How it works
A clear process is what makes fast possible.
Every engagement starts with a conversation and ends with documented, scoped data — or an honest explanation of why not. Here's each step for buyers and for data owners.
Buyers
Buying data: five steps from criteria to refresh
Whether you need a prospecting file, a direct mail audience, an append on your CRM or a cleanup of an aging list, the path is the same. The details change; the discipline doesn't.
- 01
Tell us your ICP or criteria
Describe who you want to reach — industries, company sizes, titles and seniority for B2B; geography, demographics and interests for consumer audiences — plus the channels you'll use and the purpose. If you're enriching or cleaning, describe the file you already have. - 02
We scope counts and fields
We check availability against your criteria and confirm which fields can be delivered and how they're populated. If a criterion is too narrow or too broad, we'll suggest adjustments. We'll also confirm that the intended use fits the data's permissions. - 03
Sample and quote
You receive a representative sample in the delivery layout and a written quote describing the records, fields, permitted use and any refresh. Nothing is licensed until you've reviewed both and agreed to terms. - 04
Delivery
Files are delivered over secure transfer, in a layout that matches your systems, with a data card describing fields, sources at a category level, recency and any flags such as phone line type or Do Not Call status. - 05
Refresh
Contact data starts aging the day it's delivered. We'll recommend a refresh and hygiene cadence that fits how you use the data, and can set up recurring deliveries where that makes sense.
What to include in your request
The more specific you are, the faster and more accurate scoping becomes. You don't need all of this on day one, but each item removes a round of back-and-forth.
- Who: your ideal customer profile or audience definition, including any exclusions such as current customers or competitors.
- Where: the geographies you care about — national, specific states, metro areas or postal codes.
- What: the fields you need (and which are must-haves versus nice-to-haves).
- How: the channels you'll use — mail, email, phone, ad platforms, CRM enrichment, analysis — because channel drives the rules that apply.
- Why: your intended purpose. We expect every buyer to state a permissible purpose.
- When: your timeline and whether this is a one-time need or recurring.
Delivery options, explained
How data reaches you matters almost as much as what's in it. A good delivery fits your tools, protects the personal information in transit and is documented well enough that someone new to the project can understand it.
| Method | How it works | Best for | Things to consider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat file (CSV) | A delimited file with one row per record and agreed column names and order. | One-time lists, direct mail, imports into a CRM or marketing platform. | Agree on encoding, delimiter, header names and how blanks are represented before delivery. |
| Secure file transfer | Files are placed in an access-controlled location, such as an SFTP folder or an expiring secure link, rather than sent as attachments. | Any delivery containing personal information. | Limit who has access, remove files once loaded and keep a record of what was received. |
| Scheduled feeds | Updated files delivered on an agreed cadence — full refreshes or changes only. | Ongoing enrichment, hygiene and territory coverage. | Decide how to handle records that change, disappear or opt out between deliveries. |
| API access (concept) | Programmatic lookups or enrichment requests against an endpoint, typically record by record or in small batches. | Real-time enrichment in forms, routing or product workflows. | Scope, authentication, usage limits and logging need to be defined; availability depends on the data. |
What a data card covers
Every delivery should come with documentation. Ours describes the fields and their formats, how each field is populated, recency, any flags included (for example phone line type or Do Not Call status), the permitted use and the license term. If you can't explain a file to your compliance team, it isn't ready to use.
Refresh and hygiene
People change jobs, move house, switch carriers and abandon inboxes. Companies merge, relocate and rebrand. None of that stops after delivery, so a list that was accurate when it arrived drifts steadily out of date.
- Before every major campaign, re-validate email addresses and re-scrub phone numbers against current Do Not Call data.
- Before any mailing, standardize addresses and process move updates.
- On a regular schedule, refresh B2B records so job changes and company changes are reflected — the more you rely on titles and direct dials, the more often this matters.
- Always, suppress people who have opted out of your communications, regardless of what a fresh file says.
See the data hygiene guide for how each of these works.
Data owners
Monetizing data: four steps, review first
If you hold data that others might value — customer records, subscriber lists, registrations, business directories — the path to market starts with the hardest question: were people told, and did they agree?
- 01
Tell us what you have
The type of data, how and where it was collected, how current it is, roughly how it's structured and what you'd like to achieve. A rough inventory is enough to start. - 02
Provenance and consent review
We review your privacy notice, consent language, collection points and any restrictions you've promised. This determines what uses are permitted — and whether licensing is appropriate at all. - 03
Packaging
We help shape the data into something buyers can evaluate: a data dictionary, field standardization, de-identification or hashing where appropriate, representative samples and a data card. - 04
Go to market
Licensing to buyers who state a permissible purpose, under written terms that restrict use and protect you. Models range from one-time licenses to recurring feeds and revenue share.
What data owners should prepare
- A data inventory — what fields you hold, for roughly how many people or businesses (an estimate is fine), and how often they're updated.
- Your privacy notice, past versions if they changed, and the consent language shown at each collection point.
- Opt-out handling — how people can opt out of sale or sharing today, and how those choices are recorded.
- Any contractual limits, such as platform terms or partner agreements that restrict how the data can be used.
Keep reading
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a quote?
It depends mostly on how specific your request is. A clear ideal customer profile, a list of required fields and a stated use let us scope quickly. Vague requests take longer because we'll come back with questions — which is usually time well spent.
Do I have to commit before I see a sample?
No. For purchases, you review a sample and a written quote before anything is licensed. The sample shows the actual layout and field coverage you'd receive, so you can check it against your systems and expectations.
What file formats do you deliver?
Most deliveries are delimited flat files such as CSV, laid out to match the columns you need. Files move over a secure transfer method rather than as email attachments. For recurring needs, we can discuss scheduled feeds or programmatic access as part of scoping.
Can I use the data however I want once I've bought it?
No. Data is licensed for a stated purpose under written terms, and you remain responsible for using it lawfully — including consent rules for calls and texts, Do Not Call requirements and email rules. Uses outside the license need a new conversation.
We're a publisher with a large audience. Where do we start?
Start by telling us what you collect, how you collect it and what your privacy notice and consent language say. The provenance and consent review comes first; it determines which uses — if any — are appropriate before we talk about packaging or licensing models.
What happens if the review finds problems with our data?
We'll tell you plainly. Sometimes the fix is forward-looking — updating notices and consent flows so data collected from now on can be licensed. Sometimes the answer is that a dataset shouldn't be sold at all. We won't take data to market that was collected without adequate notice or consent.
Tell us what you need — or what you have.
Share your criteria or describe your data. We'll scope it, explain what's realistic, and follow up with next steps. No obligation, and no pressure.