Email is the most professional and unobtrusive means of reaching out to someone you do not know personally. New job offers, invitations to events, and even discussing the possibility of a mutual partnership — all of these should be done over email. On the other hand, if you do not know someone in person and do not have this someone in your social media connections list, getting that person’s email can be challenging. Of course, it is always possible to use an email address finder for recruitment needs or any other purpose you have in mind. Still, most professional software costs money, so if you do not email strangers every day, you might want to consider free alternatives first. Let’s go over them one by one.
Give it a go with Google search
This is an obvious start and, if you’re lucky, you may not have to look any further. On the other hand, if it were so simple, everyone would do it. So, the chances are — you have already tried googling someone’s name and have not found any contact info you were hoping for. Some tips may help optimize your search, though. For starters, if you know the company this person is working in, you can try and guess their email address. Most corporate emails follow the same pattern: you have first and last name (sometimes, only a first or last name initial), followed by a unique company mail client. That’s it — give it a couple of goes and see if the results match your actual search.
Another suggestion would be to search for the company website. Once again, this works if you know the recipient’s place of work. Often, corporate contact us pages will have emails of their top management. Sometimes, when the team is small, you can also get valid emails of other top employees in this company. Alternatively, if you are reaching out to a public person, you can look for their personal website, blog, or some sort of online portfolio. All of those usually have valid contact data you can use.
Do a quick search on social media
Just like Google, social media sites do not guarantee a 100% success rate, but you can sometimes get lucky. Besides, your odds will vary from network to network. Sometimes, you can get all the information you need on LinkedIn. Even if the person you are looking for does not have an email publicly available on a user account, look for this person’s resume or portfolio. Those are usually available on LinkedIn, and both may have an email you are looking for. Another option most people forget is extracting all of your LinkedIn connections in a CSV file. Next to each connection, this file will provide an email registered with the platform. But, of course, this only works if you have this person in your LinkedIn contacts.
If you have no luck with the largest professional network, try recreational social media sites. Most Facebook users do not hide their contact details. Besides, if you come across a person you are looking for on Facebook, you can see which pages (if any) this person manages. Even if a personal profile hides contact information, most FB pages have valid contact info.
Use freebies from pro contact finding tools
We already mentioned that most professional contact finders run on paid subscriptions. But, most reputable businesses will also offer you a preview of their goods first. The more complicated the software is, the less free searches you will get. For example, SignalHire is a tool similar to Contactout but with upgraded functionality like advanced bulk search. Of course, full-time recruiters will not be able to achieve much with the first five trial credits. But you may!
The biggest benefit of using professional email finders is that these tools ensure access to both private and professional contact details. By contact details, we mean not just emails but also phone numbers and even backlinks to personal social media accounts whenever applicable. Many databases today also have browser extensions on LinkedIn and other social media sites. This significantly simplifies the process of looking for prospects because it gives recruiters a chance to get anyone’s contact details without closing this person’s social media account tab. So, if you were looking for a more permanent solution to finding relevant emails, consider using professional tools.
Consider subscribing to a company newsletter
If you want to reach a particular person within a particular company, you can consider subscribing to this company’s promo materials. Of course, this approach only works if your matter is not pressing. After all, most newsletters are no-reply. Still, when businesses are sharing blog posts and other informative materials, they often source their contributors. This could be the person you need. Or, you can simply figure out the email address logic within this company and reach out to the person you are looking for. Sure, this is a long-term strategy, and its effect is not guaranteed. But, if none of the above suggestions worked for you, you can give it a try.
Ask a common connection for an introduction
This is one of the best ways of making a business or a potential partnership offer. Besides, it works great for recruiters looking for a highly experienced person to fill an important management position. If you have any common acquaintances, just ask for an introduction. You do not have to arrange a full-scale business meeting here; a quick introductory email from someone you both know can do just fine. One of the biggest advantages of this method is that it helps build trust, draws attention to offer, and ensures your email does not end up in spam or trash folders.
No doubt, some of these email lookup methods are quicker and more efficient than the others, especially if you can arrange a personal introduction or use professional recruiting tools. Besides, if you cannot get the info you need right away, the combination of these tips will usually give the results you are hoping for.
