification Preferences
You can usually pick how and when you get notified: - Email: Default for most. Set frequency (immediate, daily, weekly). - Slack or Teams: Good for real-time, but dangerous for alert fatigue. - In-app: Nice if you’re in Lonescale all day (most aren’t). - Webhook/API: For piping alerts into your own CRM or automation.
Honest take: Start with daily digests if your filters aren’t perfect yet. Real-time alerts sound cool, but unless your criteria are laser-focused, you’ll get annoyed fast.
Step 6: Test (and Tweak) Your Alert
Don’t trust a new alert to work as expected. Here’s how to test: - Trigger your alert manually if Lonescale allows (some platforms have a “preview” or “test” button). - Wait a day and check the leads. Are they relevant? Or is there junk slipping in? - If you’re getting nothing, your filters might be too strict. If you’re getting spammed, tighten up.
Pro tip: Review the first week’s batch with your team. Prune aggressively. Most alerts need tuning.
Step 7: Keep the Signal, Ditch the Noise
Over time, you’ll spot patterns: - Certain industries or regions always produce junk? Exclude them. - Too many small companies? Bump up the minimum size. - Getting the same company over and over? Check for “once per company” settings.
Set a recurring calendar reminder—monthly is usually enough—to review and tune your alerts.
What to ignore:
Don’t obsess over perfecting alerts on day one. You’ll never guess everything up front. Iteration beats perfection.
Bonus: Advanced Tactics for Power Users
If you’re ready to go beyond the basics, try these: - Layered alerts: Set up multiple alerts for different segments (e.g., SMB vs. enterprise). - Webhook integrations: Pipe hot leads straight into your CRM or workflow tool. - Shared alerts: Set up team alerts for markets you’re all targeting, but keep personal ones for niche bets.
Caution: The more complex your setup, the more likely it is to break or get ignored. Only go this route if you’re sure you’ll maintain it.
Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
- Alert overload: More alerts ≠ more leads. If you stop opening emails, you’ve got a problem.
- Ignoring alert quality: Don’t be afraid to kill or pause alerts that aren’t working.
- Letting alerts go stale: Your business changes. So should your criteria.
Set a “spring cleaning” reminder to cull old alerts every quarter.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Setting up custom alerts in Lonescale isn’t rocket science, but it does take some thought. The main thing? Start with what you really want, set up tight filters, and don’t be afraid to tweak or delete alerts that aren’t pulling their weight.
Most teams overcomplicate this stuff. Keep it simple. Review what’s working every month. Don’t chase perfect—chase useful. Good alerts are a living thing.
Now, go set up an alert you’ll actually care about. And shut off the rest.