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Find Similar Companies: Criteria, Process, and Best Tools for Quality Search

Justas Gratulevicius

Updated on Nov 04, 2024
Published on Jul 29, 2024
Finding lookalike companies

Key takeaways

  • Identifying similar companies is crucial for strategic business moves like competitive analysis and investment opportunities.
  • Key identification factors include industry, product/service offerings, geography, shared keywords, company size, customer reviews, and technological capabilities.
  • To identify lookalike companies, you need to define your goals, gather information, use specialized tools, analyze and refine the data.
  • Tools like Coresignal, SEMrush, Crunchbase, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Owler, and ZoomInfo offer advanced data and insights to streamline the search process.

Identifying similar companies has always been crucial for strategic business moves, from competitive analysis to investment opportunities.

Whether you're a startup seeking market insights or an investor searching for promising ventures, information about how to find similar companies can boost your success. 

In this article, we will explore strategies and tools to streamline your search for similar companies.

How to find similar companies?

Finding similar companies involves a strategic approach that leverages specific criteria and advanced tools. 

By understanding key factors like industry, product offerings, and geographic location, you can effectively identify companies that align with your goals and values. 

Utilizing a structured process and innovative tools, such as data analytics platforms and machine learning models, streamlines this search, making it more efficient and insightful.

Let's delve into the steps and methods that can help you discover companies that are either similar to your own or those you are interested in.

company search criteria

Company search criteria

Establishing clear criteria is essential for finding similar companies. 

Here are key factors to consider:

  • Industry. Target companies operating within the same industry to compare business models and market dynamics.
  • Product/service. Focus on companies offering similar products or services to understand competitive offerings and market saturation.
  • Geography. Consider geographic location, as regional economic conditions and regulations significantly impact business operations.
  • Shared keywords. Conduct SEO research for similar companies — businesses that offer similar products will likely have pages ranking on similar keywords.
  • Company size. Compare companies of similar sizes by revenue, employee count, or market capitalization.
  • Customer reviews. Analyze customer feedback to gauge business reputation and quality.
  • Technological capabilities. Examine the technological infrastructure and innovation of potential companies.

Process

The process is bound to differ from company to company. 

However, it’s possible to outline some key aspects that will help you put together a more comprehensive and personalized process plan.

Here are some main suggestions:

  1. Identify your goals. Determine why you need to find similar companies. This could be for benchmarking, competitive analysis, investment opportunities, or identifying potential clients.
  2. Gather information. Utilize sources like company data, employee data, and business directories to conduct market research.
  3. Use tools. Employ specialized tools and platforms that use advanced algorithms and data analytics to find similar companies efficiently.
  4. Analyze and refine. Evaluate the gathered data and refine your search criteria based on the insights obtained.

Make sure to tailor these steps to your individual needs, and you will find the perfect list of companies you’re looking for.

Similar companies search use cases

Find competitors

Identifying competitors is a common reason for searching similar companies. 

Understanding your competition provides insights into market positioning, product offerings, and pricing strategies, helping you formulate effective business strategies. 

By analyzing your top competitors, you can identify gaps in the market, discover new opportunities, and make informed decisions about your product development and marketing strategies. 

Additionally, understanding competitors' strengths and weaknesses allows you to differentiate your offerings and improve your competitive edge.

Find investment opportunities

Investors often seek similar companies to diversify their portfolios or find the next big opportunity.

By analyzing companies with similar business models and growth trajectories and evaluating overall performance, investors can make informed decisions. 

This approach helps in identifying emerging trends and high-potential startups, reducing investment risks, and promoting more confident decision-making.

It also enables investors to compare the financial health, management practices, and market strategies of different companies, ensuring a balanced and more confident investment strategy.

Find companies that closely match your ideal clients

For businesses offering B2B services, finding companies resembling their ideal clients can expand market reach or discover emerging new competitors. 

By understanding the needs and preferences of these lookalike companies, businesses can offer more relevant products or services, create personalized marketing campaigns, and establish stronger relationships. 

This targeted approach not only improves customer acquisition but also enhances client retention and satisfaction.

how to find lookalike companies

Tools for similar company search

Here are several tools and platforms that assist in finding similar companies:

  1. Coresignal. Coresignal offers advanced data enrichment capabilities, providing access to extensive company profiles and enabling the identification of similar companies using machine learning models.
  2. SEMrush. The tool features the Organic Research Competitors tool, which identifies and analyzes websites competing for the same keywords, offering valuable insights into market positioning and organic competitors.
  3. Crunchbase. A comprehensive platform for business information, Crunchbase offers detailed profiles of companies, including their industry, funding, and key personnel.
  4. LinkedIn Sales Navigator. This tool allows users to filter companies based on various criteria, such as company size and location, making it easier to find similar companies.
  5. Owler. Owler provides competitive insights, including company profiles, news, and community-driven data, helping you identify similar companies.
  6. ZoomInfo. A powerful platform for B2B intelligence, ZoomInfo offers extensive information on companies, including firmographics, technographics, and contact details.

How to select the best tool for your business?

Choosing the right tool for finding similar companies depends on your specific needs and resources. 

Here are some considerations to help you select the best tool:

  • Data needs. Determine the type and depth of intelligence you require. Identify what specific data points are crucial for your competitor analysis.
  • Budget. Assess your budget for subscription services, ensuring that the tool provides good value for the features offered.
  • Ease of use. Evaluate the user interface and ease of integration with your existing systems to ensure a smooth workflow.
  • Specific features. Identify unique features that match your search criteria, ensuring the tool can fulfill your specific requirements efficiently.

Consider these factors to choose a tool that best aligns with your goals.

Find lookalike companies with Coresignal's new dashboard tool

Here at Coresignal, we are excited to introduce our new "find lookalike companies" feature, which is available via the Company data enrichment API playground. 

This innovative tool leverages our in-house algorithm, utilizing multiple data points and machine learning models to return profiles of up to 100 similar companies. 

This feature is designed to help you:

  1. Search competitors based on different data points and understand your market landscape.
  2. Discover new investment opportunities with companies exhibiting similar growth potentials.
  3. Find companies that closely match your ICP, enhancing your B2B outreach strategies.

With our dashboard, you can streamline your search process and gain actionable insights with ease. Explore the API playground today and experience the convenience of effortlessly finding lookalike companies. If you want to explore potential leads or partners or examine a new target market more closely, you might want to try out our find lookalike companies feature. Once you enter a company website URL or an email, we will instantly provide you with a list of companies that are similar to it.

Here is how you do it:

Step 1: Register for a free trial

Before we begin, you must create an account on our self-service. The free trial includes:

  • 14-day access to millions of company profiles
  • 400 search and 200 collect credits
  • Data enrichment features for your existing database
Sign up now

Step 2: Choose "Enrichment API"

The Enrichment API menu item will be on the left side of your screen. Once you press on it, you will see the company data enrichment API playground.

Enter the company website URL or an email, select the Return lookalike companies feature, and press Enrich data.

For example, you want to find companies similar to the Oura smart ring, a device that tracks your vital functions. Here is how the lookalike search will be seen on the self-service:

company data enrichment API playground coresignal

Step 3: Review the initial list of lookalike companies

The request will use up one search credit and will return two types of results:

  • A list of the companies that are the most similar to your chosen company
  • A JSON file with more information with a full list of lookalike companies as well as their company profiles

In our case, wellness devices Whoop, Lumen, and Apollo Neuro could be seen as direct competitors to the smart ring. We also see the fitness app MyFitnessPal, which could be paired with Oura ring and track a person's health data. The list also shows the luxury mattress shop Saatva, which a wellness-minded person might want to buy after purchasing the Oura ring to improve their sleep.

As you can see, the request returns various companies that match the original query through different lenses, both as competitors and as complementary devices.

lookalike companies oura

Step 4: Review the JSON file

After running your search query, you will also get a JSON file with a more extensive list of lookalike companies.

In the Oura ring case, you will get a list of more than 100 similar company profiles that include:

  • Company website, name, and founding information
  • Employee count
  • Country
  • Lookalike score
  • Description and specialties
  • Funding and financial information
  • Industry

and more features:

finding lookalike companies

That's it! Now you have a full list of companies that are similar to your query, and extensive profiles with tons of valuable information that you could use right away. Use this tool for company company search, identify possible partnerships, or build up a list of sales prospects.

tools for finding lookalike companies

Conclusion

By leveraging advanced tools and clear criteria, businesses can effectively navigate the competitive landscape, uncover investment opportunities, and expand their market reach.

Embrace these strategies and tools to drive better decision-making and achieve your business goals.