Prospect research for small B2B teams a repeatable method
Know enough about a company to write a relevant first message, without spending an hour per prospect. A fixed checklist keeps it quick.
- No credits, no data tax
- You own your data
- Map included
- GDPR-first
Research enough to be relevant, then stop
Prospect research is checking a company before you contact it: does it fit, who decides, and is there a reason to reach out now. Good research is the difference between a message that sounds written for them and one that sounds sent to everyone.
The trap is doing too much. Without a method, research turns into reading every page of a website and checking every profile. A small team needs a fixed set of questions that can be answered in a few minutes per company.
Split the work in two. Collect and enrich the basic fields for the whole list at once, then do the short manual check only on the companies you will contact this week. Write your findings next to the company, for example as a note in the built-in CRM.
What to research and where to find it
Use only public, business information. Research the company and the role, not the private life of the person behind it.
| Question | Where to look | What you do with it |
|---|---|---|
| Does the company fit your profile? | Listing, website, industry and location | Keep it on the list or remove it |
| Is it still active? | Recent updates on the website, opening hours, reviews | Skip companies that look closed or inactive |
| Who decides? | About or team page, contact page | Choose who to address and which persona to write for |
| How can you reach them? | Contact page, business email on the domain, phone | Fill in the contact fields before you write |
| Is there a reason to reach out now? | New location, job posting, outdated website, new service | Use it as the opening line of your message |
| What do they already use or do? | Website, services page, public information | Avoid offering what they already have |
Keep research repeatable
Same questions every time
A fixed checklist makes research faster and lets anyone on the team pick up where someone else stopped.
Bulk first, manual second
Fields like website, address and business email can be collected for the whole list. Save manual work for the reason to reach out.
Write it down where you work
A note next to the company keeps the finding with the record, so the person who follows up sees it too.
Set a time limit
Decide in advance how long one company may take. If you cannot find a reason to contact it, move on to the next one.
A quick research routine per company
- Confirm the company fits your ideal customer profile.
- Check the website for signs that it is active.
- Find the decision maker or the right role to address.
- Look for one concrete reason to reach out now.
- Write the finding in one line on the company record before you send.
Frequently asked questions
What is prospect research?
Prospect research is checking a company before you contact it: whether it fits your ideal customer profile, who makes the decision, how to reach them and whether there is a reason to get in touch now.
How long should prospect research take per company?
Short enough to keep going. With basic fields already collected for the whole list, a few focused minutes per company on fit, decision maker and a reason to reach out is usually enough for a relevant first message.
What should you look for when researching a prospect?
Fit with your profile, signs that the company is active, the right person or role to address, working contact details, and one concrete reason that makes your message relevant to them now.
Which sources can you use for B2B prospect research?
Public business information: the company website, business listings, maps, public registers and the contact page. Stick to business information about the company and the role, in line with the GDPR.
Do I need credits?
No. There are no credits and no data tax: enrichment runs automatically without a per-row meter.
What is Riftjaw?
Riftjaw is a self-hosted B2B lead pipeline: collect companies from any public list, enrich them for free, put them on the map and reach them - from one dashboard you host yourself.
Research faster with the basics already filled in
Collect companies from public sources, enrich websites and business emails without credits and keep your notes next to every company in one self-hosted dashboard.
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