How to Find the Owner or Contact Name for a Business You Want to Prospect

How to Find the Owner or Contact Name for a Business You Want to Prospect

(Using Apollo.io and Other Tools — Step-by-Step Guide)

Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Author: Weezle Marketing When prospecting, one of the most critical steps is identifying the right decision-maker. Whether it’s a business owner, marketing manager, or someone else in a key role, having the correct contact information can make or break your outreach. This guide will walk you through how to efficiently find the owner or contact name for a business using Apollo.io and other tools.

Step 1: Research the Business

Before jumping into tools like Apollo.io, it’s important to gather basic information about the business.

• Visit Their Website: Check their "About Us," "Team," or "Contact" pages. Many businesses list key team members there.

• Look for Blog Posts or News Articles: Often, businesses will mention their leadership team in blogs, press releases, or announcements.

• Check Social Media: Browse their LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook pages to see if any team members or owners are tagged or mentioned.

Pro Tip: If the business is small or local, the owner is often the face of the brand and may be featured in photos or posts.

Step 2: Use Apollo.io to Find Contact Information

Apollo.io is one of the most powerful tools for finding decision-makers and their contact details. Follow these steps to efficiently use Apollo.io:

Step 2.1: Log in to Apollo.io

• Go to Apollo.io and log in to your account.

• If you don’t have an account, sign up for the free plan or a paid plan depending on your needs.

Step 2.2: Search for the Business

• In the search bar, enter the business name.

• Narrow down the results by applying filters (e.g., location, industry, or company size).

Step 2.3: Identify Key Contacts

• Once you’ve located the business, Apollo.io will display a list of employees and their roles.

• Look for roles like:

  • Owner/Founder/CEO (for small businesses).

  • Marketing Manager/Director (for larger companies).

  • CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) or VP of Marketing (for enterprise-level clients).

• Note down their names and job titles.

Step 2.4: Export Contact Information

• Apollo.io often provides email addresses and phone numbers.

• Click “Save” or “Export” to add their details to your CRM or a spreadsheet for later use.

Pro Tip: Use Apollo.io’s Chrome Extension to quickly find contacts while browsing LinkedIn or company websites.

Step 3: Use LinkedIn to Cross-Verify and Connect

LinkedIn is an invaluable platform for verifying the information you find on Apollo.io or for conducting additional research.

Step 3.1: Search for the Business

• Use the LinkedIn search bar to find the business’s official LinkedIn page.

Step 3.2: View the Employees

• Click on the “People” tab to see employees who are listed under the company.

• Look for titles like Owner, Founder, CEO, or Marketing Manager.

Step 3.3: Connect with the Decision-Maker

• Once you’ve identified the right person, send them a connection request.

• Include a personalized note, such as:

Pro Tip: If you’re unable to find the contact on LinkedIn, check for other employees who might steer you in the right direction.

Step 4: Use Other Lead-Generation Tools

If Apollo.io doesn’t provide sufficient information, try these additional tools:

1. Hunter.io

• Use Hunter.io to find email addresses associated with a company domain.

• Enter the company’s website URL, and Hunter.io will generate a list of email addresses and their formats.

2. Clearbit

• Clearbit is another great tool for finding employee and contact data.

• Use it to identify decision-makers and their email addresses.

3. ZoomInfo

• ZoomInfo is a premium tool that provides detailed contact data, including phone numbers and emails.

• Use it to find verified information for larger companies or harder-to-reach prospects.

4. Google Searches

• Sometimes, a simple Google search can yield valuable results. Try:

  • “[Business Name] Owner”

  • “[Business Name] Marketing Manager”

  • “[Business Name] CEO Contact”

Pro Tip: Combine tools like Hunter.io with LinkedIn to cross-verify contact details and avoid sending emails to incorrect addresses.

Step 5: Organize Your Findings

Once you’ve gathered contact names and information, it’s time to organize your data for outreach.

Step 5.1: Use a CRM

• Input the contact’s name, role, email, and phone number into our CRM system (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce).

• Include notes on where you found their information and any relevant insights about the business.

Step 5.2: Create a Spreadsheet (if CRM is unavailable)

• Use Google Sheets or Excel to log the following:

  • Business Name

  • Contact Name

  • Job Title

  • Email Address

  • Phone Number

  • Source (e.g., Apollo.io, LinkedIn, Hunter.io)

Step 6: Double-Check Contact Information

Before reaching out, always verify the accuracy of the contact details:

• Email: Use email verification tools like NeverBounce or ZeroBounce to confirm the email address is active.

• Phone Number: Call the business directly to confirm their general contact info if needed.

Step 7: Reach Out Strategically

Once you’ve identified and verified the contact, you’re ready to reach out. Use a combination of email, LinkedIn, and phone calls.

Example Outreach Email:

Subject: Supporting [Business Name] with Digital Marketing  

Hi [Contact Name],  

I’m [Your Name] from Weezle Marketing, and I recently came across [Business Name]. I noticed [specific observation about their business, e.g., “your social media presence has great potential for growth”].  

At Weezle Marketing, we specialize in helping businesses increase their visibility and revenue through tailored marketing strategies. I’d love to schedule a quick 15-minute call to explore how we can help [Business Name] achieve its goals.  

Let me know if you’re available this week!  

Best regards,  
[Your Name]  
Weezle Marketing  
[Your Phone Number]  

Final Thoughts

Finding the right contact for a business may take some digging, but with tools like Apollo.io, LinkedIn, and Hunter.io, the process becomes much easier. By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll be equipped to identify decision-makers, verify their contact information, and organize your findings for successful outreach.

Remember: Persistence and personalization are key to building meaningful connections with potential clients. Now, let’s go out there and make those connections count!

Cheers,

Austin Pray

CEO, Weezle Marketing