Lead generation providers range from list sellers to full outbound teams. Choosing well starts with knowing what you need, then asking direct questions about how the work is done.
Decide what you actually need
- A list to use yourself: prospect or email list building.
- Someone to start conversations: cold email or LinkedIn outreach.
- Booked sales calls: appointment setting.
- Existing data cleaned: email verification and list cleaning.
Questions to ask any provider
- Where does your data come from, and how is it verified?
- Can I see a sample before I commit?
- Who contacts my prospects, and how are the messages written?
- Can I control the targeting, such as titles, industries, company sizes and exclusions?
- What will I receive, in what format, and who owns the data?
- How do you handle opt-outs and the rules that apply to my target regions?
- How is progress reported?
Common pricing models
- Per lead or per contact: you pay for each verified record. Good for list building.
- Per appointment: you pay for each booked meeting that meets agreed criteria.
- Monthly retainer: you pay for an ongoing outbound programme.
- Project fee: one price for a defined piece of work.
Warning signs
- Guaranteed sales or revenue. No provider controls your buyers’ decisions.
- A refusal to explain data sources or verification.
- No sample or pilot available.
- Mass, untargeted email blasts presented as “lead generation”.
Start with a small pilot
Begin with a small batch or a short campaign. Check the quality of the data and the replies, then scale up if the results fit your expectations.
Need help with this? You can see how we work on our B2B lead generation page, or ask us for a quote.