If you’re in B2B sales or marketing, you already know: most prospect lists are junk. You spend hours slogging through irrelevant companies, outdated websites, and dead ends. What you want are organizations actively investing in their websites—companies signaling, “We’re growing, and we spend money on tech.” That’s where Whatcms comes in handy, especially if you know how to use its filters to separate the wheat from the digital chaff.
This guide is for anyone tired of dialing for dollars or sending cold emails that go nowhere. I’ll show you, step by step, how to use Whatcms filters to zero in on real B2B prospects who might actually want to talk to you. No hype, no hand-waving—just practical advice.
Why Use Whatcms? And Why Filters Matter
Whatcms identifies the content management system (CMS) behind millions of websites. That’s useful, but by itself, it’s just trivia. The real value comes from using Whatcms’s filters to spot patterns—like which companies just upgraded their tech stack, use premium tools, or show signs of life beyond a dusty homepage.
High intent B2B prospects are the ones putting money and effort into their web presence. If you can spot who’s recently adopted a new technology, or who’s using advanced tools, you’ve got a much stronger lead than a random list pulled from LinkedIn.
But be warned: plenty of people claim you can “automate” prospecting with tools like this. Don’t believe the hype. Filters help you focus, but you’ll still need your brain.
Step 1: Know What You’re Really Looking For
Before you start clicking filters, get clear about your real ideal customer profile. Are you after SaaS companies? Law firms? Manufacturing giants? The CMS a company uses can tell you a lot:
- Enterprise CMS (Sitecore, Adobe Experience Manager): Usually big orgs, with real budgets.
- E-commerce platforms (Magento, Shopify Plus): Companies selling online, often with a marketing team.
- Open-source CMS (WordPress, Drupal): Could be anyone, from hobbyists to Fortune 500s—so you’ll need more filters.
Ask yourself: - Who actually buys from you? - What web technologies are your best customers already using? - Do you want companies who recently changed their tech stack? Or those who’ve stuck with the same tools for years?
Write down your answers. Otherwise, you’ll end up with another useless list.
Step 2: Use Whatcms to Build a Focused List
Now, log in to Whatcms and head to the search and filters section. Here’s how to avoid wasting time:
1. Start Broad, Then Narrow Down
Unless you already know the exact CMS you want to target, start with a wider net. For example: - Filter by “CMS contains: Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce” if you want e-commerce. - Or “CMS contains: Sitecore, Adobe Experience Manager” for enterprise.
Pro tip: Don’t bother with “WordPress” alone—there are millions of low-value sites on WordPress. Combine it with other filters (see below).
2. Layer on Additional Filters
This is where the real magic (and sanity-saving) happens:
- Technology Add-ons: Filter by plugins, marketing automation (like HubSpot or Marketo), analytics (Google Tag Manager, Mixpanel), or live chat tools. If a company uses these, they’re investing in marketing.
- Recent Technology Change: Some Whatcms plans let you filter for sites that recently switched CMS or added a new tech. These companies might be open to new vendors, since they’re already making changes.
- Domain Authority / Traffic: If available, set a minimum threshold to weed out hobby sites.
- Geography or Industry Keywords: Combine with other data sources, or filter by TLD (.com, .co.uk) if you care about location.
3. Ignore Vanity Filters
Don’t get distracted by: - “Recently Registered Domains”: Most are spam, parked, or side projects. - “All CMS Detected”: Too broad. You’ll drown in noise. - Filtering by only “modern” CMS: Just because a CMS is new doesn’t mean the company is a good fit.
Step 3: Spot High Intent Signals
The difference between a lukewarm lead and a high-intent prospect isn’t just the tech they use—it’s the pattern of their choices.
Look for: - Recent Upgrades: If a company just switched from an old CMS to something robust, they’re investing in their online experience (and probably open to new vendors). - Stack Complexity: Companies running multiple marketing tools, analytics, and integrations are more likely to have a budget and a team. - Premium Tools: If you see enterprise-grade solutions (Salesforce, Eloqua, custom hosting), you’re dealing with a serious player.
Red flags: - No recent changes: Stagnant tech can mean “set in their ways” or “no budget.” - Only basic/free plugins: May signal a small business with little appetite for new services.
Step 4: Export and Clean Your List
Don’t just export raw data and start blasting emails. Here’s what you should do:
- Export the List: Use Whatcms’s export feature (most plans allow CSV export).
- Clean the Data: Remove:
- Obvious spam or placeholder domains.
- Companies outside your target country or industry (use LinkedIn, Hunter.io, or even Google).
- Duplicates and dead links.
- Enrich Your List: Use a tool (or manual research) to add:
- Company size
- Contact info (ideally, decision makers)
- LinkedIn profiles
Pro tip: If you’re targeting bigger deals, do a quick site visit yourself. One look can save you from chasing dead ends.
Step 5: Prioritize and Reach Out (But Don’t Be Weird)
Now you’ve got a quality list, sorted by high-intent signals. Here’s how not to blow it:
- Personalize Your Outreach: Reference the tools or recent changes you spotted. “I noticed you just moved to Shopify Plus—how’s the transition going?” That’s way more effective than a generic pitch.
- Don’t Mention Whatcms: No one wants to feel like they’re being stalked by a robot. Instead, talk about the business outcomes you help with.
- Start a Conversation: Ask a question or offer something useful. Save the hard sell for later.
What doesn’t work: - Mass-blasting emails with generic templates. - Acting like you have inside info (“I saw you installed Marketo yesterday…”). Keep it human.
Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
- Chasing volume over quality: Hundreds of weak leads aren’t worth one good one.
- Ignoring context: Just because a company uses a certain tech doesn’t mean they’re a fit. Always double-check relevance.
- Over-relying on filters: Whatcms is a tool, not a crystal ball. Use it to save time, but verify everything that matters.
Quick Recap: Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
Whatcms filters are powerful, but only if you use them with your brain engaged. Decide what signals actually matter for your business, layer your filters, and double-check your results. Skip the vanity metrics and focus on patterns that point to real, high-intent B2B buyers.
Don’t overcomplicate it. Start small, test your filters, and adjust as you go. The best lists are built over time—not pulled in five minutes. Use Whatcms as your shortcut, not your replacement for real prospecting.
And remember: the best filter in the world is still you.