As we move into 2026, one priority is top of mind for almost every business owner: finding new clients in a way that actually works.
Digital ads are getting more expensive, email inboxes are crowded, and online marketing is becoming harder to scale without serious budget.
That’s why so many UK businesses are turning back to something proven: highly profiled data and targeted direct mail.
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Highly Profiled Business Data Lists Are Driving Stronger B2B Growth
In 2026, B2B growth isn’t about shouting at the entire market. It’s about focusing on the organisations that genuinely match the audience you want.
Highly profiled business data allows you to target by:
• SIC industry sector
• turnover ranges
• employee size
• years trading
• trading activity
• location radius
Instead of casting a wide net, businesses can now speak directly to relevant industries.
And this isn’t just theory:
professions regularly using business data to find new clients include:
• accountants and financial advisers
• wealth managers
• marketing agencies
• commercial cleaning firms
• IT providers
• utilities and telecoms
• recruitment companies
• training services
• local authorities and the public sector
• B2B service providers of all sizes
For these sectors, business data has become one of the fastest ways to get in front of decision-makers.
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Targeted Residential Lists Are Powering B2C Customer Acquisition
Targeted residential data has exploded in demand going into 2026.
Instead of broad leaflet drops or mass email sends, businesses can now target homeowners and households based on specific characteristics, such as:
• postcode radius
• homeowner status
• affluence bands
• age brackets
• household type
This type of audience profiling is helping:
• estate agents
• trades and home improvement firms
• health and dental clinics
• tutoring companies and education providers
• charities and fundraising teams
• gyms and fitness clubs
• financial services and life-planning businesses
• retail sectors
• subscription providers
Companies are generating enquiries because they’re reaching households that make sense for their product – not random data pulled from the internet.
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Why Direct Mail Is Outperforming Email in 2026
Email isn’t dead, but attention is.
Inboxes are saturated, filters are aggressive, and response rates are sliding.
Direct mail, on the other hand, gets opened, seen, and remembered. It feels more personal, more credible, and more premium.
A physical letter or postcard:
• stands out
• lasts longer
• creates brand trust
• avoids spam filters
• reaches real decision-makers
That’s why more businesses are choosing direct mail campaigns over email, especially when they’re backed by highly profiled data.
For many companies, this approach is delivering stronger enquiries and more predictable ROI than online advertising alone.
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The Smartest Route to More Clients in 2026
Finding new customers this year doesn’t have to be complicated.
Start with a clearly defined audience using business or residential profiling, and communicate through direct mail where you can be seen without digital noise.
The combination of:
• a well-targeted dataset,
• a clear offer, and
• a physical letter reaching the right doorstep or desk,
is proving to be one of the most effective client acquisition methods available right now.
