One query, five platforms: how multi-platform search works in Lode Leads
Most B2B lead generation tools search one platform. LinkedIn tools search LinkedIn. Google Maps scrapers search Google Maps. If you want leads from multiple platforms, you run multiple searches with multiple tools and manually merge the results in a spreadsheet.
Lode Leads searches LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Google Maps from a single query. Here is how it works.
The five platforms and what each contributes
| Platform | Primary signal | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Professional role, company, hiring activity | B2B decision-maker identification | |
| Brand activity, engagement, visual presence | Creative agencies, D2C brands, hospitality | |
| TikTok | Content velocity, audience growth, creator metrics | Influencer marketing, media, fast-growth brands |
| Business pages, community size, local presence | SMBs, regional businesses, emerging markets | |
| Google Maps | Physical location, reviews, operating hours | Local services, retail, restaurants, healthcare |
How parallel search works
When you create a campaign, the system translates your criteria into platform-specific search parameters and runs all searches in parallel:
- Query decomposition: Your criteria become platform-specific filters. "Marketing agencies in London with 10-50 employees" becomes a LinkedIn company search, an Instagram business search, and a Google Maps category search.
- Parallel execution: All platform searches run simultaneously. Whether you search 1 or 5 platforms, wall-clock time is roughly the same.
- Result normalization: Each platform returns different data formats. LinkedIn gives structured company data. Instagram gives profile metrics. Google Maps gives business listings. The normalization layer converts everything into a unified lead format.
- Cross-platform deduplication: "Acme Digital" on LinkedIn, "Acme Digital Agency" on Instagram, and "Acme Digital Ltd" on Google Maps are merged into a single lead using fuzzy matching on names, domains, and contact info.
- Cross-platform scoring: Leads found on multiple platforms get a scoring boost. A company's Instagram engagement rate informs the factual score even when the primary search was on LinkedIn.
Deduplication in practice
Without deduplication, you pay for the same lead 3 times and your team contacts them 3 times. The deduplication engine matches on multiple dimensions: company domain, phone number, email address, physical address, and name similarity. When a match is found, records are merged and the lead retains data from all platforms.
Credits are consumed per platform searched, not per lead returned. If a lead appears on 3 platforms, you are not charged 3 times.
When to use which platforms
- B2B enterprise sales: LinkedIn, or LinkedIn + Instagram for visual industries
- SMB and local business: Google Maps + LinkedIn, optionally Facebook for emerging markets
- Creator and influencer discovery: TikTok + Instagram, optionally LinkedIn for professional creators
- Agency new business: All 5 platforms for the widest net
- Regional expansion: Google Maps + Facebook for markets with low LinkedIn penetration
Search 5 platforms from one query. Every lead scored and deduplicated automatically. Start your free trial to see multi-platform search in action.