Looking for real decision makers—not just anyone with a LinkedIn profile—can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. If you’re trying to get your product in front of people who can actually say “yes,” you need more than a giant database. You need to cut through the noise and find the right folks, fast. This guide breaks down, step by step, how to use Uplead’s advanced search filters to do exactly that. Whether you’re in sales, recruiting, or just tired of chasing the wrong contacts, this is for you.
Step 1: Know What You’re Really Looking For
Before you even log in, get clear on your target. “Decision maker” means different things depending on what you sell. For some, it’s “Head of IT.” For others, it’s the owner, or maybe someone with “Director” in their title.
Quick reality check:
Don’t rely on generic titles alone. Sometimes the real power sits with someone less obvious (think: Operations Manager or even a savvy Office Admin in smaller companies).
Pro tip:
Write down a shortlist of job titles, seniority levels, and departments you want to target. This will save you time once you’re in the filters.
Step 2: Log in and Head to Advanced Search
Once inside Uplead, skip the basic search. The real magic happens under “Advanced Search.” This is where you can get picky—without getting overwhelmed.
- Find “Advanced Search” in the left sidebar or main dashboard.
- You’ll see a bunch of filters. Don’t worry, you don’t need to use them all.
Step 3: Filter by Industry—But Don’t Get Sucked Into Over-Specifying
Uplead lets you filter by dozens of industries. This is useful, but don’t get bogged down trying to split hairs between “Computer Software” and “Information Technology and Services” if your product serves both.
- Use broad industry categories unless you have a niche offering.
- If you want to cover multiple industries, select them together.
What to ignore:
Some industries are oddly specific or overlap. If you’re not sure, err on the side of broader. Narrow down later if you get too many results.
Step 4: Company Size and Location—Useful, but Don’t Go Overboard
If you know you sell best to companies of a certain size, set those parameters. Otherwise, you might miss out on unexpected fits.
- “Employee count” is usually a better gauge than “Revenue” (revenue numbers can be outdated or padded).
- Narrow down by country, state, or even city if you’re targeting a specific region.
Keep in mind:
Too many filters = too few results. If you’re getting zero matches, loosen things up.
Step 5: Home In on the Right Contacts with Job Titles and Seniority
This is where you separate the tire-kickers from the people who actually sign deals.
- Use the “Job Title” filter to enter keywords like “CEO,” “Founder,” “VP Sales,” “IT Director,” etc.
- The “Seniority Level” filter is your friend—pick options like “Owner,” “C-Level,” “VP,” or “Director.”
- If your target persona spans several departments (like Marketing and Product), add them all.
Reality check:
People invent their own titles (“Chief Happiness Officer,” anyone?). Don’t be afraid to run a couple of searches with variations.
What doesn’t work:
Relying on just one job title. You’ll miss people. Uplead is decent at fuzzy matching, but try a few variants.
Step 6: Use Tech Stack and Other Advanced Filters (If They Matter)
Some products only make sense for companies that use Salesforce, run Shopify stores, or have a certain tech stack. Uplead lets you filter by these criteria.
- “Technologies Used” can be a goldmine if your product plugs into something specific.
- There are options to filter by funding, current hiring status, and more. Only use these if they’re truly relevant.
Don’t get fancy for the sake of it:
If you don’t need these extra filters, skip them. More filters = fewer results. Only layer them on if you’re drowning in irrelevant contacts.
Step 7: Preview Results and Sanity-Check Your List
Before you export or start emailing, look at the sample records that come up.
- Are these people actually in the roles you want?
- Is the company size and industry what you expected?
- Spot check a few contacts on LinkedIn to make sure the info isn’t stale.
Honest take:
No database is perfect. Uplead is better than most, but you’ll still find out-of-date info. That’s just the state of B2B data.
Step 8: Export and Organize—But Don’t Spray and Pray
Once you’re happy with your list, export it. But don’t just blast cold emails to everyone.
- Organize contacts by segment (e.g., by title, industry, or region).
- Personalize your outreach—refer to their role, company, or something relevant. Mass emails get ignored.
Pro tip:
Keep your initial list manageable. It’s better to reach out to 50 well-targeted decision makers than 500 random “contacts.”
Step 9: Iterate Based on Real-World Results
No matter how good your filters are, your first list won’t be perfect. Some contacts will bounce. Some won’t be decision makers after all.
- Track your response and bounce rates.
- Refine your filters based on what works—maybe you need to broaden job titles or loosen company size.
- Save your best searches in Uplead for next time.
What to ignore:
Don’t get hung up on making the “perfect” filter set. It doesn’t exist. Your best bet is to try, tweak, and repeat.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Keep It Moving
Uplead’s advanced search filters are powerful, but power tools only help if you use them well. Don’t fall for the illusion that more filters = better lists. Start broad, sanity-check your results, and refine as you go. Remember: your goal isn’t to build the biggest list, it’s to find the right people—fast. Stay skeptical, keep it simple, and let real-world feedback guide your next search.