1. Not All Trade Data Is Created Equal—Watch Out for These 3 Pitfalls

Pitfall #1: Outdated, Duplicated, and Ineffective Buyer Information

Some trade data—especially what's scraped by bots or resold multiple times—contains outdated or generic buyer emails like assist@company.com, or even addresses that no one checks anymore.

If your plan is to blast cold emails using this data, prepare to be disappointed.

Solution:

Choose a provider with frequently updated, verified contact data—ideally one that offers real-time contact enrichment. Tools like Tendata, used alongside email validation platforms like Hunter or Snov, help filter and validate contacts to improve outreach efficiency.

Pitfall #2: Claims of "Global Coverage," But Limited Data Availability

Some providers advertise access to data from "over 200 countries," but in reality, only a handful—like the U.S., India, Brazil, and Russia—offer full visibility, including contact details. In many regions (Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia), you may only get bill of lading data with company names but no emails or phone numbers.

Solution:

Always ask for a demo before purchasing. Don't rely solely on case studies or big-name clients—test the data on countries that are relevant to your industry and market.

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Pitfall #3: Misuse—Only Looking at Buyer Lists Without Real Analysis

Data is a tool, not an answer. If you don't know what you're looking for—type of customer, ideal markets, product categories, purchasing volumes—then even the best dataset won't help you.

Buying trade data without a clear plan is like buying a map and not knowing where you want to go.

2. Can Trade Data Actually Help You Land Clients?

Short answer: It depends entirely on how you use it.

If your strategy is to mass blast cold emails with no personalization, your response rate might be worse than if you pulled random contacts from a phone book or B2B directory. Many buyers are overwhelmed by irrelevant outreach and simply ignore these messages.

But if you're willing to invest time and effort, the results can be dramatically different. Here's what effective use looks like:

·Visit the buyer's website and understand what kind of products and brand positioning they work with.

·Write a personalized outreach message, clearly showing that you know who they are and explaining how your product aligns with their sourcing needs.

·Include real value: catalogs, case studies, pricing strategies, lead times, and low MOQs.

·Position yourself not as a salesperson—but as a problem solver.

Used this way, global trade data isn't just a cold lead source—it's a pre-qualified pipeline. With the right strategy, response rates can exceed 10%, especially when combined with relevant offerings and solid communication.

Final Takeaway: Trade Data Isn't a Magic Key—It's a Strategic Map

Global trade data won't instantly unlock customers for you—but it can give you a clear view into actual buying behavior.

If you treat it like a list of email addresses, it's just another commodity.

But if you treat it as a market intelligence system and customer qualification tool, it becomes a powerful weapon in your sales arsenal.

Is it worth the money?

That depends less on the data's price—and more on your ability to plan, research, and execute.

Trade data by itself holds no value. It's how you use it that determines whether it leads to deals or dead ends.

Expand Your Global B2B Customers Leads with Tendata

Tendata provides comprehensive global trade data covering 228+ countries and regions, including key markets such as Indonesia, India, Turkey, Malaysia, and beyond. Gain deep insights into global market dynamics, uncover hidden demand and growth opportunities, and efficiently connect with decision-makers to expand your international client base. Discover your next growth curve in global trade with ease!

Using Tendata, we identify active Indonesia importers with recent trade records over the past year.

For each potential client, we provide a detailed analysis of their import history, HS codes, suppliers, supply chain networks, and regions. This enables you to assess their purchasing power and development potential, helping you pinpoint the optimal timing and entry strategy for engagement — paving the way for successful partnerships.

Stay Ahead of the Competition

Tendata also helps you monitor competitor activities, market performance, and pricing strategies. Adjust your offerings flexibly and maintain a strategic advantage in even the most competitive environments.

Connect Directly with Decision-Makers

Through Tendata's integrated contact database, you can easily access detailed profiles of key personnel such as buyers and executives, complete with email addresses and links to LinkedIn, Facebook, and other major platforms. Our system enables seamless connection with your targets through trusted professional networks.