salesJan 07, 2026•1 min read

How to Build a Prospecting List That Converts (Without Buying Garbage Leads)

Good outreach starts with good targeting. Here’s how to build high-signal lists using ICP, intent, and simple validation.

Draft Team(Growth)
prospectingicplead-generation

How to Build a Prospecting List That Converts (Without Buying Garbage Leads)

The #1 reason outbound fails is targeting.

Start with ICP

Write down:

  • industry
  • company size
  • geography
  • tech stack (if relevant)
  • trigger events

Add intent signals

Examples:

  • hiring for roles related to your product
  • recent funding
  • new product launch

Validate at the edges

Before you send 1,000 emails:

  • sample 20 leads
  • verify relevance
  • check domains

A smaller list with higher relevance beats a giant list every time.