What North American Sales Teams Get Wrong About EMEA Data

“Can I even reach out to someone in EMEA?”

If you’re running a go-to-market motion in Europe, you’ve probably asked that. Teams expanding to EMEA often do so to tap into new markets, diversify their pipeline, and accelerate growth. Understanding the compliance and communication standards upfront makes that expansion a lot smoother.

In this episode of iQ², Nabeel Ahmed (VP of Growth & Partnerships) sits down with LeadIQ’s Head of Product, Nathan Creswell, to unpack what US-based teams need to know about EMEA data privacy, phone number availability, GDPR compliance, and prospecting strategy.

The conversation is practical, focused, and built for anyone trying to navigate B2B sales in EMEA. Let’s dive into it.

What we covered:

• Why GDPR is misunderstood. Most teams focus on data storage, but the real challenge is in how you collect and use contact data.
• How contact data actually works in Europe. Suppression lists, DNCs, and what "double opt-in" means in practice.
• Why mobile numbers and direct dials might be missing when inspecting EMEA contact data. And how LeadIQ’s Premium Search helps.
• What EMEA decision-makers expect. And how to adjust outreach accordingly.
• Security standards and GDPR requirements you’ll need to meet if you're going global.
• Why accurate data and real-time updates matter more in B2B contact databases.

This episode is meant to be a guide for anyone selling across borders. If your B2B marketing and lead generation strategies depend on accurate contact data, automation, and seamless integration across your CRM and workflows, this episode will help you streamline your approach.

We also explore the importance of enriching B2B contact data with intent data, technographic data, and firmographic signals to build the right contact lists. From pricing concerns to dataset structure, it all ties into one thing: creating a user-friendly system that meets real business needs.

Watch the episode here (23 min)

Key quotes:

"We clean and verify everything before it enters your CRM, so you're always working with accurate, GDPR-compliant data." — Nathan Creswell

"Consent in EMEA is layered and local. You can't assume what works in North America will translate." — Nathan Creswell

"When you're doing outreach in Europe, understanding job title, company size, and firmographic segments is just as important as compliance." — Nathan Creswell

"You can't scale EMEA lead generation without strong workflows, reliable data enrichment, and a clear sense of what buyers expect." — Nathan Creswell

"Reps need tools that help them build contact lists that meet local regulations — and that starts with high-quality B2B contact data and a tech stack built for global outreach." — Nathan Creswell

Takeaways

• You can't treat EMEA the same way you treat North America. Expect different norms, rules, and expectations.
• GDPR-compliant outreach should be baked into your workflow. This becomes easier by using LeadIQ’s Chrome extension in combination with your CRM, and sales tools.
• Real-time data enrichment is key for delivering accurate data, segmenting based on firmographic insights, and lowering bounce rates.
• Use on-demand tools to source b2b contact data with validated business email and phone numbers that are compliant.
• Combine technographic data, job title, and intent data to build the right contact lists and target your ideal customer profile.
• Investing in API-driven enrichment from trusted b2b data providers like LeadIQ improves sales intelligence and contact data accuracy.
• Support your marketing campaigns with linkedin outreach, social media signals, and clean company profiles segmented by company size.
• Whether you’re competing with ZoomInfo, Cognism, or Apollo, the edge is in GDPR-compliant b2b contact data that aligns with your workflows and tech stack.

FAQ

Why is EMEA contact data harder to get?
Data providers need to comply with stricter privacy rules like GDPR and CCPA. Many mobile numbers are protected under country-specific DNCs or require double opt-in.

Can I cold email or cold call in EMEA?
Sometimes, yes — but it depends on the country and whether the number or business email is on a suppression list. Always check local data protection regulation and intent signals.

Why are some phone numbers missing from my contact database?
Numbers may be removed to stay compliant with GDPR or local laws. Premium Search can help uncover high-quality, compliant mobile numbers.

What makes LeadIQ different when it comes to EMEA data?
We filter everything before it reaches your CRM. Real-time updates, AI-powered validation, and strict compliance checks help sales teams work efficiently with accurate b2b data.

How do I set up compliant workflows for EMEA?
Use CRM integrations like Salesforce or HubSpot, automate follow-ups, and rely on tools that handle consent properly. This keeps your outreach scalable and aligned with data privacy expectations.

How strong is your mobile-phone coverage?
We offer 85% global match-rate and 70% in EMEA, and climbing. That means better B2B contact coverage, fewer vendors in your data waterfall, and more direct dials to connect with decision-makers.

How do tools like Cognism, Apollo, and ZoomInfo compare?
While they offer solid datasets, LeadIQ prioritizes GDPR compliance, data quality, transparent pricing and user-friendly integrations. If you're focused on sales intelligence and seamless integration, LeadIQ is built for that.

Can I export a .csv of filtered contact lists?
Yes. You can export segmented lists filtered by company size, job title, firmographic data, and GDPR-compliant contact information.