Posts · #ai-for-sales #lead-generation #prospecting
Minimum viable prospect research
HERO
Minimum viable prospect research
One-line value: Research just enough to decide whether a lead is worth your time, without building a slow fake-personalization machine.
When to use: Use this page when you need to execute this workflow in one focused session.
QUICK RESULT
If you only do one thing → complete the first checklist pass and publish one usable draft/output today.
ACTION CHECKLIST
- [ ] Clarify the exact output and success metric before starting.
- [ ] Gather required inputs from one trusted source only.
- [ ] Execute the workflow in sequence without adding side tasks.
- [ ] Run one quality check and fix the highest-risk issue first.
- [ ] Save the final result with a short reuse note.
EXAMPLE / DEMO
Before: Notes are scattered and decisions are unclear.
After: Inputs are structured, steps are executed, and the output is ready to use immediately.
WHY IT WORKS
- Converts vague intent into an explicit sequence.
- Emphasizes shipping one validated result fast.
- Creates repeatability for future runs.
NEXT ACTION
- Run this checklist on one live task now; keep scope to a single measurable outcome.
Related links
Source notes (kept for context)
The mistake
Teams often collect too much before they contact anyone.
The result:
- slow throughput
- weak prioritization
- fake "personalization"
- too much time per lead
The better model
Prospect research should answer four questions:
- who is this
- why might they fit
- can we reach them
- what is the next best action
If the answer to one of these is missing, collect that fact.
If not, move on.
Minimum research packet
For each prospect, keep:
- company name
- role
- one visible signal of relevance
- one probable problem area
- one reachable channel
- confidence level
That is enough to route the lead.
Where AI helps
AI is useful for:
- compressing public facts
- turning rough notes into a short summary
- grouping similar prospects
- spotting obvious mismatch faster
AI is not useful for:
- pretending to know internal priorities
- guessing purchase intent
- inventing personalized compliments
Timing rule
Use a hard ceiling:
- 3 to 7 minutes per lead for normal outreach
- more only for high-value accounts
This protects throughput.
Output format
A good research line looks like this:
- Company: mid-market B2B SaaS
- Role: Head of Revenue Operations
- Relevance: hiring SDRs + open revops tooling stack
- Channel: email + LinkedIn
- Next step: send outreach with angle on follow-up leakage
Short beats impressive.
When to stop researching
Stop when you can choose:
- pursue
- nurture
- skip
Research that does not help this decision is waste.