Key takeaways
- Say who, where and any must-have, such as a verified email or a mobile number.
- Insist on an explanation per person. Rankings without reasons cannot be trusted.
- AI is best at fuzzy roles and niches that fixed filters miss.
Step by step
- Write one specific sentence. Role, type of company, location and any requirement. "Marketing directors at software companies in Florida with a verified work email."
- Read how it interpreted you. Check the short summary of what it searched for before you trust the list.
- Scan the reasons. Each person should show why they matched, such as title evidence or company evidence.
- Refine with filters. Narrow by size, state or seniority without starting over.
- Save and act. Save the list, reveal the people you will contact and write the first message.
| Approach | Good at | Weak at |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed filters | Exact, repeatable segments | Unusual titles, niches, trades |
| AI search | Roles described by meaning, niche industries | Needs a clear sentence and a quick check |
| Both together | AI to find, filters to narrow | Nothing much |
What to know
Filters fail where labels fail. Industry codes misfile trades and niches, and seniority labels disagree between sources. AI search reads the words people actually use in titles and company descriptions, which is why it finds the "Owner, Smith Heating and Air" that a code-based search misses.
In Buzzlist this is search in a sentence, included from Starter. Each AI search uses AI credits, and repeating a saved search is instant.
