Eric Quanstrom

"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." -Milton Berle

SaaStAI: "Lusha or Apollo or ZoomInfo?" When comparing @LushaData, @useapolloio, and @ZoomInfo , it really comes down to your specific use case, budget, and the stage of your business. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and they cater to slightly different needs. Let’s break it down: 1. ZoomInfo Strengths: ZoomInfo is the gold standard for enterprise-level sales and marketing teams. It offers the most robust and accurate B2B contact and company data, with deep insights into org charts, technographics, and intent data. It’s incredibly powerful for account-based marketing (ABM) and targeting large enterprises. They’ve also added AI-driven tools like Sales AI Co-Pilot to enhance workflows. Weaknesses: It’s expensive, and for smaller teams or startups, the cost can be prohibitive. Additionally, while the data is high-quality, it’s not perfect—no database is. You’ll still encounter outdated or incomplete information. Best For: Larger companies with complex sales motions and bigger budgets. If you’re scaling aggressively and need enterprise-grade data, ZoomInfo is the way to go. 2. Apollo Strengths: Apollo is a newer player but has gained traction fast, especially with SMBs and startups. It combines a sales engagement platform with a solid contact database, making it a great all-in-one tool for prospecting and outreach. Apollo’s PLG (product-led growth) motion means it’s accessible—there’s even a free tier—and it’s easy to get started. The platform also benefits from a network effect, as millions of users contribute to keeping the data fresh. Weaknesses: While Apollo’s data is good, it’s not as comprehensive or accurate as ZoomInfo’s, especially for enterprise-level targeting. It’s better suited for SMBs and mid-market companies. Also, the platform can feel a bit clunky compared to more mature tools. Best For: Startups and SMBs that need a cost-effective, all-in-one solution for prospecting and outreach. If you’re looking for a tool that scales with you and doesn’t break the bank, Apollo is a strong choice. 3. Lusha Strengths: Lusha is simple, affordable, and focused on providing contact data for sales teams. It’s great for quickly finding direct contact information, like emails and phone numbers, and integrates well with tools like LinkedIn. It’s also priced competitively, making it accessible for smaller teams. Weaknesses: Lusha’s database is more limited compared to ZoomInfo and Apollo. It doesn’t offer the same depth of company insights, intent data, or sales engagement features. It’s more of a lightweight tool for contact enrichment rather than a full-fledged sales platform. Best For: Small teams or individual sales reps who need a quick, affordable way to find contact information. If you’re just starting out and don’t need advanced features, Lusha is a good option. Final Thoughts: Go with ZoomInfo if you’re an enterprise or scaling aggressively and need the most comprehensive data and insights. Choose Apollo if you’re a startup or SMB looking for an affordable, all-in-one prospecting and engagement tool. Pick Lusha if you’re on a tight budget and just need strong contact data without the bells and whistles. If you’re still unsure, you could try a combination. For example, use Lusha or Apollo for prospecting and ZoomInfo for deeper insights on high-value accounts. Just remember, no database is perfect—data quality will always be a challenge, so you may need to supplement with manual research or additional tools. Let me know if you want to dive deeper into any of these! delphi.ai/saastr

‘Tis the season for giving back 🎁 We’re creating a directory of #ColdCallersForCharity that nonprofits can tap to help them fundraise. AND we’re donating $20,000 to participating charities. Learn more and sign up here: bit.ly/49q2Fex

@JeffWeniger Value of brands, in one simple chart!

The P/E discount in Small Caps versus Large Caps is akin to observations made at the turn of the century. The S&P 600 is trading 25.4% cheaper than the S&P 500. We find this valuation relationship in 1976, 1998, 2001 and 2020.

@trentjhughes Goalposts always move!

I don't know a single person that hit a big goal and suddenly felt like they made it...

Brutal #49ers loss. Not sure ST Coach Brian Schneider has a job Monday morning: * 4th down fake punt -- no prep * 4th Qtr line drive punt when all that's needed is to hang it high and force a FC * Moody miss

@LawyerLiam Such sage advice @LawyerLiam !

Do you know the one thing I wish I knew before launching my startup? Success is a mix of luck and skill. Sometimes you need to take a step back and re-examine your situation. No matter how hard you work, you might just be working on the wrong thing or with the wrong people!

Join me for CXO Games - Causal Analytics: Proving Out Marketing’s Impact On Sales When: July 26th at 9am PT / Noon ET hardskill.exchange/cxo-games/mark… Debaters: Stevie Case – CRO, Vanta Ashley Welch – Co-Founder, Somersault Angeley Mullins – CCO, Resourcify Eric Quanstrom – 5X CMO

When I hear, "The market's too saturated!" All I can think is, "The market is validated and ready to monetize. All you have to do is find the pitfalls, use new tech, tell a compelling story, and offer a better solution." All the clues are literally in front of you.

Let me add to this to clarify...when I was young, one great piece of advice I got was be the non-complainer. When asked by someone to do something, I would do it. When asked to build a deck, I did it. And obsessed about every word, transition, image and animation until I felt it was pixel perfect. This took time. When asked to build a model, not only did I try to understand the purpose, I made the model flexible, structurally sound and elegant. This took time. When asked to work on a project, I took it on head first, developed some sense of it and then wrote a few pages explaining what I had learned and why it may be valuable as the project went forward, or didn't. This took time. Meanwhile, I didn't have time to gossip, I didn't have time to make friends at work, I didn't have time to complain. I made myself indispensable to my superiors by being a reliable worker. They then took me into the rooms they were in because I was essential to them doing well. Eventually, as they transitioned further upwards, I took command of the rooms they used to run. This is how the process is supposed to work. So if you want to get into the rooms where it happens, don't complain and don't get distracted. Be a reliable worker to those you work for and with. The rest takes care of itself.

@agazdecki Top of the anti-portfolio ('Greatest Misses') for each of these VC's...

Airbnb is valued at $90+ billion today. Here’s emails from investors passing when they were trying to raise $150,000 for 10% of the company. These should motivate any entrepreneur.

@conorgrennan This is bananas. About 5 industries completely disrupted here...

“Taken in single shot, no edits” - watch this insanity. #GoogleIO2024

Check out my latest article: Prospecting Magic: Familiarity linkedin.com/pulse/prospect… via @LinkedIn

@Rustnailew Haha probably.

@EQuanstrom Scammers!!?

Tweet #cookie

BREAKING NEWS -- CIENCE Appoints Michael Gear as new CEO to lead next chapter of growth for leading sales & marketing software and services company. #revenue #leadgen story.cd/AAUT6N

This is CIENCE’s fourth year in a row to receive the Inc. 5000 award as it continues its growth journey. Here is where the company has successfully placed over the last four years (three-year growth rate percentages): ow.ly/jUmk50L7kUC

High-quality data is the fuel that makes the sales funnel engines spin. 84% of B2B companies saw a rising demand for data-based insights in their organizations during the COVID-19 breakout. ow.ly/70Zp50J43x7

10 Common Account-Based Marketing Mistakes to Avoid bit.ly/3tFSWxN @ciencecom #sales #abm

Should be taught to all at a young age