Hunter.io

Hunter users are using our lead generation platform to get real, significant results. Joel Simkins, one of our podcast guests, recently launched a newsletter where he interviews executives in the gaming industry. Starting with his existing contacts, he used Hunter to reach even more potential clients. Since launching last September, his brand has published 21 newsletters with metrics that, as Joel puts it, are "off the charts" compared to industry averages. And today, potential clients are now approaching THEM, asking to be featured. "It's been a way to really turbocharge our brand and help create lead generation," he says. Hear more about how Joel uses Hunter to power sustainable growth on our latest Outfoxed podcast episode. #EmailOutreach #LeadGeneration #IndustryMarketing

Founders will inevitably experience both constant self-doubt and absolute conviction — often at the same time. Mattias Liivak, cofounder of ProcessPlot, believes that both are important in their own way, but the sweet spot is hard to balance: • Knowing your vision is right while questioning your execution • Projecting confidence when pitching but remaining open to criticism • Believing in yourself while simultaneously doubting yourself • Filtering which feedback to embrace and which to ignore An ego is necessary fuel for the entrepreneurial journey, but the key is developing enough self-belief to launch something new without dismissing the type of critical feedback that could save your business. You can learn more founder insights from our conversation with Mattias Liivak on the latest Outfoxed podcast episode. #StartupLife #FounderPsychology #EgoBattle

It's not easy to go from introvert to cofounder. But that's what Mattias Liivak, cofounder of ProcessPlot, had to do after leaving a comfortable 10-year career to build his own company. On our latest episode of the Outfoxed podcast, Mattias shares how he and his cofounders pivoted to build something customers actually wanted, why cold outreach became their secret weapon for honest validation, and how he transformed from someone who completely freezes up in sales calls into an effective founder. More highlights from our conversation: • Why stepping away from your product idea leads to better customer feedback • How cold outreach beats warm introductions for validating startup ideas • The simple intent signals you can track without expensive tools • How to turn customer conversations into actionable product insights • Building sustainable routines that fuel long-term entrepreneurial success Plus: His quarterly life optimization sessions, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu philosophy that keeps him balanced at 38, and why systematic approaches to sales work better than natural charisma. Watch the full Outfoxed podcast with Mattias Liivak to hear his complete journey from a stable employee to a successful founder who's mastering customer validation. https://lnkd.in/emr_8yTD #ChangeManagement #StartupGrowth #ColdOutreach

It's not easy to go from introvert to cofounder. But that's what Mattias Liivak, cofounder of ProcessPlot, had to do after leaving a comfortable 10-year career to build his own company. On our latest episode of the Outfoxed podcast, Mattias shares how he and his cofounders pivoted to build something customers actually wanted, why cold outreach became their secret weapon for honest validation, and how he transformed from someone who completely freezes up in sales calls into an effective founder. More highlights from our conversation: • Why stepping away from your product idea leads to better customer feedback • How cold outreach beats warm introductions for validating startup ideas • The simple intent signals you can track without expensive tools • How to turn customer conversations into actionable product insights • Building sustainable routines that fuel long-term entrepreneurial success Plus: His quarterly life optimization sessions, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu philosophy that keeps him balanced at 38, and why systematic approaches to sales work better than natural charisma. Watch the full Outfoxed podcast with Mattias Liivak to hear his complete journey from a stable employee to a successful founder who's mastering customer validation. https://lnkd.in/emr_8yTD #ChangeManagement #StartupGrowth #ColdOutreach

AI is "going to take over the world," as one of our podcast guests put it — but there are some things it just can't do. Human-to-human relationships are still king in the sales world, for instance, which is why Joel Simkins doesn't plan on throwing in the towel and giving the keys of the kingdom to ChatGPT just yet. High-level decision making still happens person-to-person, especially when stakes are high, and chatbots can't quite nail the charm required to call up CEOs and board members — let alone replicate his 30 years of industry expertise. And yet he's still operating with more nimbleness than many of his AI-powered competitors. Check out our Outfoxed podcast with Joel to hear more about how he's operating with sincerity in the age of artificial intelligence. #BusinessRelationships #SalesStrategy #AIandHumans

The best kind of cold email doesn't rely on tricks or clever lines. It happens when you just stick to the basics. Most people overcomplicate cold outreach with gimmicks and forget the fundamentals: • Say who you are • Say what you offer • Say why it matters to the person you're reaching out to That's it. That's the real secret sauce. And if you consistently get the right message to the right person, it'll pay off. Watch the full episode for more on simplifying your approach to cold outreach. #ColdEmail #EmailOutreach #SalesStrategy

AI will help clever people do more clever things — but it's not the magic bullet everyone thinks it is. That's the reality check that Rand Fishkin, cofounder and CEO of SparkToro, shared on our latest Outfoxed podcast episode. He warns that "Unfortunately, misled people will think that they're supposed to use it to create content that they should publish and emails that they should send." Those people, Rand says, are going to have a bad time — AI is a useful tool, not a replacement for human creativity and judgment. That's why he cautions against the assumption that everything will change overnight or that AI will take everyone's jobs. It's just not realistic. Watch the full Outfoxed podcast to hear more of Rand Fishkin's thoughts on technology and marketing. #AI #Marketing #TechReality

67% of decision-makers don’t mind if your cold email was written by AI. Yet only 4% of cold emails get a reply. Cold email isn’t dead. But lazy outreach is. Hunter.io analyzed insights from 500+ B2B professionals and decision-makers to understand what actually works when using GenAI for cold outreach in 2025. Here’s what the data shows: → Recipients don’t care if you use AI. They care if the message is relevant. When AI is used thoughtfully, most people can’t even tell the difference. But when it’s stiff, repetitive, or over-engineered... it breaks trust instantly. → Personalization starts with verified data. AI on top of unverified lists just automates irrelevance faster. Winning teams use AI to enrich context, not replace it. → Deliverability is life or death. One flagged campaign or domain mistake, and your sender reputation collapses overnight. In 2025, inbox access is your currency. → The best senders co-write with AI. AI gives you speed and structure. Humans add tone, proof, and imperfection. That blend outperforms both fully automated and fully manual outreach. The mindset shift is simple but radical. Stop trying to automate trust. Use AI to earn it faster. Your prospect doesn’t care who wrote the email - human or AI. They care whether it’s relevant, credible, and worth replying to. AI isn’t replacing humans. It’s amplifying the ones who care enough to use it right. Full report here: https://lnkd.in/daMG3W_K What are your best practices for cold outreach?

Spending days hunting down prospect emails and crafting cold outreach campaigns is a massive time suck for lean organizations. Especially when you only get one or two conversions out of every hundred emails sent. But tools like Hunter allow you to exponentially reduce the time required to launch a cold outreach campaign. That's why small teams especially love to work with us so much. We make them look big. One of our clients uses Hunter to streamline their M&A process, contacting 200+ buyers in minutes instead of hunting for their contact information or begging their mutuals for an introduction. That's the kind of efficiency that allows even small firms to compete on a level playing field. To hear more, check out the latest episode of the Outfoxed podcast. #ColdOutreach #Marketing #ColdEmail

It's never been easier to stand out in the offline world. That's what Rand Fishkin, cofounder and CEO of SparkToro, told us on the latest episode of the Outfoxed podcast. Digital advertising is drowning in competition and skyrocketing costs. Every marketer is cramming into the same overcrowded online spaces, bidding against each other for the same eyeballs. But as Rand puts it, this leaves the offline space wide open. "It's almost carte blanche compared to digital," he explains. So if your customers exist in the real world — at events, in neighborhoods, at local gatherings — there's a massive opportunity waiting. All it takes is a bit of creativity and willingness to meet them where they already are. Watch the full Outfoxed podcast with Rand Fishkin to hear more insights from an industry veteran. #MarketingStrategy #OfflineMarketing #CreativeGrowth