Frequently Asked Questions

1.Who is HG Data?

HG Data Company is staffed by a team of data scientists employing advanced technology to create the most accurate and comprehensive database of business relationships: Who sells to whom. Who buys what. Who resells. Who partners. …All at your fingertips.

From its data lab in Santa Barbara, CA, HG Data pioneers innovative natural-language processing to create value from unstructured data derived from billions of documents generated by thousands of sources.

In 2012 the company commercially released the world’s leading database of technology deployments. That transformative service reveals which of thousands of enterprise technologies are deployed at each of 1 million+ physical locations. The resulting business intelligence is used to empower marketing, sales and research professionals at technology companies requiring a deeper understanding of their marketplace. It’s the next generation of applied data science.

2. How does HG Data build its database?

HG Data has developed new ways to procure, evaluate, categorize and apply data that supersedes old perspectives and allows creation of first-ever data products, services and licensing opportunities.

And it’s built on a triad of “ingredients” that represent the leading edge in database product development. Here are the basics:

Part 1: Huge Volume of Unstructured Data

We have discovered new ways to efficiently collect and extract value from billions of unstructured documents. Until now, the cost of processing this much material made the approach impractical. Today, using state-of-the-art “big data” technology, our team can efficiently sift through seas of information to locate valuable data nuggets.

Part 2: Proprietary Data Service Access

We have agreements with leading traditional data publishing sources, enhancing the end product through an optimum blend of multiple quality information streams. We add in such things as firmagraphic details (# of employees, revenue, SIC codes) as well as millions of contact records.

Part 3: Curation by Data Scientists

Based on the specific objective, our data scientists make adjustments to the resulting data set to assure a superior result for our clients. The culmination of this process is on-target relevancy and high accuracy.

3.What specific sources of unstructured data do you use?

We track thousands of web sites, where we apply our pattern-recognition methodology and semantic processing to hundreds of millions of unstructured documents. A sampling of source categories: blog posts, online case studies, government documents, press releases, testimonials, forums, exhibitor rosters, membership lists, partner directories—the list is almost endless. Importantly, we use today’s open web as well as archival web data to spot trends and deduce changes in a specific fact we’ve previously verified.

4. How large is the installed-technology database?

Today the U.S. technology database alone contains over 1.5 million business locations, with market-ready information on over 2500 specific products and technologies in use at those locations–from A to Z (Adobe to Zenoss). The masterfile grows every day. Inquire if your needs extend beyond the United States.

5. How fast is the master database growing?

Very fast. At last count we were growing the file at about 10% per month. The growth is coming from two sources. First, we are constantly adding to the source material, both current and historic, that we use to gather information. Second, we’re constantly specifying new and more granular categories of technologies to profile. So, if you asked us a month ago what we had to meet a specific request, chances are today we have even more of it.

6. What are the main ways your data are bundled for delivery?

We make available three standard databases — each designed to accommodate a customer’s specific need:

a. HG Core is for those customers that base everything on DUNS numbers and already have all the company information and contacts they need.

b. HG SalesLead is for those customers that want it all: selected names, titles, addresses, phone numbers and emails. This is the turnkey campaign solution.

Of course variations and custom solutions are also available.

7. What is the layout of a record?

Many customers request our standard layout. Check it out.

In addition, custom layouts are available. Custom fees may apply.

As with any commercial database, it’s important to note that not all fields are populated for all records.

8. Does every address have all the fields?

If you order records with postal addresses, they typically include company name, phone and basic econographics such as SIC, number of employees and revenue. Not every address will have contact names, titles and email addresses included. (If you specify only records with full contact names, we can deliver to that specification and the counts will be adjusted accordingly.) DUNS numbers can be attached if you are a current D&B client. Inquire for counts.

9. What technology products do you track?

We track:

> many broad categories (such as locations deploying CRM systems of any supplier)

> specific brands (such as SAP-branded products)

> specific products or product versions (such as Solaris 9 as distinct from Solaris 10).

You may also request combinations of attributes: “Which enterprises run Microsoft SharePoint and Autodesk AutoCAD in the same location?”

The more general the request, the larger the resulting file.

10. What job functions are available?

Major categories include:
Computing & IT
Finance
General Management
Educator
HR
Legal
Marketing
Operations
Research & Development
Sales

11. What industries are included?

For specific industries you can select from thousands of SIC or NAICS codes. You may also specify more general categories such as “Agriculture” or “Manufacturing.”

12. What do your services cost?

The price depends on the number of technologies specified, number of records, the specific fields requested, and whether updates will be provided regularly after the initial delivery.

Ask Mary Williams for a quote on meeting your specific requirements: +1 855 544-3282. Email: sales@hgdata.com.

13. How often is the master database updated?

We are updating the technology attributes and the contact names monthly. In the fast-moving technology space 30% or more of the contact names may go out of date every year. For that reason, we recommend that you consider an annual license that includes regular updates if you plan to use the file over a period of time.

14. Is the database telephone-verified?

Most contact information such as name, title, phone, address, email and the like are telephone-verified on a regular basis. Millions of phone calls each year assure you that what we deliver is the latest information available.

15. How accurate is the data set?

The data we provide you are as accurate as possible when we ship it to you. Of course, the longer you use a file without having it updated the greater the decay in accuracy. Certain data fields (such as company name) are likely to remain accurate longer than other fields (the title of a specific executive at the company). For that reason, we recommend entering into a service contract that provides for updates.

16. What do you guarantee?

We warrant that the database you order from us meets the exact specifications in the written order. If it doesn’t, for whatever reason, we guarantee we will make it right or we will refund your purchase.

17. Is the database opted in?

We leave the opting-in process completely in the hands of our clients. Because we are not renting access to the database, but rather providing our clients with a non-exclusive license to use it, we allow clients to opt-in the contacts through their own marketing programs. Email marketing has proven to be a very effective means of marketing and can easily be done ethically and legally if you follow certain guidelines.

18. How can I comply with CAN-SPAM regulations for email marketing?

The CAN-SPAM laws require commercial U.S. emails to follow certain guidelines. These are set by the FTC, allowing B2B organizations to market to new prospects within clear compliance rules. Here are some tips we borrowed in part from our friends at NetProspex:

There are 7 steps to compliance.

Best practices and a basic understanding of the law will ensure your business email follows all legal regulations, and reaches the inbox of your recipients.

1. Don’t use false or misleading header information.

Your From, To, Reply-To, and routing information – including the originating domain name and email address – must be accurate and identify who initiated the message.

2. Don’t use deceptive subject lines

The subject line must accurately reflect the content of the message.

3. Identify the message as an ad.

The law gives you a lot of leeway in how to do this, but you must disclose clearly and conspicuously that your message is an advertisement.

4. Tell recipients where you’re located.

Your message must include your valid physical postal address.

5. Tell recipients how to opt out of receiving future email from you.

Your message must include a clear and conspicuous explanation of how the recipient can opt out of getting email from you in the future.

6. Honor opt-out requests promptly.

Any opt-out mechanism you offer must be able to process opt-out requests for at least 30 days after you send your message. You must honor a recipient’s opt-out request within 10 business days.

7. Monitor what others are doing on your behalf.

The law makes clear that even if you hire another company to handle your email marketing, you can’t contract away your legal responsibility to comply with the law.

8. Display a privacy policy and adhere to it.

Note that HG Data requires our customers to be CAN-SPAM compliant when using our records for email marketing.

Check out the following guidelines to understand more about what it takes to be CANSPAM compliant. http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus61-can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business

19. How is the data delivered?

The database you order is typically delivered in Excel, CSV format or .txt files. Let us know if you have another preference for delivery. You may import the file into your CRM system or other database for your internal use.

20. What tools do you offer to match data to my in-house database?

Many of our clients simply import into their preferred database application. Some clients will match on URLs in their house file. Clients with subscriptions to D&B will often match to DUNS numbers. If you ask us to do the matching to your file, professional service fees may apply.

21. If I re-order at a later time can I avoid getting duplicates?

Yes, if you specify what records to suppress in the re-order.

22. How can I use the data?

Your organization is licensed to use the data for marketing, sales or research purposes for the term of the license. You may use the data only for legal purposes and are specifically prohibited from using data for email communication without adhering to CAN-SPAM regulations. You may not allow other organizations to use the data for any purpose.

23. May we license your data for applications that go beyond internal use?

To explore other applications, contact SVP Paul van Dillen: sales@hgdata.com.

24. How often can I use the data?

The data are available for use throughout the term of the license.

25. Who can I call to get a custom list?

Call Mary Williams, Sales at +1 855 544-3282 or email sales@hgdata.com.

26. Can I buy the database one time?

Both one-time and annual subscription agreements with monthly or quarterly updates are available.

27. Is there a minimum order size?

There is $1,000 minimum for most data sets. Higher minimums apply for custom data sets.

28. What are the terms and conditions?

See Link

29. What forms of payment do you accept?

HG Data accepts MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, money order, corporate check and wire transfers. Customers that have established credit may order by purchase order. If a credit relationship is not established, payment must precede delivery.

30. How quickly can I expect delivery of the data?

Standard files will usually be delivered within 24 hours. Custom files might take a little longer depending on complexity and work load. We pride ourselves on fast turnaround.

31. Who should I contact with questions?

Call Mary Williams, Sales at +1 855 544-3282 or email her at sales@hgdata.com.