You want better B2B leads. Not just a longer list, but actual prospects who might buy from you. If you've poked around prospecting tools before, you know the story: lots of search filters, lots of noise, and not enough real opportunities. This guide is for anyone who wants to actually cut through that noise using Closelyhq, and find companies worth your time.
Let’s be honest: most filters in sales tools sound great in theory but are either too broad or too gimmicky in practice. I’ll show you how to use Closelyhq’s filters to get at the good stuff—without wasting hours or overcomplicating things.
Step 1: Get Clear on What “High Potential” Means (For You)
Before you touch a single filter, nail down what a high-potential lead looks like for your business. If you skip this, you’ll end up with a random list that looks impressive but doesn’t convert.
Ask yourself: - What’s my ideal customer’s company size? - Which industries or verticals do they really come from? - Where are they located? - What job titles do my buyers actually have? - What’s their likely buying trigger? (e.g., new funding, recent growth, tech stack change)
Pro tip: If you’re not sure, look at your last 10 customers who actually paid you, not just the ones who took a meeting.
Step 2: Start Broad, Then Layer On Filters
Don’t get lost in the weeds right away. Closelyhq gives you a ton of filters, but piling on too many at once just means you’ll miss good leads. Start simple.
- Begin with the basics:
- Industry (e.g., SaaS, manufacturing, healthcare)
- Company size (number of employees or revenue)
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Location (country, region, or city)
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See how big your pool is.
If you’ve only got a handful of results, your initial criteria are probably too strict. If you’ve got thousands, you can afford to get pickier. -
Add one filter at a time.
Each filter you add should be based on real patterns you’ve seen in your best customers—not just what sounds good.
What to skip:
- Don’t bother with vanity filters like “number of followers” on LinkedIn. That rarely translates to buying power.
- Ignore random buzzword skills or generic keywords—these just muddy the water.
Step 3: Use Advanced Filters (But Don’t Overdo It)
Once you’ve got the basics, Closelyhq lets you get specific. Here’s what’s actually worth your time:
a. Seniority and Job Title
Target decision-makers, not just anyone with a pulse at the company.
- Use “Seniority” filters to pick managers, directors, VPs, or C-level, depending on your product.
- “Job Title” search works, but watch out for creative titles (“Chief Happiness Officer” isn’t always the buyer).
Tip: If you’re seeing a lot of junk titles, tighten up the filter to specific keywords combined with seniority.
b. Technology Used (Tech Stack)
If your product relies on your prospect using (or not using) certain software, Closelyhq’s tech stack filter is actually pretty solid.
- Search for companies using specific CRMs, e-commerce platforms, or tools your product integrates with.
- This can cut your outreach time in half if you sell integrations or migration services.
Reality check: Tech stack data is never 100% accurate. Use it as a directional filter, not gospel.
c. Recent Company Changes
Some of the most actionable filters are around recent events:
- Funding rounds: Companies with fresh funding are more likely to buy.
- Hiring surges: Rapid headcount growth signals budget and pain points.
- Leadership changes: New execs often bring in new tools.
These are gold—just don’t expect hundreds of results. Sometimes you’ll get a handful, but they’re usually worth a closer look.
Step 4: Exclude the Obvious No-Gos
Just as important as picking who you want is ruling out who you don’t want.
- Exclude current customers (if you’re not upselling them)
- Remove competitors (unless you sell into your own vertical)
- Cut out tiny companies if you know they can’t afford you
Closelyhq lets you build “exclude” filters, so use them. Saves everyone time.
Step 5: Save, Test, and Refine Your Filters
Don’t reinvent the wheel every week. Closelyhq lets you save filter presets, so once you’ve found a combo that works, save it.
But here’s the thing: no filter set is perfect out of the gate. Run a test batch of leads, do some outreach, and actually see what lands. Are the right people replying? Are you seeing the usual tire-kickers, or real decision-makers?
- If your list is too cold: Loosen your filters, or rethink what “high potential” really means for your market.
- If you’re buried in junk: You probably need to tighten up job titles, seniority, or industry.
Reality check: There’s always some noise, no matter how good your filters are. The goal is to get a usable list, not a perfect one.
Step 6: Export and Qualify (Don’t Rely on Filters Alone)
Filters get you 80% of the way, but don’t assume every export is gold. Before you blast out emails, take a quick scan:
- Spot-check a sample of leads for obvious mismatches or weird titles.
- If you can, enrich or double-check data with LinkedIn or another source.
- Remove anyone who’s clearly a bad fit. Yes, it’s manual. Yes, it’s worth 10 minutes.
Pro tip: If you’re getting a lot of duds, revisit your saved filter and tweak it.
Step 7: Reach Out Like a Human
Not strictly a filtering tip, but it makes all the difference. Don’t just copy-paste the same pitch to every filtered lead.
- Personalize based on the filters you used. (“Saw you just raised a Series B…”)
- Reference something specific if you used the tech stack or company change filters.
- Keep it short, relevant, and to the point.
Bad prospecting tools make you lazy. Good filters mean you spend your effort on better leads.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
Works: - Layering a few key filters to get a focused, manageable list. - Using recent events and tech stack to zero in on real buying triggers. - Saving filter combos and iterating based on results.
Doesn’t Work: - Stacking every possible filter to get “perfect” data—just kills your list. - Relying on company descriptions or random LinkedIn keywords. - Assuming the tool will magically know your buyer profile.
Ignore: - Vanity metrics (number of followers, buzzword skills) - Overly broad location filters (“worldwide” is nearly useless) - Job titles that are too generic (“Consultant,” “Specialist”)
Keep It Simple—And Keep Improving
Closelyhq’s filters are solid, but they’re just tools. The real magic is in knowing who you want, testing your filters, and not getting lost in the options. Start with a clear idea of your ideal customer, build a basic filter set, and adjust as you go. If something feels off, tweak it. Don’t chase perfection—chase progress.
The best filter? Your own common sense. Use the tools, but trust your gut. Then get out there and actually talk to the leads you find. That’s where real deals start.