01
Niche down with confidence
Agencies that specialise win more pitches. Use SIC codes to build lists for one vertical at a time, from e-commerce to hospitality.
Find potential digital marketing clients
Lead generationfor digitalmarketing agencies.
Retainers come from businesses with a real need to grow and the means to pay for it. ClientFinch helps digital marketing agencies find established, active UK companies in the sectors they specialise in, then organise them into a shortlist the whole team can work from.
02
Target companies with history
Filter by incorporation date to focus on firms that have been trading for several years and are more likely to have a marketing budget.
03
One shortlist, many channels
Save companies once, note which service fits — PPC, paid social, content, email — and export when you plan a campaign.
Finding retainer clients, not one-off projects
A digital marketing retainer depends on a client that has something to sell, a market to sell it to and the cash flow to invest every month. Very new companies rarely tick all three boxes. Businesses that have been trading for several years, in a sector you understand, are usually a better fit.
Companies House shows when every company was incorporated and whether it is still active. Combining an “incorporated before” date with your specialist SIC codes gives you a list of established businesses in your niche — a much better starting point than a generic directory.
Turning a list into a campaign
A shortlist is only useful if it leads to conversations. A simple structure keeps the team aligned.
- 01Build one list per vertical and region, such as “independent hotels in the South West”.
- 02Review each company and note the most relevant service and a specific observation.
- 03Export to CSV and import into your CRM or outreach tool with your notes intact.
- 04Personalise each first message using your note, and track replies back in your CRM.
Signs a business could use digital marketing help
Once you have a list of companies that fit, a few minutes of research shows where the opportunity is. Look for:
- 01A website with no clear call to action, enquiry form or way to buy.
- 02Social profiles that have not been updated for months, or none at all.
- 03No visibility for obvious “service + town” or product searches.
- 04No email sign-up or customer reviews on the site, despite years of trading.
- 05A recent move, rebrand or new service mentioned on the site that is not being promoted.
What ClientFinch does — and does not — do
ClientFinch is a research and shortlisting tool. It does not send emails, enrich contacts with personal data or estimate a company’s ad spend. That keeps it simple and keeps you in control of how and when you contact a business, in line with UK GDPR and PECR.
Filters to use
Build the right list.
- Vertical SIC codes
- For example 47910 (online retail), 55100 (hotels), 86900 (other health activities) or 62020 (IT consultancy).
- Incorporated before a date
- Use the “to” date to find companies formed at least three to five years ago.
- Region or town
- Search by town, city or postcode to plan regional campaigns and in-person events.
- Active status
- Remove companies in liquidation, administration or that have been dissolved.
FAQ
Common questions.
Can I find companies by revenue or employee count?
No. Companies House does not provide turnover or headcount for most small companies, so ClientFinch does not offer those filters. Incorporation date and sector are practical alternatives for estimating maturity.
Can several people in my agency share a list?
Not yet. Each account has its own private saved leads. You can export a CSV to share a shortlist with colleagues.
Does ClientFinch send outreach emails?
No. ClientFinch helps you research and shortlist companies. Outreach happens in your own email or CRM tools.
Can I export my shortlist?
Yes. Saved leads can be exported to CSV with the company name, company number, date saved, your notes and a link to the Companies House record, ready to import into a CRM or spreadsheet.
Related reading
Identify website improvement opportunitiesA 10-minute website review that turns into a specific, credible pitch.UK business prospect researchMethods and tools for researching UK businesses before you reach out.For small businessesB2B lead generation for UK small businesses and freelancers.For SEO agenciesBuild local SEO prospect lists by sector, town and company age.For web design agenciesReach newly formed and growing businesses that need a website.
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Go find them.
Create a free account to search the Companies House register and build your shortlist — the first companies are free to explore.