Accurate, high-quality data is the most powerful weapon in a B2B marketer’s arsenal. It helps you connect with the right prospects without spending much time and effort and aids in data-driven business decisions. But selecting a good data provider requires careful consideration.

Today, there’s no shortage of B2B data providers in the market; all claiming to be the most accurate or extensive. But these claims often fall through, generating underwhelming results and wasting your time and investment.

So how do you identify the red flags and select a good data provider that is efficient, accurate, and delivers results? In this blog, we’ll share a few things you must consider to evaluate good database providers in the market.

Checklist to Evaluate a Good Data Provider

B2B company data helps marketers stay ahead of the curve. But if you partner with a poor data provider, you might end up with outdated or inaccurate data that does nothing for your campaigns. So before you make a hefty investment, make sure you tick all these boxes –

1. Data Accuracy

The quality and accuracy of data are the most important factors to consider before selecting a data provider. Ask these questions to the provider to evaluate their accuracy and trustworthiness-

• How Accurate is the Data?

B2B company data is never 100% accurate. It usually degrades at about 10-15% a month. So make sure the data provider is honest and straightforward about the accuracy of their data.

• What are the Data Sources?

A good data provider will source their data from legal, reliable, and trustworthy sources. 

• How Often Do They Update the Data?

As B2B data degrades quickly, good data providers carry out frequent updates. Ask the provider how frequently they do this and what methods they use.

• Is the Data CAN-SPAM Compliant?

Select a provider that follows the CAN-SPAM law. This will help you avoid legal complications with your marketing campaigns.

2. Data Customization

The next thing to consider before selecting a data provider is the customization options. The requirements and goals for a B2B database will vary from business to business. To make the most of your investment, you must select a partner that offers customized databases.

For example,

• Can you customize the data based on the company size or geographical location?
• Does the database include SIC and NAICS codes?
• Does the database include other essential details like company revenue, employee designation, etc.?

A good data provider will allow you to customize the data per your requirements.

3. Data Deliverability

The primary reason for buying a B2B database is to meet your marketing goals quickly and efficiently. For this, the data must work. So before selecting a provider, ask for their data deliverability guarantee.

While you can’t expect a 100% deliverability guarantee, your database must ensure that most of your emails land in the right inboxes and that the right prospects answer your calls.

4. Customer Service

B2B databases are complex. This means until your team is well-versed with all platform options, you’ll have to keep returning to the data provider for information. Here, customer service plays a significant role.

If the data provider has poor customer support, you’ll be left hanging when you need help, hampering your campaigns. Therefore, this is one of the most critical aspects of evaluating a good data provider. They must help you with your queries and offer genuine suggestions to customize the database to suit your needs.

5. Pricing

Depending on your budget and expected ROI, you must evaluate the price of the B2B user database before selecting a data provider. Unfortunately, not all providers will be transparent about their pricing. Therefore, you must discuss any reservations before making the payment to avoid any surprises later.

Remember the golden rule- you get what you pay for. So the cheapest option will not always be the wisest.

Invest in Reliable B2B Data Providers

With a ton of data providers available in the market, finding the right one can be challenging. Finding a good data provider can make or break your marketing efforts. So make sure you select a provider that ticks all points in this checklist.

At HC Marketers, we understand your time and investment are important. This is why we offer accurate and verified databases with customizations and a guaranteed deliverability of 75%-80%. You can also get a free trial before making a decision.