So you need a solid list of B2B leads, not a pile of outdated emails and dead ends. Maybe you’re in sales. Maybe you run your own shop. Either way, you want leads you can actually contact—without spending a week sifting through junk. This guide is for you.
We’ll walk through how to use Snov to find and verify B2B leads. No fluff, no fake promises. Just what works, what doesn’t, and how to keep your sanity along the way.
Step 1: Get Set Up with Snov
First things first—Snov isn’t magic. It’s a tool, and like any tool, you’ll need to know your way around.
- Sign up: Head to the Snov site and create an account. There’s a free plan, but it’s limited. If you’re serious about lead gen, you’ll eventually need to pay.
- Pick a plan: If you’re just testing, the free tier is fine. For bigger lists or more searches, you’ll want to look at their paid options. Don’t get suckered into the highest tier right away—start small and see what you actually use.
Pro tip: Use a work email, not your personal one. You’ll avoid headaches later.
Step 2: Define Who You’re Looking For
Before you start blasting out searches, get clear on your target. The more specific, the better. Otherwise, you’ll drown in irrelevant contacts.
- Company size: Are you after startups or Fortune 500s?
- Industry: Tech, finance, manufacturing—pick what matters to you.
- Location: U.S.? Europe? Global?
- Job titles: “Marketing Manager” is different from “Head of Growth.” Get precise.
Write this down somewhere. Seriously. It’ll save you from chasing the wrong people.
Step 3: Run a Lead Search in Snov
Now the fun part—actually finding leads.
- Go to Lead Search: In Snov’s dashboard, look for their “Lead Search” or “Prospector” tool. (Names change, but it’s usually front and center.)
- Set your filters:
- Industry: Use their dropdowns. The categories aren’t perfect, so don’t be afraid to try a few.
- Company size: Filter by employee count.
- Location: Country, state, or city.
- Job position: Titles can be messy. Try variations (“VP Sales,” “Vice President Sales,” “Head of Sales”).
- Search: Hit the button and let it rip.
What works
- Specificity: The more filters you use, the better. Broad searches = tons of junk.
- Job title tweaks: Snov isn’t great at fuzzy matching. Try out several title variations to catch the right folks.
- Small batches: Don’t try to pull 5,000 leads at once. Start with 100-200. It’s easier to spot problems.
What doesn’t work
- Relying on keywords alone: Job titles are all over the place. If you just type “marketing,” you’ll get everyone from interns to CMOs.
- Ignoring the preview: Always look at the preview results before saving a list. If it’s full of interns or unrelated roles, tweak your filters.
Step 4: Build and Save Your Lead List
Once you’ve dialed in your search:
- Select leads: Tick the boxes for people who look relevant. Or, if the results are good, select all.
- Save to a list: Snov lets you create lists for each campaign or segment. Name it something clear (“NYC SaaS CEOs,” not “List 1”).
- Don’t go overboard: Quality beats quantity. It’s tempting to grab everyone, but you’ll just make more work later.
Pro tip: If you’re working with a team, use shared lists to avoid stepping on each other’s toes.
Step 5: Verify the Emails
This is the whole ballgame. If you skip this step, you’ll hit tons of bounces or, worse, get your email domain blacklisted.
- Click “Verify”: Snov has a built-in email verifier. Select your list and start the process.
- Wait it out: Verification can take a few minutes, especially for big lists.
- Check results:
- Valid: Good to go.
- Risky: Sometimes these work, sometimes not. Use sparingly.
- Invalid: Don’t bother. Delete or ignore these.
What works
- Always verify: Never skip this. Even seemingly “good” emails can be dead.
- Filter out risky/invalid: Your sender reputation is worth more than a few extra contacts.
What doesn’t work
- Blindly trusting “catch-all” domains: These are the “risky” ones. Sometimes you’ll get through, often you won’t. Use only if you have no other option.
Step 6: Export and Organize Your Leads
Once you’ve got a verified list, it’s time to get it out of Snov and into your workflow.
- Export as CSV: Snov makes this easy. Download your list in CSV format.
- Clean up: Open it in Excel or Google Sheets. Double-check for duplicates, weird formatting, or missing data.
- Add context: If you plan to do outreach, add columns for notes (“Why this lead?”, “What’s their company doing?”). Your future self will thank you.
- Upload to CRM: If you use something like HubSpot or Salesforce, import the cleaned CSV there.
Pro tip: Keep a backup. Sometimes imports go sideways.
Step 7: Reach Out—Without Being a Nuisance
I know, Snov offers built-in email drip tools. They’re fine for small runs, but if you’re serious, you might want to use a dedicated email platform.
- Personalize: Even a few words make a difference. Nothing screams “spam” like a generic blast.
- Start small: Send a handful of emails, see what lands, tweak as needed.
- Track replies and bounces: Watch for patterns—if you’re getting lots of bounces, your list might still need work.
What works
- Manual review: Before sending, scan your list for obvious mismatches or weird titles. It’s worth the 5 minutes.
- Short, honest messages: Don’t use templates that sound like a robot wrote them.
What doesn’t work
- Spray and pray: Sending thousands of emails at once will get you flagged, blocked, and ignored.
- Ignoring unsubscribes/opt-outs: Respect requests to stop—don’t burn bridges.
What to Ignore (Most of the Time)
- “Enrichment” upsells: Snov will try to sell you extra data enrichment. Sometimes it helps, but don’t buy it unless you really need phone numbers or social links.
- Importing your own contacts for verification: Snov can verify your old lists, but don’t expect miracles. If your old list is a trash fire, it’ll just confirm that.
- Browser extensions: These let you scrape LinkedIn or websites for emails. Sometimes handy, but they’re slow and not always accurate. Use sparingly.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
Finding verified B2B leads with Snov isn’t rocket science, but it does take a bit of trial and error. Start small, keep your target clear, and don’t get distracted by shiny add-ons. Your best bet? Build one tight, high-quality list, then iterate based on what actually works.
Most “growth hacks” are just distractions. Do the basics well, and you’ll have more real leads than most of your competitors.