If you’ve got a pile of business contacts but don’t trust that the phone numbers, emails, or job titles are right, you’re not alone. Dirty data wastes time, tanks campaigns, and annoys everyone. This guide is for anyone who wants to clean up their contact lists and actually reach the people they’re trying to connect with. We’ll walk through how to use Lusha enrichment to check your contact info, spot the weak spots, and make sure you’re not chasing ghosts.
Why bother verifying contact info?
You probably already know the answer: bad data leads to bounced emails, wasted calls, and lost deals. But beyond that:
- It saves real money. Every dud phone number or dead email costs time (and, if you’re paying for sends, actual cash).
- You don’t look spammy. Reaching out to the wrong person or the wrong address makes you look careless.
- It’s about respect. Contacting people with outdated info is just annoying.
Still, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by promises from data vendors. Lusha is popular, but it’s not magic. It’s a tool—not a silver bullet. Here’s how to get the most out of it.
Step 1: Understand what Lusha enrichment actually does
Before you upload anything, let’s get clear on what Lusha enrichment is and isn’t.
What it does: - Takes your existing contact list and tries to fill in missing info (like phone numbers, emails, company details, social links). - Updates stale data if it has a fresher record. - Can flag obviously invalid records (e.g., emails that don’t exist).
What it doesn’t do: - Guarantee 100% accuracy. No tool does. - Fix every single typo or weird formatting issue. - Replace human judgment (sometimes you still have to check something yourself).
Pro tip: Don’t expect every field to be filled. Enrichment works best when you already have some correct info—like a name, company, or work email.
Step 2: Prep your contact list (don’t skip this)
Lusha can’t work miracles on a trash heap. If your list is a mess (duplicates, incomplete names, random notes in the “email” field), you’ll get garbage results.
What to do before uploading: - Remove obvious junk. Delete rows without a name or company. - Standardize formats. Make sure emails look like emails and phone numbers are numbers. - Deduplicate. No one likes getting three identical emails from you.
Why bother? The more accurate your “seed” data, the better Lusha’s enrichment will work. If you feed in nonsense, you’ll get more nonsense back.
Step 3: Choose your enrichment method
Lusha offers a few ways to run enrichment, depending on your workflow and budget:
1. Bulk upload (CSV)
- Best for: Cleaning up a big list all at once.
- How it works: You upload a spreadsheet, map your columns (name, email, etc.), and Lusha tries to fill in what’s missing.
- Watch out: There are limits on how many records you can enrich per month, depending on your plan.
2. API integration
- Best for: Teams who want to automate enrichment as new leads come in.
- How it works: You connect your CRM or lead capture system to Lusha’s API, so new contacts get enriched in real time.
- Watch out: Requires some technical setup. Not worth it for a one-off cleanup.
3. Browser extension
- Best for: Quick lookups when you’re on LinkedIn or a company website.
- How it works: Click the extension, and Lusha tries to pull up contact info right on the page.
- Watch out: This is more for prospecting than bulk verification. Not a substitute for list enrichment.
Honest take: For most people cleaning up an existing list, start with the bulk upload. The API is great if you’re technical and want ongoing enrichment.
Step 4: Run the enrichment
Once you’ve picked your method, here’s what to expect:
- Upload your file or connect your system.
- Map the columns. Lusha needs to know which field is which (e.g., “first_name” vs. “last_name”).
- Start enrichment. The tool will chew through your data and flag what it can update.
What you’ll get back: - Filled-in fields (new phone numbers, emails, job titles, company info). - Flags for invalid or undeliverable emails. - Sometimes a confidence score or “verified” status, depending on the field.
What not to expect: - Zero errors. Some contacts just can’t be verified, and that’s OK. - Magic fixes for really old or obscure records.
Step 5: Actually verify the results
This is where most people drop the ball. Don’t just trust the output.
How to spot-check Lusha’s work: - Pick a random sample. Manually Google or LinkedIn a handful of contacts. Does the info match up? - Look for patterns. If 90% of emails at one company are “jane.smith@company.com,” but Lusha gives you “jsmith@company.com,” dig deeper. - Test deliverability. If you’re updating emails, run a small pilot campaign. Track bounces and replies. - Flag the weird stuff. If a “CEO” is listed for a tiny startup, double-check. Lusha can get tripped up by outdated LinkedIn titles.
Pro tip: No enrichment tool is perfect. If something looks off, trust your gut and check it.
Step 6: Update your master records (carefully)
Don’t blindly overwrite your CRM or main list with enriched data. Take a minute to review:
- Back up your original list. Always.
- Decide what overwrites what. Is Lusha’s data more trustworthy than what you had? Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no.
- Merge carefully. Use your CRM’s import/match features to avoid duplicating or deleting the wrong info.
Honest take: If your process is manual, mistakes happen—especially with big lists. Go slow, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from your CRM admin or a more technical teammate.
Step 7: Maintain your data (don’t set and forget)
Enrichment isn’t a one-and-done job. People change jobs, companies rebrand, and emails go stale.
- Schedule regular cleanups. Quarterly is plenty for most teams.
- Use enrichment on new leads. Don’t let junk pile up again.
- Track what works. If Lusha’s data keeps bouncing, try another tool or double up with manual checks.
What to ignore: You don’t need to enrich every contact, all the time. Focus on the people you actually plan to contact in the next few months.
What works, what doesn’t, and what to skip
- Works well: Filling in missing business emails and direct dials for mid-to-large companies (think: B2B sales).
- Spotty: Small companies, startups, or people who rarely update their public profiles.
- Doesn’t work: Outdated lists from years ago, or contacts with only a first name and no company.
Skip: Don’t buy into “95% accuracy” marketing claims. Every tool exaggerates. Lusha’s data is often solid, but always verify before blasting a campaign.
Summary: Keep it simple
Don’t get paralyzed by all the data hygiene advice out there. Start by cleaning what you have, enrich with a tool like Lusha, and actually check the results. No system is perfect, so treat enrichment as a way to make things better, not flawless. Iterate, keep your lists tidy, and focus on reaching real people—not chasing perfect data.