Any Channel

Lookalike List Builders

7 min read · Intermediate

Broad filters like "SaaS, 50–200 employees" give you a mushy list. A mushy list forces generic copy, and generic copy doesn't get replies.

Seed a lookalike model off your best-fit customers instead. You get a tighter list of companies that actually resemble the ones that buy, so you can write copy specific enough to land.

Example copy

Generic approachLow reply rate
To
{FirstName}
Subject
Quick question about {Company}

Hi {FirstName}, I noticed {Company} is growing fast. We help companies like yours with {Service} and I'd love to chat. Would you be open to a quick call this week?

Breezy approachHigh reply rate
To
{FirstName}
Subject
quick question about [[Niche]]

Hey [[FirstName]] — [[Company]] looks a lot like the [[Niche]] teams we already work with. Curious whether you're running into [[Specific Problem]] yet? Open to a quick 10-min chat?

Tools required

Ocean.io
AI lookalike company modeling
DiscoLike
Lookalike + keyword tightening
Smartlead
Send the niche-specific sequence

How to set it up

  1. 1
    Seed from your best customers

    Start from a list of your strongest-fit accounts — not your whole customer base. The seed decides how good the list is.

  2. 2
    Model the lookalikes

    Generate companies that resemble the seed on the dimensions that matter, not just industry and headcount.

  3. 3
    Tighten with keywords

    Layer in keyword and technology filters to cut the model down to a niche you can speak to specifically.

  4. 4
    Write to the niche

    Because the list is tight, the copy can name the exact problem that niche has. That's the point of doing this.

Rather we just run it?

We work one market at a time and hand you the introductions worth having. We say no more than yes — if it is not a fit, we will tell you.

Request a GTM Audit