This approach is valuable for:
Sales teams looking to improve conversion rates
SDRs and AEs who want to prioritize high-intent accounts
Anyone targeting companies during expansion or investment phases
Teams moving beyond basic demographic targeting
If you're just getting started with lemlist, you may want to begin with simpler filters like Job Title and Country before layering in intent signals.
Why This Matters
Traditional lead generation relies on static criteria like company size, industry, or location. While these factors matter, they don't tell you if a prospect is ready to buy right now.
Intent and signal filters reveal dynamic, time-sensitive indicators that a company is in motion, expanding teams, adopting new technologies, raising capital, or growing headcount. These signals suggest readiness to invest in solutions that support their evolving needs.
By incorporating intent data into your targeting, you move from "could be a fit" to "likely ready to engage", often improving response rates significantly.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Access the People Database
Log in to your lemlist account and click People from the left sidebar.
Step 2: Understand Signals & Intent Filters
In the Filters panel on the left, look for the Signals & Intent section. These filters reveal real-time company activity:
Company Size Growth (3 months): Companies with recent headcount expansion
Company is Hiring: Companies actively posting job openings (can filter by department: Sales, Engineering, Marketing, etc.)
Company Technologies: Companies using specific tech stack (helps identify compatibility or gaps)
Company Last Funding Date: Companies with recent fundraising (fresh capital to invest)
Company Revenue: Companies within specific revenue ranges (indicates purchasing power)
Step 3: Choose Your Intent Signal
Select the signal that best aligns with your offering:
Example 1: Targeting growing companies
Enable Company Size Growth (3 months)
Optionally add Company is Hiring and select relevant departments
Example 2: Targeting recently funded companies
Enable Company Last Funding Date
Set date range to last 3-6 months for companies with fresh capital
Example 3: Targeting companies with specific tech
Enable Company Technologies
Enter technologies that indicate fit or need (e.g., "Salesforce" if you integrate with it)
Step 4: Combine with Traditional Filters
Layer intent signals with demographic filters for precision:
Add Current Job Title to target decision-makers
Add Country or City/State for location targeting
Add Company Size to focus on your ideal segment
Add Seniority to reach the right level
Step 5: Review and Refine Your Results
Once filters are applied, they appear at the top of the results area. Your lead list populates automatically.
Check if results match your ideal customer profile. If results are too broad, add more filters. If too narrow (few or no results), remove the most restrictive filter.
Step 6: Save Your Search (Optional)
Click the save icon at the top of the People Database page, then click Save this search. Enter a descriptive name like "Growing SaaS Companies - Engineering Hiring" and click Confirm.
You can access saved searches anytime to refresh results with current data.
How You'll Know It Worked
✓ Your selected intent filters appear in the active filters bar at the top of results
✓ Your lead list shows contacts from companies matching your intent criteria
✓ Results feel more relevant and timely compared to demographic-only filtering
✓ You can push filtered leads directly to campaigns or contacts
Troubleshooting
Issue: No results after applying intent filters
Root cause: Too many restrictive filters applied together.
Fix:
Start with just one intent filter and see results
Gradually add demographic filters one at a time
Check if "Not already in campaign" is excluding too many leads
Broaden location or job title criteria
Issue: Results are too broad or don't feel relevant
Root cause: Intent filter alone isn't specific enough.
Fix:
Add demographic filters (Job Title, Seniority, Company Size)
Narrow by industry or market (B2B vs B2C)
Use multiple intent signals together for higher qualification
Issue: Don't understand which intent filter to use
Root cause: Unclear how each signal relates to your offering.
Fix:
Ask: "What company activity indicates they might need my solution?"
If you sell recruiting tools → Company is Hiring
If you sell to funded startups → Company Last Funding Date
If you integrate with specific tech → Company Technologies
If you sell to scaling businesses → Company Size Growth
Other Available Filter Categories
Beyond Signals & Intent, you can filter by:
General: Job Title, Country, Department, Seniority, Years of Experience, Number of Connections
Company Information: Company Size, Industry, Market, Type, Name, Founded Year, Location
Contact Information: Full Name, Location, Skills, School, Interests