How to Use Cognism

Getting started with Cognism

In this guide, you will learn how to set up your Cognism account and start using its AI-powered sales intelligence tools to find phone-verified contacts and improve your sales outreach.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to Cognism's website.
2. Click on the “Get Started” button at the top right corner of the homepage.
3. Fill out the sign-up form with your details (name, email, and company).
4. Choose a subscription plan that suits your needs (note that Cognism is a paid service).
5. Confirm your email address by clicking the link sent to your inbox.
6. Log in to your new account.

Step 2: Your first search for contacts

1. Once logged in, navigate to the “Prospects” tab on the left-hand menu.
2. Click on “Search” to access the contact search feature.
3. Use the filters to define your ideal customer profile (industry, location, job title, etc.).
4. Hit the “Search” button to generate a list of contacts.
5. Review the results and click on a contact's name for more details, including their phone number.
6. Use the “Save” button to add them to your leads list.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Use the “Advanced Search” option to combine multiple filters for more targeted results.
2. Set up alerts for specific keywords or industries in the “Intent Signals” section to identify leads showing interest in your product.
3. Regularly update your search criteria based on successful outreach to refine your results.

Pro tip

Take advantage of the “Bulk Download” feature to export multiple contacts at once. This saves time compared to downloading them individually.

Common mistake to avoid

Avoid overly broad searches. Using too many filters can limit your results significantly. Start with a few key criteria and refine as necessary to find the best leads.