Both IQLs (Intent Qualified Leads) and Contact Search are powerful ways to find prospects in Lead Onion — but they serve different purposes. Understanding when to use each will help you get the best results while saving credits.
What is an IQL?
An Intent Qualified Lead (IQL) is a contact that:
- Belongs to a company showing active buying intent.
- Matches your Target Persona (e.g. job role, seniority, function).
👉 Think of IQLs as high-priority leads — they’re both in your ICP and actively in-market.
What is Contact Search?
Contact Search gives you access to the entire database of 100M+ verified emails and direct dials.
- You can filter by job title, seniority, department, industry, location, and company size.
- No intent signals are included — you’re simply finding people who match your ICP.
👉 Think of Contact Search as broad prospecting — building targeted lists of potential buyers, regardless of intent activity.
When to use IQLs:
Use IQLs when you want to:
- Prioritise outreach to leads that are ready to buy now.
- Focus on companies in Active or In-Depth research phases.
- Maximise efficiency by working warmer leads before colder ones.
Prove ROI quickly with prospects more likely to convert.
When to use Contact Search:
Use Contact Search when you want to:
- Fill the top of your funnel with prospects that fit your ICP.
- Run broad prospecting in new industries, regions, or markets.
- Build static lists for campaigns, ads, or testing new audiences.
Supplement intent-based leads with ICP-matching contacts who aren’t yet showing signals.
How they work together:
- Start with IQLs → focus on high-value, in-market leads for quick wins.
- Layer in Contact Search → to build a broader outreach base and keep the funnel healthy.
Many users use Contact Search to find additional stakeholders at companies already flagged as showing intent — strengthening multi-threaded outreach.
Best practice tip:
✅ Think of IQLs as your “fast lane” leads and Contact Search as your “long game” pipeline builder. Used together, they balance immediate opportunities with ongoing prospecting.
FAQs:
Do IQLs cost credits?
Yes. Credits are used when revealing contacts, just like in Contact Search.
Are IQLs always more valuable than Contact Search results?
Not necessarily — they’re warmer, but volume may be lower. A healthy pipeline usually combines both.
Can I create lists with both?
Yes. You can add revealed IQLs and Contact Search results into the same lists, segments, or integrations.