Answer these 3 questions before buying a lead list

    CQ

    Corey Quinn

    Founder, Deep Specialization™

    If you have a bad list, everything else downstream suffers.

    Ask yourself 3 questions before buying a lead list:

    1. Can we create the list ourselves instead?

    2. Do we know anyone who already has this list?

    3. Are we buying the list from a vertical specialty firm?

    If the answer to all 3 is no, then go buy one.

    But know the list you're buying is often full of fake/bad leads.

    Worse, it's impossible to know which leads are garbage and which are good.

    That's why it is always better to build your list internally, where possible.

    Why?

    Because you care more about the outcome than a list broker does.

     

    Questions to ponder:

    1️⃣ Where can we improve the quality of the lead lists we buy?

    2️⃣ What are the true costs of buying versus building our lead list?

     

    Have a great day!

    CQ

    Share this article:
    CQ

    About Corey Quinn

    Founder, Deep Specialization™

    Corey helps founder-led agencies scale through Deep Specialization™ and programmatic M&A. Former CMO of Scorpion ($20M to $200M). Author of "Anyone, Not Everyone."

    “Is this a good fit for my agency?”

    I partner with founders who want to build something meaningful, not just a busier agency, but a stronger, more scalable business.

    You’re likely a strong fit if:

    • You’re generating $1M–$20M+ annually
    • You want to lead your market, not blend into it
    • You’re thinking about long-term scale, not short-term tactics
    • You want a growth engine that doesn’t rely on you
    • You value clarity over complexity
    • You’re open to advanced growth levers, including acquisitions
    Anyone Not Everyone Book Cover

    Escape Founder-Led Sales With My Free Book

    My bestselling book Anyone Not Everyone reveals the positioning and outbound system that helps founder-led agencies create predictable, scalable growth.

    Endorsed by Aaron Ross, Alan Dibb, Dr. Benjamin Hardy, and many other top thinkers in the agency world.

    ★★★★★
    Over 100 5-star Amazon reviews