Want to know how to find a phone number by the name of your prospect? 🤔 It’s crucial, as direct contact remains one of the most effective ways to convert prospects into customers.
🔑 The key to successful sales prospecting is to get people’s phone numbers to reach out to your prospects directly.
However, with increasing privacy protections and various recovery methods, the task can be more complicated than expected. 🤯
So how do you find a phone number by the name? Here’s what’s on our agenda ⬇️
- 6 methods to get people’s phone numbers and best reverse phone lookup for free.
- Which method is best to find a phone number by the name?
- How do you generate cell phone numbers for your prospects (B2C/B2B)?
Let’s dive in! 🚀
6 Methods To Get People’s Phone numbers and Best Reverse Phone Lookup
1) Free Online Directories to Find a Phone Number by the Name
🤳🏼 Free online directories can help you get people’s phone numbers. But, they tend to be less comprehensive and updated less frequently compared to paid services.
In France, they are mainly used to search for landlines and business lines.
Most mobile numbers aren’t listed there, so search results are often limited ❌ for two key reasons:
- It depends on whether users choose to make this information public.
- Evolving privacy regulations and user protection laws.
They are also available in other European countries, but results may vary significantly depending on local privacy laws.
Despite these limitations, they remain a useful, quick and easy starting point to find a phone number by the name (especially for one-off searches). ✅
We recommend that you use 👇🏼:
- Infobel (global platform by country).
- Pipl (search engine dedicated to personal information).
- White-pages (directory for cell phone numbers, fraud screening, background checks for prospecting customers/companies and to get clients…).
2) Reverse Phone Lookup and How to Find Name with a Phone Number
🤸🏼♂️ Many online directories offer free reverse lookup services to help you get people’s phone numbers (which can be quite handy).
This method allows you to identify the number or verify contact’s identity. 🧐
However, they have similar limitations ❌ :
- More effective for landlines and business numbers,
- Less likely to return results for mobile numbers (which are either protected or not voluntarily shared by users),
- Efficiency varies depending on the country’s regulations and data availability,
- Most comprehensive features often require a paid subscription.
A recommended tool for identifying international contacts 🌎 is TrueCaller.
The tool has an extensive database and relies on a community of users who share information, increasing your chances of finding results.
3) Get People’s Phone Numbers on Social Medias
🛡️ With increasing user privacy protections, traditional methods to get people’s phone numbers have become less effective.
However, you can turn to social media, which is now widely used in marketing to access prospect information. 📲
So, which platforms can you get people’s phone numbers? 👇🏼
🥇 LinkedIn:
- Check the “Contact” section of a LinkedIn profile or follow links to websites that may contain contact details.
- Automate the cell phone number search with Waalaxy to increase the chances of obtaining additional information.
- Discover mobile phone to reach prospects automatically (we’ll explain how later in the article).
🥈 Facebook and Instagram:
- Phone contact details may appear in the “About” section or in posts.
- Join industry-related groups or communities, where you can gather information informally.
4) Get People’s Phone Numbers with Search engines
Search engines (like Google) can be an effective tool to get people’s phone numbers. 🤗
By using advanced search operators (Boolean) and specific keywords (e.g., surname, first name, company), you may uncover contact details published online.
For example, typing “John Smith cell phone number” into the search bar could help you find pages where this information is available.
The benefit is that search engines can display results from various sources on a single page—whether from social media, professional sites, or forums—saving you the hassle of visiting each individually. ✅
Finally, this method to find a mobile number by the name is usable on LinkedIn (or even YouTube and TikTok), but is, like the others ❌ :
- Limited by the availability of information and website privacy policies,
- May yield varying levels of accuracy, so it’s crucial to verify the sources to ensure the information is reliable.
5) Get People’s Phone Numbers Through Public or Paid Databases
Databases (or DBs) are widely used by sales professionals, telemarketers and recruiters to find a phone number by the name, as they provide accurate and verified information. 👇🏼
1️⃣ Public : collect information from company registers or professional directories.
2️⃣ Paid: offer fast and efficient access to complete, up-to-date data from various sources (public records, profiles, partnerships, etc.). Available on platforms such as Hunter.io.
Please note, to comply with current regulations and the CCPA, paid databases must be used ethically and legally, to avoid any misuse. 🚨
6) Get People’s Phone Numbers Through Your Connections
🤝 Your personal and professional contacts are often one of the most effective ways to find a phone number by the name.
Especially in a business prospecting context, leveraging your network can be more reliable than online searches, as the information obtained is often more up-to-date and accurate. ✅
For example, if you share a prospect with someone in your network, you can ask them directly for the person’s cell phone number. This request is usually well-received if approached tactfully and with respect for confidentiality. ✨
You can also attend professional events (conferences, networking events, forums, webinars, discussion groups…) to expand your network and naturally connect with more sources who can help you obtain contacts. 🌱
🚨 Remember, always ask for consent before sharing someone’s phone number to maintain professional relationships and comply with privacy laws.
That’s it! We’ve covered all the methods to get people’s phone number. 🎉 Now, let’s explore how to choose the best method for your needs.
What is the Best Method to Find a Phone Number by the Name?
The most suitable method depends largely on the context and resources available. 🛟 Here are a few key criteria to guide you:
Criteria | B2B | B2C |
---|---|---|
Nature of Relationship | Paid professional DBs s are typically more effective. | Online directories or social media are more appropriate. |
Search Volume | For a large number of contacts, opt for automation or paid databases. 🤖 | For one-off searches, search engines or social media may be enough. |
Accuracy and Reliability | Paid DBs come at a cost, but are great for companies seeking quantity leads. | Free methods are less accurate and require more time for verification. ⌛️ |
In summary, paid prospecting databases are ideal for B2B, while free tools are more suited to B2C.
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How to generate a phone number list with Waalaxy?
The easiest way to generate a file of cell phone numbers from your prospects’ names is by combining automation with LinkedIn. 💁🏻♀️
Waalaxy is the perfect tool for this—no need to purchase databases anymore! 🤩
👽 Waalaxy is a Chrome extension that allows you to automate multichannel prospecting campaigns safely.
It’s the simplest, most intuitive and effective digital solution on the market. With features like data scraping and enrichment, you can easily ✅:
- Find a phone number by the name of your prospects,
- Generate one (or more) lists of your prospects‘ phone numbers,
- And do it as easily as you would with emails.
Here are the key steps in the process to get people’s phone numbers on Waalaxy 📞 :
- Define your target using advanced filters to identify relevant profiles.
- Import selected profiles into Waalaxy and then manage them centrlly (sorting and segmentation).
- Set up an automated campaign to engage with prospects and extract information from their profiles.
- Collect and compile data shared on your prospects’ profiles and interactions (including email and cell phone numbers).
- Export the data to CSV format when the campaign is complete, for future use.
🎁 For a detailed step-by-step guide to generate your own file, check out our article:
You’ll also find tips on how to manage your sales prospecting effectively to successfully achieve your goals. 🎯
Conclusion – How to Find a Phone Number by the Name?
Get people’s phone numbers is essential for conducting successful telephone prospecting campaigns and establishing direct contact. 🔗 There are several ways to do this:
- “Standard” and reverse lookups
- Social networks,
- Search engines,
- Databases,
- Personal connections.
Remember, it’s crucial to comply with CCPA regulations by obtaining prior consent and providing clear unsubscribe options.
👽 Once that’s in place, use Waalaxy to:
- Increase efficiency by automating identification and interactions,
- Simplify lead list generation and segmentation,
- Precisely target your prospects and gather relevant contact details.
- Personalize your phone calls to maximize success. 🏆
Already generated leads and found their numbers on Waalaxy? 🤗 Now, all that’s left is to call them and convert them into customers!
By combining an effective automation strategy with smart prospecting, you’re setting yourself up for success. 🍀
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
🏁 To conclude, here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions on the subject. 👇🏼
Is it safe to find phone numbers using a lead generation tool?
Using a lead generation tool to get people’s phone numbers can be safe if done responsibly and in compliance with privacy regulations, such as GDPR in Europe or CCPA in California.
Tools such as Waalaxy can help streamline the process of finding prospects’ contact details. However, before using such tools:
- Ensure that the data is collected legally and comes from publicly available or consensually shared information.
- Obtain explicit consent from individuals before contacting them, particularly for marketing or sales purposes.
- Unsolicited SMS messages texting or cold calling without permission can result in penalties or damage your company’s reputation, so proceed with caution.
In summary, while lead generation tools are efficient and useful, it’s crucial to use them ethically. Always ensure the service complies with privacy laws in your region to avoid any legal issues.
The use of these tools for illegal activities, such as fraud, scamming, or harassment, is prohibited and punishable by law.
Is there a completely free reverse phone lookup?
Completely free reverse phone lookup services are rare, especially for mobile numbers.
While some websites or apps offer basic reverse phone lookup for free :
- Free options may also rely on user-submitted data, which can be outdated or incomplete.
- They typically only provide limited information, and require you to sign-up for more detailed data (such as the owner’s name or e-mail address).
Of course, most reliable services charge a fee or require a subscription for comprehensive details.
If you’re looking for a quick and free solution, starting with a LinkedIn searches or search engine, like explained before. But for accurate and detailed results, paid services tend to be the most reliable.
How to find someone’s phone number from email address?
Finding an e-mail address from a phone number can be tricky 😬 but there are several ways to go about it:
- Specialized tools (recommended above) that allow you to search for contact details and associate them.
- Search engines or RS: some users associate their cell phone number with their accounts, which can reveal an e-mail address if it’s public.
- Reverse search, which works especially well if the user has shared information in a professional or public context.
- Lead generation and enrichment, for example, on Waalaxy, which uses Email Finder and IA Prospect Finder features to find your prospects’ phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
Now you know how to get people’s phone numbers! 🔥 See you soon! 👽