If you're tired of chasing bad-fit leads who'll never buy, this one's for you. The right customers are out there, but finding them is a grind—especially if you're relying on guesswork. That's where technographic filters come in. Used well, they can save you time, cut through noise, and get you in front of buyers who actually want what you're selling.
This guide is for salespeople, SDRs, founders, and marketers who want more than hype. I'll show you how to use Salesintel's technographic filters to zero in on real prospects, skip the wishful thinking, and avoid the usual dead ends.
What Are Technographic Filters (And Why Bother)?
Before we get into the weeds, let's clear something up: “technographics” isn’t just a fancy word vendors use to jack up their prices. It’s simple—technographics tell you what software, hardware, and tech tools a company uses.
It matters because:
- If you sell a Salesforce add-on, companies using Salesforce are your bread and butter.
- If you offer cloud migration, targeting folks still on-prem makes sense.
- If you’re pushing a Zoom competitor, you want to know who’s using Zoom (and maybe who’s frustrated with it).
Technographic filters help you slice your target list based on concrete tech choices—not just industry or company size.
But here’s where people mess up: they treat technographics as magic. They’re not. It’s just another signal. Use it to sharpen your list, not build your whole approach.
Step 1: Get Crystal Clear on Your Ideal Customer
Don’t even open Salesintel yet. Start with pen and paper (or a Google Doc).
Ask yourself: - What technology does my best customer use? (Think CRM, cloud, marketing tools) - What do they not use? (This can be just as important.) - Are there “must-have” technologies for my product to work? - Any tech stacks that scream “bad fit” or “waste of time”?
Pro Tip:
Don’t just guess. Talk to your customer success or onboarding folks. They know what tech headaches come up—and which deals never go anywhere.
Avoid:
Going too broad (“Any company with a website is a fit!”) or too narrow (“Only companies using this obscure plugin from 2012.”). Reality is somewhere in the middle.
Step 2: Log In and Find the Technographics Section
Alright, now open up Salesintel. Once you’re in:
- Go to the main search or prospecting page.
- Look for the “Technographics” filter. Usually, it sits alongside filters like industry, company size, and location.
Heads up:
Every sales tool hides things in a slightly different way. If you can’t find “Technographics,” check the help docs or ask their chat support. Don’t waste half an hour clicking around.
Step 3: Build Your Filter List (Without Overthinking It)
This is where most people get stuck. You don’t need 10 layers of logic. Start with the basics.
How to use technographic filters in Salesintel:
-
Include technologies:
Select the main platforms, tools, or products your ideal buyers use. For example:- CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Marketing automation (Marketo, Pardot)
- E-commerce platforms (Shopify, Magento)
-
Exclude technologies:
Knock out anything that’s a dealbreaker. Maybe your tool doesn’t play nice with Oracle, or you know SharePoint users are never happy with your solution. Use the “exclude” option for these. -
Stacking filters:
Combine technographics with basics like company size, revenue, and industry. Example:
“Show me companies with 50-200 employees in SaaS, using Salesforce, but not using HubSpot.”
Pro Tip:
Don’t get too clever. Start broad, then narrow as you go. It’s easier to trim a big list than build up from nothing.
Step 4: Review and Gut-Check Your Results
Click “Search” or “Apply Filters” and check your list. Here’s what to look for:
- Are these real companies, not junk data?
- How many results did you get? (Too many = too broad; too few = too picky)
- Spot-check a handful:
Click into a few profiles. Do their tech stacks match what you’d expect? Is your target persona there? If it’s all over the map, tweak your filters.
What to ignore:
Don’t obsess over perfection. A few mismatches are normal. If 70-80% look right, you’re on track.
Honest take:
No technographic filter is 100% accurate. Some companies hide their tech, others change stacks and don’t update anywhere. Use this as a starting point, not gospel.
Step 5: Download, Enrich, or Push to CRM (But Don’t Spam)
Once you’ve got a decent list, you can:
- Export the list as a CSV
- Push directly to your CRM or sales engagement tool (if your plan allows)
- Enrich with contact data (emails, phone numbers)
A word of warning:
Don’t just dump these leads into a generic cadence. Reference their tech stack in your outreach—show them you did your homework.
Example opener:
“Hey Jane, I noticed your team uses Salesforce—are you happy with how it integrates with your current email platform?”
What not to do:
Don’t say, “I see you use [tech], so you must want my product!” That’s lazy and turns people off.
Step 6: Iterate and Tighten as You Go
The first list is rarely the best list. Here’s how to make your technographic targeting smarter over time:
- Track response rates:
Are certain tech stacks replying more? Focus there. - Ask sales what’s working:
Are deals moving faster with some combinations? Double down. - Tweak your “must-have” and “exclude” lists:
Maybe you thought Zendesk users would be perfect, but they’re duds. Adjust.
Pro Tip:
Set a calendar reminder to review your filters every month. Tech adoption moves fast—what was rare last year might be table stakes now.
Honest Pros and Cons of Salesintel’s Technographics
Where it shines: - Lets you skip hours of manual research. - Good for finding “hidden” lookalike accounts. - Pairs well with other filters (firmographic, intent, etc.)
Where it falls short: - Data isn’t perfect. Smaller companies and stealth startups often slip through. - Some tech detection is surface-level (e.g., only tracks what’s public-facing). - It won’t tell you how a company uses a tool, or if they’re happy with it.
Reality check:
Treat technographics as a shortcut, not a silver bullet. It makes your targeting smarter, but you still need to do the work.
Keep It Simple—and Don’t Get Sucked Into the Hype
Technographic filters in Salesintel are powerful, but they’re not magic. Start with what you know about your best customers, build a simple filter, and gut-check your results. Skip the “growth hacks” and focus on being relevant and real in your outreach.
Iterate as you go, and don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. The best way to get better? Try, learn, and tweak. That’s it. Happy hunting.