If you're trying to actually find leads you want—not just anyone with a pulse—you're in the right place. This guide is for salespeople, marketers, founders, or honestly anyone tired of crummy lead lists full of dead ends. We’ll go through, step by step, how to build lead lists in Pitchmonster that are actually worth your time. No fluff, no magic bullets—just what works (and what doesn’t).
Why targeted lead lists matter (and where most people screw up)
Let’s be real: Most people treat lead lists like a numbers game. They dump a bunch of names into a spreadsheet and hope for the best. That’s a great way to waste hours, annoy strangers, and burn your reputation.
The goal isn’t “more leads.” It’s better leads. The kind that might actually buy what you’re selling. That means getting specific about who you want to talk to and using the right filters, not just grabbing whatever’s easy.
Pitchmonster is a tool—nothing more, nothing less. It can help you zero in on the right prospects, but only if you use it with a clear plan. So before you even touch your mouse, let’s get your head straight.
Step 1: Get clear on your real target
Before you log in, resist the urge to just “see what’s out there.” You’ll end up with a mess. Instead, grab a notepad (or doc) and answer these:
- What’s the must-have criteria for your ideal lead? (e.g., industry, company size, geography, job title)
- What are your “nice-to-haves”?
- Who do you absolutely not want? (e.g., competitors, companies too small, wrong countries)
Pro tip: If you say “anyone” can buy your thing, you’ll waste a ton of time. Be specific—even if it feels like you’re narrowing your market too much.
Step 2: Log in and get oriented in Pitchmonster
Once you’ve got your criteria, log into Pitchmonster. The layout is pretty straightforward, but here’s what you’ll usually see:
- Dashboard: Summary of recent lists, saved searches, and maybe some suggested leads (ignore these for now).
- Search/Lead Finder: Where you’ll spend most of your time.
- Saved Lists: Where your exports and saved segments live.
What not to worry about: Any “AI recommendations” or “hot leads” that Pitchmonster pushes at you. These are often broad and not tailored—skip them unless you’re really desperate.
Step 3: Build your search with the right filters
Here’s where most people slip up: They use too few filters, or the wrong ones, and get back a huge, useless pile of leads. Here’s how to do it right:
a) Start broad, then tighten
- Plug in your main criteria: industry, geography, company size. Don’t try to get ultra-specific at first—you want to see the lay of the land.
- Run the search. See how many results you get.
If you see thousands, you’re too broad. If you see less than 20, too narrow. Aim for a few hundred to a thousand—enough to work with, but not overwhelming.
b) Layer on job titles and seniority
- Filter by job function and title. Beware: Title data can be messy. “VP Marketing,” “Head of Marketing,” and “Marketing Lead” might all mean the same thing.
- Use boolean logic (if Pitchmonster allows) to combine similar titles. Example:
("Head of Marketing" OR "VP Marketing" OR "Marketing Director").
c) Exclude what you don’t want
- Use the “exclude” or “negative filter” options. Take out competitors, irrelevant industries, or regions you can’t serve.
- Exclude generic catch-all emails (info@, sales@). These usually go nowhere.
d) Check contact quality
- Look for direct emails and LinkedIn profiles. If Pitchmonster offers “verified” contact info, prioritize that.
- If you’re seeing mostly generic or outdated info, tweak your filters or try a different segment.
Pro tip: Don’t obsess over “perfect” data. No lead tool is flawless. You want “good enough”—80% accuracy is usually more than enough to start.
Step 4: Preview, sample, and sanity-check your results
Don’t just trust the numbers. Click into a handful of results:
- Are these really the kinds of leads you want?
- Are the companies still in business? (Pitchmonster isn’t immune to stale data.)
- Do the job titles make sense for your outreach?
If you’re seeing a bunch of weird stuff—like “Intern” titles when you wanted “VPs,” or companies that closed years ago—go back and tighten your filters.
What to ignore: Vanity metrics like “lead score” or “AI intent.” Unless you know exactly how those are calculated, don’t base your list on them.
Step 5: Save your list (the right way)
Once you’re happy:
- Save your search with a clear name. “US SaaS VPs Marketing Jun 2024” is better than “List 1.”
- If Pitchmonster lets you save dynamic lists (that update as new leads are added), use that for ongoing prospecting.
- For a one-off campaign, export the list as CSV or Excel.
Heads up: Pitchmonster (like most tools) may limit the number of exports per month. Plan ahead—don’t burn through your quota on junk lists.
Step 6: Clean up and enrich your list
Don’t get lazy here. Even the best tools spit out bad data:
- Spot-check contacts: Remove obvious junk, duplicates, or folks outside your target.
- Enrich where needed: If Pitchmonster’s data is light on details, consider running the list through a tool like Clearbit or LinkedIn for more info.
- Flag missing info: Missing emails or LinkedIn profiles? Decide if it’s worth tracking down, or just skip.
Pro tip: It’s better to have 200 solid leads than 2,000 randoms. Quality always beats quantity.
Step 7: Organize for outreach
Dumping a raw CSV into your CRM or email tool is asking for trouble. Take a few minutes to:
- Tag or categorize by segment (e.g., region, industry, seniority).
- Note any personalizations—like recent funding, company news, or mutual connections.
- Remove anyone you know you shouldn’t contact (e.g., existing customers, partners).
Don’t: Over-engineer this. A simple spreadsheet with clear columns is usually all you need.
Step 8: Set up a simple workflow for updating your lists
Lead data goes stale fast. Here’s how to keep things fresh without losing your mind:
- Schedule a monthly refresh: Pull a new batch, compare to your old list, and update as needed.
- Document your filters: Jot down exactly what criteria you used, so you can repeat it later.
- Don’t pay for more than you need: If you’re not using all your exports, downgrade your Pitchmonster plan.
What actually works (and what doesn’t)
Works: - Getting laser-specific with your filters—even if it means a smaller list. - Manually spot-checking your leads before outreach. - Saving your filters and lists for easy re-use.
Doesn’t work: - Blindly trusting “AI” or “recommended” leads. - Downloading massive, untargeted lists and thinking you’ll sort it out later. - Skipping quality checks because you’re in a hurry.
Keep it simple, tweak as you go
Building targeted lead lists in Pitchmonster isn’t rocket science, but it does require a bit of discipline. Get clear on who you want, use the right filters, and always sanity-check your results. Don’t get seduced by shiny features or promises of “instant leads.” Start small, keep it tight, and improve as you go. That’s how you actually get leads worth your time.