Getting your hands on good lists is a tall order. 

Compiled lists from sources like InfoUSA or Dun & Bradstreet are easy to come by and can be purchased for unlimited use.  They're relatively inexpensive if your only measurement is CPM (cost per thousand).  

But beware!  These lists contain a good deal of out-of-date information and / or inaccuracate coding which makes it likely that a percentage of the list contains irrelevant or undeliverable records.  In addition, if you're in a competitive market (and who isn't?) it's pretty likely that the compiled list you've purchased is fatigued by repeated use and that suppresses the response you'll get when you mail over that list. 

Add in the extra costs of printing and postage for unreponsive names that aren't going to respond to your efforts and that list is the bargain you thought it was.

Industry lists from membership organizations or periodicals covering your market are better, but still have a certain amount of fat. 

Unlike compiled lists, industry lists require you to pay for each use of the list.  A one-off effort is ill-advised.  So, you'll want to rent the list for multiple mailings.  And that can get costly in both list rental fees and collateral costs.

The professionals at Shoestring Business Marketing have been developing lists for years - separating the wheat from the chaff on your house and purchased lists.  We also have experience developing custom-targeted lists from both print and online resources.

It takes a bit of elbow grease and a lot of perserverence, but in the end you can be confident that you're marketing to a highly-qualified, highly-targeted list which should lower overall marketing costs and improve reponse rates.

If you agree that that quality is superior to quantity when it comes to prospect lists, contact us to discuss your list development needs and a custom quote.