Prospecting is what helps organizations go the extra mile to increase revenue. However, due to its multi-step nature and complex logistics, not everyone has mastered it. That is where sales prospecting software comes in. The five offerings listed below feature some of the most robust software to take your sales team to the next level. From pre-built email templates, to collaboration tools and competitor insights, this article will give you all of the answers your team needs to make a breakthrough in your industry.

The Top 5 Best Sales Prospecting Software

  1. Hunter – Best for B2B
  2. Gong – Best for Deal Flow
  3. Owler – Best for Industry Networking
  4. Calendly – Best for Scheduling and Meetings
  5. Builtwith – Best for Data Reporting

1. Hunter – Best for B2B

PRICING: From $0-$399 per month depending on your needs. Extra savings apply when you commit annually.

Hunter is a robust lead generation and prospecting software that facilitates connection in B2B settings. The platform allows users to efficiently research companies, find their email addresses, and pitch to them. Complete with email templates, advanced domain search engines, and contact verification features, Hunter helps you gain new opportunities and grow your business.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Campaign optimizer tool.
  • Free cold email templates.
  • Bulk email verification and management.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Locate emails via advanced domain research.
  • Chrome extension.
  • Easy to use and high value of money.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • No social media integration.

» MORE: Tips, Insights, and Best Practices for SaaS Sales

2. Gong – Best for Deal Flow

PRICING: Not listed on their website. You must contact the vendor to book a demo and obtain a free quote.

Gong helps businesses close more deals by using AI to analyze customer interactions across phone and messaging modalities. In return, the platform pumps out new aligned strategies so team members can provide “reality-based” solutions to clientele. Gong knows that better customer relationships lead to increased revenue, so by empowering your team to know exactly what is happening with their pipeline, their performance transforms for the better.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Deal execution pipelining.
  • Strategic initiative tracker.
  • Onboarding support and coaching facilitation to increase collaboration and closing more deals as a collective

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Facilitates more successful sales training using helpful methodologies and insights.
  • Transcription and recording feature to make putting the client first more efficient.
  • Reliable for client and employee success.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Launching the software and the functionality of some of the features can be inefficient.

» MORE: Salesforce Pricing: What Is the Best Plan? (Price Guide)

3.Owler – Best for Industry Networking

PRICING: $0, $35, or starts at $50 per month for enterprise level features.

Owler helps provide sales intelligence for potential prospects. Using company and industry insights, locating up-to-date news about competitors is made easy. This way, you and your team can fully optimize your sales results each time a new lead comes in. Owler keeps you and your team prepared, resulting in sporting a competitive edge.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Competitor graph feature to find more qualified leads.
  • Real-time latest new updates regarding competitors or prospects delivered straight to your inbox.
  • Personalized outreach functionality to relate your products and services directly to your prospects needs.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Provides competitive analysis reports.
  • Set alerts on a customizable dashboard.
  • In-depth company and industry specific firmographic data.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Some company information may come up as misleading or inaccurate.

» MORE: What Percentage of Sales Does Shopify Take?

4. Calendly – Best for Scheduling and Meetings

PRICING: Free or goes up to $20 per seat per month. Savings apply when you commit annually. Custom pricing is available for teams of 30 or above in which you must contact the vendor for.

Calendly has adopted the approach of closing deals through meetings. Since most deals are successfully closed through face to face meetings, the platform automates the entire process for you. No more tracking down prospects or trying to set up a date. The power is entirely in their hands, you do the pitch, Calendly sends the link, customers book within your availability when they are ready to close. It is that simple.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Collective scheduling to include all necessary team members in meetings.
  • Automated scheduling with correct timezone calculations to avoid confusion and wasting time.
  • Routing forms to implement on your website in order to bring fresh prospects directly to you.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Ideal for users handling complex schedules.
  • Reduces inefficient communication.
  • Integrates well with G-suite.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Not mobile friendly.
  • Limited integrations.

» MORE: Tools for Door-to-Door Sales Software

5. Builtwith – Best for Data Reporting

PRICING: Free for individual use. For paid plans it ranges from $295-$995 per month. Extra savings apply when you commit annually.

Builtwith provides insights on website data, technological usage, and the ability to anticipate future leads. With each website you are prospecting, the platform runs through advanced filtering and listicle protocols to help your team gain access to relevant results. Your team can then take those results and determine how high or low a website’s technology usage is. By facilitating such a transparent prospecting process, your company is able to get ahead of their competitors with Builtwith.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Web technology usage lists for research purposes.
  • Competitor comparison software.
  • Historical data directory to identify predictive leads.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Easily integrates with CRM and outsourcing tools such as Hubspot.
  • Detailed techstacking.
  • Keeps prospecting easy, efficient, and organized.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Can be expensive for a monthly subscription.

» MORE: The Most Economical and Lowest Cost Sales Software

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Difference Between A Lead And A Prospect?

Though important components of a successful business, leads and prospects are both quite different in terms of what they offer. A lead refers to an interested potential customer regardless if they are part of what the target demographic is for a specific company. For example, if a company has a product that would benefit those that are 55 and older, and a customer who is in their 20s is interested in the product, they would be considered as a lead. This is because they do not fit the criteria of the targeted audience, but may still purchase the product or service. On the other hand, a prospect would most fit a customer that is in the 55 and older range, simply because they are within the targeted audience for the company.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Sales Prospecting Tools?

Ultimately, prospecting tools help save time and increase customer satisfaction. Prospecting tools alleviate administrative tasks off of sales representatives such as crafting email templates and doing research. Instead, sales teams can focus more on what they do best, closing deals. Because the uncovering process is automated, team members can also ensure prospects turn into paying customers by seamlessly integrating with other softwares.

How Do I Create A Prospecting Process That Works?

Prospecting software certainly makes sales teams’ jobs easier by taking over the bulk of administrative tasks, but that doesn’t mean it will do all of the work for you. The following are some essential steps in creating a successful prospecting process.

  • Getting to know your target audience and personalizing outreach. You’re only as successful as you know your buyers. The better you understand what they need, the more you can tailor your pitch to convert them into paying customers.
  • Focus on the most qualified leads. Yes, every potential customer is important to tend to, but in the end, the most qualified will be the ones most likely to earn you money. Unless you and your team are very persuasive, it is more worth your time to pay attention to the highest potential.
  • Speaking of skill, always be learning. The more your team improves, the more equipped they will be for success. Invest in their advancement and yours.

» MORE: Systems Best Sales Force Automation Software

References and Links

  • https://vengreso.com/blog/sales-prospecting-tools#The_Best_Sales_Prospecting_Tools_to_Keep_Leads_Flowing_In
  • https://www.zendesk.com/sell/features/prospecting-tools/#tools
  • https://about.crunchbase.com/blog/sales-prospecting-tools/
  • https://www.authorityhacker.com/hunter-io-review/
  • https://www.capterra.com/p/157969/Gong-io/reviews/
  • https://www.trustradius.com/products/owler/reviews#reviews
  • https://www.trustradius.com/products/calendly/reviews#reviews
  • https://www.g2.com/products/builtwith/reviews#reviews