ABM Account Research Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for conducting thorough research on target ABM accounts before outreach.
Company Overview Research
Complete these items before any outreach begins:
- Confirm company name, HQ location, and number of employees
- Identify industry vertical and sub-vertical
- Note annual revenue range (public filings, Crunchbase, or ZoomInfo)
- Review recent funding rounds or acquisitions (past 12 months)
- Read the company’s “About” page and mission statement
- Check for recent press releases or news mentions
- Identify the company’s primary product or service lines
- Note their target customer segment (SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise)
Technology and Infrastructure
- Run a technographic scan (BuiltWith, Wappalyzer, or HG Insights)
- Identify their CRM system (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.)
- Check for marketing automation tools in use
- Note any competitor products currently in their stack
- Look for job postings that mention relevant tools or initiatives
- Review their integrations page or partner directory if available
Stakeholder Mapping
- Identify the likely economic buyer (VP or C-level in the target department)
- Find 2-3 potential champions (Director or Manager level)
- Locate technical evaluators (Engineers, Architects, or Analysts)
- Check LinkedIn for mutual connections with any stakeholders
- Review each stakeholder’s LinkedIn activity (posts, comments, shares)
- Note any stakeholders who have engaged with your content before
- Check if any contacts are former customers or have used your product elsewhere
Trigger Events and Timing
- Check for leadership changes in the past 6 months
- Look for expansion signals (new offices, hiring surges)
- Review G2 or Gartner Peer Insights for competitor reviews they have written
- Check intent data for relevant topic surges
- Note any upcoming contract renewal dates for competitor tools (if known)
- Identify fiscal year timing for budget cycle awareness
- Look for conference attendance or speaking engagements
Personalization Ammunition
- Find a specific pain point mentioned in earnings calls, interviews, or blog posts
- Identify a relevant case study from a similar company in your portfolio
- Note any shared connections, alma maters, or mutual community memberships
- Prepare 1-2 data points specific to their industry or segment
- Draft a hypothesis about their biggest challenge based on research findings
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