What is ZoomInfo? The Complete Beginners Guide

William Cannon
Last updated on August 5, 2024
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    What is ZoomInfo?

    ZoomInfo is a business information provider based in Vancouver, Washington. The company offers a subscription-based service that provides access to business contacts and company profiles. Originally founded as DiscoverOrg in 2007 by Henry Schuck and Kirk Brown, it operated until February 2019, when it acquired its competitor Zoom Information, Inc. and subsequently rebranded as ZoomInfo.

    The company’s original focus was on providing business contact information and high-quality contact data. However, it has since expanded its scope to include company profiles and other business intelligence data. If you’re looking for a less-expensive alternative, we recommend checking out Uplead.

    Quick Watch: Is Zoominfo REALLY worth it? Maybe! Find out in this in-depth ZoomInfo Review vs. UpLead. Review on price, product, and customer service. 🔥 Try UpLead and see it for yourself.

    What is ZoomInfo Used For?

    ZoomInfo provides the most accurate and actionable B2B data

    ZoomInfo is primarily used for sales, marketing, and talent acquisition. The platform provides users with access to contact information and company profiles, which can be used to research potential customers and create targeted lists. Additionally, ZoomInfo’s extensive data coverage benefits users by offering broad and detailed data to enhance their go-to-market strategies.

    ZoomInfo can also help with lead generation and marketing research, enhancing sales and marketing efforts by offering precise and current information about companies, key decision-makers, and market trends. The platform’s extensive database can be used to find potential customers that match your target criteria. The company profiles can also be used to research competitors and find new partner companies.

    How Does ZoomInfo Work?

    ZoomInfo’s database is compiled from various sources, including public records, business websites, and annual reports. The platform also uses what’s known as “web scraping,” which is a technology that can gather data from sources not typically available to the public.

    This information is then organized and made available through the ZoomInfo platform. Users can access the up to date data by searching for specific companies or contacts or using the platform’s advanced search criteria.

    What Are the Main Features of ZoomInfo?

    The main features of ZoomInfo are:

    • Contact & Company Search: Lets you zero in on your ideal market and find perfect buyers through a huge contact and company database, integrated within a comprehensive sales intelligence platform.
    • Buyer Intent: Shows you how to approach prospects who are ready to buy by spotting signs of their interest.
    • Website Visitor Tracking: Turns site visits into sales opportunities by monitoring who’s browsing and their interests.
    • Sales Automation: Makes calling and emailing leads simpler, helping you make connections faster.
    • Conversation Intelligence: Dives deep into every conversation, giving you insights on what’s effective.
    • Website Chat: Helps you spot, engage, and direct site visitors instantly, boosting your customer interactions.
    • Web Form Optimization: Makes form submission easier by asking less and delivering more.
    • Digital Advertising: Lets you pinpoint your audience, making your ads more effective.
    • Workflows: Automate essential marketing steps
    • Lead Enrichment: Updates your data in real time, keeping your information fresh.
    • Predictive Modeling: Uses analytics to introduce you to future customers.
    • Data Management: Ensures your data stays accurate, equipping your sales and marketing team with reliable info.
    • Intent Data: Leverages intent data to target prospects effectively, aiding in account-based marketing strategies and optimizing advertisements across various platforms, thereby enhancing lead identification and engagement.

    Who Is ZoomInfo For?

    ZoomInfo is for sales, marketing, operations, recruitment and data management professionals.

    It helps sales teams  hit their numbers by finding perfect customers with detailed intelligence and prospecting tools. Marketers get better ROI by converting leads into sales with advanced ABM and conversion tools. Also, marketing teams can leverage ZoomInfo for targeted campaigns by utilizing comprehensive contact databases and advanced analytics. Ops staff get faster lead response time with streamlined data management and orchestration. Recruitment professionals find top talent with a massive candidate database and engagement strategies. And data managers refine their process with the best B2B data from the ZoomInfo database.

    What Products Does ZoomInfo Offer?

    ZoomInfo offers a comprehensive go-to-market platform with these products: Sales, Marketing, Talent, Data as a Service (DaaS), and ZoomInfo Copilot.

    • Sales: A database to supercharge prospecting and engagement for sales pros to boost productivity and accelerate pipeline growth.
    • Marketing: Tools to drive conversions and pipeline growth across all channels with data-driven strategies.
    • Talent: Streamline recruiting with insights that engage candidates and shorten time-to-hire, refine the recruiting process.
    • Operations: Data management solutions to auto-clean and auto-enrich data so it’s ready for business.
    • DaaS ( Data as a Service): Accessible, customizable B2B data for businesses looking to grow with data.
    • ZoomInfo Copilot: AI-powered selling. Prioritize accounts and get recommendations, give your sales team an edge to engage with customers faster.
    ZoomInfo products

    ZoomInfo Plans and Pricing

    ZoomInfo has four pricing plans: Lite, Professional, Advanced, and Elite.

    • The Lite plan is free and allows you to see the full database and download up to 10 contacts a month. Users contribute their email contact book in return to help keep the database up to date.
    • Starting at $14,995/year the Professional plan gives you 5000 annual bulk credits and basic access to the database for up to 3 users. You can add more users for extra. Good for small to medium sized businesses.
    • The Advanced plan is $24,995/year and gives you 10,000 annual bulk credits and 1000 monthly user credits. It also gives you deeper insights like geographic data perfect for businesses that want more detail.
    • The Elite plan is $39,995/year and includes everything from the Advanced plan plus real-time intent signals and advanced sales tools. Good for large enterprises that are doing heavy marketing and sales.

    Extra charges may apply for additional credits and add-ons like Worldwide Data, FormComplete and various support options to enhance your plan.

    How Does ZoomInfo Get Their Data?

    ZoomInfo gathers its data through a mix of scanning the web, forming data alliances, receiving user inputs, and employing sophisticated automation. It benefits greatly from a large contributory network along with manual research and checks, guaranteeing its database remains precise and current.

    Such a method enables them to offer crucial business details, positioning ZoomInfo as an essential tool for those in search of comprehensive data on companies and their staff.

    What Integrations Does ZoomInfo Offer?

    ZoomInfo offers integrations through its app marketplace and API.

    The app marketplace provides  ready-to-use and custom integrations. This lets you bring ZoomInfo’s B2B data into your tech stack. If you want to supercharge your CRM, marketing automation or sales engagement tools, the marketplace has options for that. It covers everything from email and communication platforms to data storage and revenue intelligence. It makes your life easier and gives you more decision making power.

    The API integration gives you more customization. It lets you bring ZoomInfo’s massive database into any system, workflow or app you use. This means you can automate data enrichment tasks, speed up data processing for faster and better decisions and keep your data up to date across all platforms. Whether you want to enrich leads on the fly, simplify your sales process or uncover buyer intent the API gives you the flexibility and control to make ZoomInfo work for you.

    ZoomInfo Alternatives

    There are numerous business research and lead-generation tools on the market. Comparing ZoomInfo to some of its competitors makes sense to ensure you find the right platform for your business.

    There are a few reasons one might consider using an alternative to ZoomInfo. Some businesses need different features; others may search for more affordable software.

    UpLead

    Looking for an Affordbale ZoomInfo-Alternative?

    UpLead offers an easy-to-use, cost-effective alternative to ZoomInfo. It’s all about getting you quality leads without the hassle.

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      UpLead is a tool that is very similar to ZoomInfo. It offers many of the same features, including searching for leads, creating lists, and actively tracking sales.

      One of the main differences between the two tools is that Uplead offers a free plan with no strings attached. This lets you test the platform and data right away.

      It includes access to up to 100 leads per month, more than what ZoomInfo offers in its free trial.

      UpLead also has several more affordable plans than those offered by ZoomInfo. For example, Uplead’s Essential Plan starts at $99 per month, while ZoomInfo’s SalesOS Professional+ Plan starts at $14,995 per year.

      For a detailed breakdown, check this UpLead vs. ZoomInfo article.

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      Other ZoomInfo Alternatives

      There are a few other ZoomInfo competitors. Some of the most popular programs include:

      • SalesforceIQ
      • HubSpot Sales
      • Outreach.io
      • LeadGenius

      FAQ: What Is ZoomInfo?

      Below, we’ll answer some common questions about ZoomInfo.

      Is ZoomInfo worth it?

      If budget isn’t a problem for you, ZoomInfo is worth it if you need a research and lead generation tool. It offers many features that can be very helpful for sales teams.

      How much does ZoomInfo cost?

      The cost of ZoomInfo depends on which plan you choose. The most basic plan, SalesOS Professional+, starts at $14,995 annually.

      Is ZoomInfo legal?

      ZoomInfo claims to process only business-related data, making the company’s data-collection methods legal.

      How much does ZoomInfo cost?

      ZoomInfo pricing starts at $14,995 per year for the Professional plan, including 5,000 credits and up to 3 users. Advanced and Elite plans are $24,995 and $39,995 yearly, reflecting different features, user counts, and credits.

      Is ZoomInfo accurate?

      ZoomInfo’s accuracy tends to be generally high. However, it varies depending on the type of data and how you use it. ZoomInfo works hard to maintain a current database by using both automated and manual updates. Still, approximately 30% of users have found some details to be outdated or incorrect, which affects its reliability.

      Is ZoomInfo legit?

      Yes, ZoomInfo Inc. is a legitimate company that provides business data and sales intelligence solutions. However, it has faced criticism over its data collection practices, which raises privacy concerns for some users.

      Conclusion

      ZoomInfo is a powerful research and lead-generation tool that can be very helpful for businesses of all sizes. It offers several features, including searching for leads, creating lists, and actively tracking sales.

      While ZoomInfo is not the least expensive option on the market, it’s still reasonably priced compared to similar platforms. ZoomInfo is a great choice for anyone needing a research and lead generation tool.

      But if you want a more affordable AND reliable tool, you have to give UpLead a try right now. Grab 5 free leads today.

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