Touchbase

How to Find Leads for a B2B SaaS Without Buying a List

Where good leads come from
  1. 1Pick one signal
  2. 2Search public places
  3. 3Check each fit
  4. 4Record why
  5. 5Verify the address
The short answer: find leads by searching for a public signal that shows the problem, such as a hiring post, a launch or a missing page. Check each company fits, write down why in one line, and verify the email address. A small checked list beats a bought one.

Why not buy a list

Bought lists are old, shared with many senders and full of bad addresses. They raise bounces and spam complaints, which hurts every email you send afterwards.

Where to look

  • Company directories and product listing sites.
  • Job boards, for roles your product replaces.
  • Launch posts and community threads where someone asks for a tool like yours.
  • Review sites, where unhappy customers name the gap.

What to record for each company

Write four things: the company, the person, the signal, and one line on why they fit. If you cannot write that line, drop the company.

Check the address before sending

Verify each email. A hard bounce costs more than a missing lead. See the deliverability checklist before you start sending.

A worked example

A founder selling onboarding software searches for companies that launched in the last 60 days and have a free trial but no onboarding page. She finds 40 in a directory and two communities. For each she records the person, the signal and a one line reason. She sends the first batch of 20 after checking addresses.

Common mistakes

  • Buying a list because it is quick.
  • Searching without a signal, so the list has no theme.
  • Emailing a generic address that nobody reads.
  • Forgetting to record where each lead was found.
Set up your sending safelyDefine who to look for

Where Touchbase fits

Touchbase finds companies that fit what you sell, says why each one fits, writes a plain first email for each that you approve before anything is sent, and handles replies and follow-ups. You choose who to write to and what goes out.

Find your first customers with Touchbase

Touchbase finds companies that fit what you sell, writes each first email for you to approve, and handles the follow-ups. It is free to start, with no card.

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Questions

How many leads do I need to start?
Fifty is a good first batch. It is enough to learn from.
Is it legal to email someone found online?
Rules vary by region. In the US, CAN-SPAM requires an honest sender, your address and an opt out. Check local rules for your recipients.
Can I use LinkedIn to find leads?
Yes for research. Check the terms of any tool you use to collect data.

Stop waiting for customers to find you

Tell Touchbase what you sell. It finds the companies that need it and the person to write to at each, and drafts a first email for you to read and send.

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