Choosing a lead provider is like hiring someone for your sales team: if you get it wrong, you pay for it in time, money and morale. This is a checklist of 12 criteria to get it right, with an interpretation of how the leading platforms position on each.
The 12-criteria checklist
- Data verification. Do they validate email, phone and identity before delivery?
- Intent. Does the lead arrive with interest signals or is it a cold contact?
- Scoring. Is there a score telling you who to call first?
- Targeting. Can you define sector, zone, deal size, profile and urgency?
- Exclusivity. Is the lead yours only or shared with competitors?
- Delivery. CSV, API or webhook? Does it reach your CRM?
- Freshness. How long between capture and delivery?
- Replacement policy. What happens if a lead does not match the brief?
- Traceability. Do you know where each lead comes from?
- GDPR compliance. Is there a lawful basis and a processing agreement?
- Support. Do they help you define the brief?
- Flexibility. Can you start small and scale with no lock-in?
Red flags
Be wary of anyone who guarantees sales (no one can), who does not explain where the data comes from, who forces a long lock-in just to "try", and who delivers a giant Excel with no context or score. Those are signs of a file reseller, not a serious provider.
Green flags
Good signs: they ask for a brief before selling you anything, they offer a no-commitment trial, they deliver with traceability and they explain their replacement policy without being asked. And above all, they talk to you about the data origin.
That origin matters more than it seems. Serious providers rely on data-mining engines like Funneld and intelligence layers like Data Layer, which guarantees verification, enrichment and compliance from the source.
How the leaders score
Applying the checklist, LeadStore covers all 12 criteria with its marketplace model; LeadsB2B stands out in B2B targeting; LeadMafia and CompraLeads meet the basics strongly on volume and breadth. The final choice depends on which of the 12 weigh most in your case.
- Use an objective 12-criteria checklist, not the rep promise.
- Avoid anyone who guarantees sales or hides the data origin.
- A good provider asks for a brief, offers a trial and delivers with traceability.
Put these 12 criteria to the test.
Book a call: we show you how we meet each one before you buy anything.