Why Google Maps is the best source of local leads
Almost every local business — dentists, roofers, restaurants, law firms — keeps a Google Business Profile, because that is how customers find them. The profile lists the name, category, address, phone, website, opening hours, rating and reviews. It is public, it is current, and it is organised by category and location. No paid database covers small businesses as completely.
The catch: Maps shows you businesses one at a time, and the profile rarely includes an email address or the owner's name. Lead generation is about closing that gap.
Step 1: Choose a niche you can help
Start with businesses that share a problem you solve. A web designer might pick plumbers without websites; a review-management agency might pick dentists with fewer than 50 reviews. Our industry pages list search terms, decision-makers and buying signals for 50+ niches.
Step 2: Pick keywords the way customers search
Google files businesses under categories, but customers search with everyday words. Use both: "dentist", "cosmetic dentist", "emergency dentist". Each keyword returns a different slice of businesses, and together they cover the niche. Prospect Cheap's bulk keywords let you paste one keyword per line and run them together.
Step 3: Cover the whole area
A single Maps search only shows a limited number of results, so searching "plumber in Texas" misses most plumbers in Texas. Search city by city instead. In Prospect Cheap you can add many cities or regions in one search; each keyword-and-location pair is searched separately and the results are merged and deduplicated. See how to scrape Google Maps nationwide.
Step 4: Enrich every lead
This is where a list becomes usable. For every business with a website, Prospect Cheap visits the site and collects:
- every email address it finds, with a status
- the owner's name and title, with a confidence score and the evidence for it
- mobile numbers and the phone carrier
- Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube and TikTok links
Read more in how to find business owner names.
Step 5: Filter before you export
Quick filters such as Has email, Has owner name, No website or Under 4 stars turn a raw list into a targeted one. Sending fewer, better-matched emails protects your domain and gets more replies.
Step 6: Export and reach out
Export to CSV, an Instantly-ready file (only rows with an email) or a GoHighLevel import. Then write short, specific emails — our cold email templates are a good starting point.
What it costs
One credit per lead, and failed searches are free. A 1,000-lead list costs 1,000 credits — the Starter plan includes 10,000 a month for $29, and every new account starts with 100 free credits.