How to be Smart about buying database for your B2B activities

How do you get in front of your prospect quickly?

Ask most experts this question, and you’ll probably hear that there are no shortcuts! You have to build your own database of contacts from scratch.

But… what if you could buy in your way up?

By buying B2B data, you can cut your research phase in half and get to the pitching and selling stages faster.

So, is buying a database for marketing a smart choice? Or is it a blunder disguised as an advantage?

Read this to the end and I assure you that you will know how to buy data lists smartly and strategically—without the usually assumed drawbacks.

No matter how many times they say it’s a bad idea, companies are always drawn to the concept of buying database lists. Frankly, the attraction is not surprising. Buying a database for marketing is an effortless way to grow your prospects list. With the right vendor, you get a source of rich, detailed data without having to find it all on your own.

Simply put, researching everything you need to know about prospective clients involves a lot of time combing the web. Buying a database gets you past the research phase, but still, provides you with the information you need to fuel your marketing campaign. If you end up with accurate, up-to-date information, either way, there is no benefit to finding it on your own.

Ideally, you will be able to buy database according to your target market. Many of the negative connotations about email list buying are based on how things used to be. However, the truth is that buying databases has become a lot more sophisticated, even just in the past few years. Companies aren’t just going to sell you a jumbled list of clients, regardless of whether they fit your buyer persona or not.

Instead, a reliable database provider will let you choose the list or contacts you get based on industry, firm size, geographic location, and more. This ability to purchase curated B2B email lists is perhaps the number one reason that database buying remains popular despite the negative reputation.

Under the right circumstances and with the right vendors, deciding to buy leads can save you time while giving you the same prospects you would find through your own research efforts. However, we can’t talk about B2B list buying without acknowledging some of the horror stories that businesses have weathered over the years.

There are a few mistakes here. If you do decide to buy a database list, that’s no excuse to skip all the work. You don’t need to research email addresses or contacts, but you do need to think about the database information critically to determine the best strategy for contacting the prospect. Think about demographics, firmographics, technographics, customer bases, and pain points. Much of this information is there in the database list. Other tidbits you will need to find on your own.

With the right information, you can approach each contact with a personalized introduction or pitch. This ABM-like approach is a lot more likely to result in a receptive client.

A company buys a marketing database, hoping to inject its current contact list with some new growth and vibrancy. This time, the marketers do the right thing. They research their targets, try to learn about the needs of each prospect, and craft emails that (hopefully) won’t be met with hostility.

Despite all the effort, though, half the emails are undeliverable and another 40% unanswered. Of the hundred contacts the B2B marketing company bought, they get responses from less than 10 of them and close deals with one or two.

What went wrong?

Substandard data vendors sell out-of-date and inaccurate data lists. This fact is something you must be aware of when shopping for contact lists.

Contacts and decision-makers at big companies are always being promoted or taking new jobs. These frequent moves mean that even the useful databases don’t stay accurate for very long. A reliable data vendor will track the changes and make sure you get information that is current.

If you are considering buying a database for marketing, you have to assume that your competitors are doing the same. In this case, the company probably bought a data list from a vendor that sold the same list to several other companies.

As such, the prospects were picked over and weren’t worth a whole lot. Sure, there is a chance these same contacts could be worth something in a few years when those companies are ready to buy again. No B2B marketer buys a contact list to use in two years, though. You buy a B2B marketing database to use immediately.

To avoid paying cash for spent leads, look for a data vendor such as Downloadxr that gives you a contact profile with up to date informantion. The more advanced you can get with your profile selection, the more unique your contact list will be.

Ultimately, most data list horror stories come down to two different mistakes.

The first is not knowing anything about who you are contacting. This blunder was the fatal flaw of the B2B marketing company in the first scenario. It is tempting when you buy a database just to shoot out emails to anyone on the list. Mainly if you view buying leads as a “shortcut” or “head start,” you might try this method.

However, before you send an email, think about how the “contact now” impulse runs contrary to every best practice you’ve learned in the B2B industry. This impulse is impossible to act upon when you build your own lists from scratch, which is why experts prefer that method. When you do your homework to find contact and lead info, you naturally learn vital facts about potential clients. You can then use this information to execute ABM—even with new contacts.

Even if you buy a database, take some time to research each contact and build a client profile. When you show that you know something about a prospect, they are more likely to respond positively to your email.

What to Look for When Buying Lists
Follow these steps to find the perfect list

Pick a reputable company
Simply put, some data vendors have a reputation for being “shady.” The good news is that companies with bad reputations have nowhere to hide in the age of the internet.

You can spot a superior data vendor by looking for indications of reputability. These indicators may include well-designed company websites, transparent and easy-to-find contact information, and current online reviews.

Do not buy from a company that sells “one size fits all” lists. In the world of B2B marketing, “one size fits all” is a concept that doesn’t exist. Every company has a different industry, marketing niche, and buyer persona.

A good data vendor will let you build custom contact lists based on your needs (instead of trying to sell you a pre-existing list).

Buy a list that you get to customize yourself—at least in part. The best data vendors will give you smart profile selection options that let you zero in on the right contacts using firmographic, demographic, technographic, and geographic information.

At Downloadxr, we are proud to be the rare B2B data vendor that meets each of the expectations listed above. With sophisticated profile selection options, geographic targeting capabilities that span all over the countries, detailed firmographic and technographic data, and smart and live data that tracks and updates contacts as they move roles, we have the best B2B data source you have been seeking.

You can visit us at https:///71X1dP or call +234 1 293 2375 or email info@downloadxr.com.