Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General
What is BirdDog and how does it work?
BirdDog monitors public signals (news, job postings, company sites, filings, earnings calls/reports, social) for your target accounts. You define Signals (questions you want BirdDog to answer about accounts), and BirdDog surfaces matches with source links, summaries, and next-step actions. Farsight improves your account list over time by replacing weak accounts with stronger ones.
How does BirdDog find buying signals?
It continuously crawls and analyzes public data, matching it to your Signals. When a match is found (e.g., “hiring multiple AEs” or “new CRO”), BirdDog summarizes why it matters and links to the original source.
What data sources does BirdDog use?
Press releases, news sites, company websites, job boards/postings, SEC/financial filings, earnings calls/reports, and certain social/professional sources. You can see source links on each signal.
How often is account and signal data refreshed?
BirdDog refreshes daily; Farsight recommendations and account rescoring also update nightly.
Can I integrate BirdDog with my CRM (HubSpot, Salesforce, etc.)?
Yes. From an account, you can jump directly to CRM records (HubSpot/Salesforce). To set this up, email hello@getbirddog.ai or reach out to the team in your Slack channel.
What keyboard shortcuts should I know to work faster?
- Enter: Open Next Steps / advance the current signal
- I: Open account’s LinkedIn page
- D: Dismiss a signal in Signals view
- Y / N: Accept / Dismiss Farsight recommendations
Accounts & Credits
What are BirdDog credits?
Credits are monthly allowances to add/replace accounts being actively monitored. Each active account consumes capacity; credits let you swap in new ones.
How do credits reset each month?
They reset automatically at the start of your billing cycle. You’ll see your credits available and accounts you can add now in Account Manager.
What happens if I hit my account limit?
You won’t be able to add new accounts until you archive some existing ones (freeing capacity, when available) or your credits reset.
How do I archive accounts to free up space?
In Account Manager, select accounts → Archive. Archived accounts stop daily monitoring and free up capacity for new adds.
What’s the difference between deleting and archiving accounts?
- Archive: Keeps history but pauses monitoring (recommended).
- Delete: Removes the account permanently from your tenant (use cautiously).
How do I upload new accounts into BirdDog?
In Account Manager → paste one or more company URLs (or a CSV list) into the input → choose the target list → Add.
Can I upload accounts from tools like Apollo or ZoomInfo?
Yes. Export domains/URLs from those tools and paste/upload into BirdDog (Account Manager or Farsight My List Mode).
Why do some accounts show a score of 0?
They’re newly added or still scraping. Scores typically appear within ~20-60 minutes as BirdDog ingests and analyzes sources.
Lists
What are lists in BirdDog?
Lists are buckets of accounts that you can target with different Signals or strategies (e.g., Enterprise, Healthcare, EMEA).
How do I create a new list?
In Account Manager → Lists panel → Create (name the list). (If you don’t see Create, you may lack permissions—ask an admin.)
Can accounts belong to multiple lists?
Yes. A domain can live in more than one list (e.g., Master + Enterprise).
How do I rename or delete a list?
In Account Manager → Lists panel → choose list → Rename or Delete. Deleting a list doesn’t delete the accounts globally; it removes the list container.
Can I export a list of accounts?
Yes. Use checkboxes to select accounts → Export (CSV).
What’s the best way to organize lists (by industry, region, team)?
Use segments you’ll actually filter by: enterprise vs. mid-market, regions (NA/EU), or verticals (SaaS/Healthcare). Keep it simple and aligned to territory owners.
Signals
What is a signal in BirdDog?
A question BirdDog answers about your accounts (e.g., “Does the account mention hiring multiple sales roles?”). When true, BirdDog creates an alert with summary + sources.
How do I create a new signal?
On Signals page → input box → phrase your question (start with Does / Is) → choose target list → title it → Add.
What’s the best way to write a good signal?
- Start with Does/Is (clear boolean framing)
- Anchor to behaviors (hiring, leadership changes, tooling, geography)
- Add disqualifiers (e.g., exclude recruiters)
- Keep it specific and test iteratively
What are disqualifying signals?
Rules that remove noise (e.g., “Exclude recruiting agencies”). Add as negative filters to keep your feed clean.
How do I mute a signal?
On Signals page, toggle Mute to stop Slack/Email/Teams notifications (the signal still runs/accumulates results).
What does signal priority do?
It influences account rankings and Farsight recommendations. High priority signals weigh more heavily in scoring.
How do I connect signals to email templates?
Create templates in Settings or Team Page → on Signals, associate a template to prefill suggested outreach when a match occurs.
Can I edit or delete a signal later?
Yes. Click Edit to change wording/title/priority/context; Delete to remove entirely.
How do BirdDog Context refinements work?
Use the Context field (a free-form prompt) to teach BirdDog nuance (e.g., “Only show US/EU and junior roles”). Update as you learn.
How many signals should I create?
Start with 10–15 per team (mix of positive buying cues + disqualifiers). Add more once you see which ones perform.
Farsight
What is Farsight?
BirdDog’s recommendation engine that improves your account list by promoting strong-fit accounts and demoting/removing weak ones.
What is the difference between My List Mode and Entire Internet Mode?
- My List Mode: You upload a list (up to 10k domains). Farsight cleans, scores, and replaces poor performers.
- Entire Internet Mode: You set ICP parameters (size, geo, sector). BirdDog finds net-new lookalikes across the web.
How do I upload a list for Farsight to clean?
In Farsight → My List Mode → upload company URLs (CSV or paste) → set thresholds (e.g., replace <10 with >30 points) → Save & Run.
What is Auto-Add in Farsight?
A rule that automatically inserts recommended accounts when they meet your thresholds (score, signals, list cap).
Can Farsight replace low-scoring accounts automatically?
Yes. Configure replacement thresholds (e.g., remove <10 pts when a >30 pt alternative appears) and enable Auto-Add.
How often does Farsight update recommendations?
It reviews and recommends nightly when there are under 20 recommendations waiting, with ongoing refreshes as new signals appear.
What’s the best way to set thresholds in Auto-Add?
- Start conservative: add only >30 points with at least one high-priority signal
- Respect list caps
- Tune after a week based on quality
Account Manager
What is the Account Manager page used for?
To add, archive, delete, export, filter, and organize accounts into lists. It’s your operational control center.
How do I filter accounts in Account Manager?
Use the filter button (by name, list, status, score, signal presence, location, size). Combine filters for precise selections.
How do I bulk archive or delete accounts?
Select via checkboxes → choose Archive or Delete in bulk actions. Archiving is safest for capacity management.
Can I upload accounts directly into Account Manager?
Yes. Paste URLs or upload a CSV into the input box, pick a target list, then Add.
How do account scores update after adding them?
BirdDog scrapes and scores within ~20 minutes; scores then evolve as new signals arrive.
Team Management
How do I invite a new user to BirdDog?
On Team Page → Invite New User → enter email → assign accounts → (optional) include org signals/templates → Create → Send Email.
How do I allocate accounts to users?
In the user table, set Allocated Accounts for each user. Adjust anytime to match usage.
What happens if a user isn’t using all their accounts?
Lower their allocation to free capacity for others or Farsight. You can raise it again later.
Can I reassign accounts from one user to another?
Yes. Archive from User A and add to User B; or use admin tools to move account/list ownership (depending on your plan/permissions).
How do I send onboarding emails to new users?
After creating the user, click Send Email to dispatch login details, tips, and getting-started guides.
Can I share signals with my whole team?
Yes. Use Organization Signals on the Team Page to publish a signal template to all users.
How do organization-wide templates work?
Admins create signal and email templates once and push them to all users, ensuring consistent strategy and messaging.
Can admins see all user activity?
Admins can see user allocations/usage and outcomes associated with accounts/signals. For deeper audit trails, contact support for plan capabilities.
Email Templates
How do I create an email template in BirdDog?
On Team Page (or Settings for non-admins) → Create Email Template → add Title, Example, and Template (with variables) → Save.
How do I connect an email template to a signal?
On the Signals page, choose the signal → Link Template. When the signal fires, your template is ready with context.
Can email templates be shared across the whole team?
Yes. Create them as organization templates on the Team Page and apply them to org-wide signals.
Can I edit or delete an email template?
Yes. Open the template → Edit or Delete. Edits apply to future uses (past messages remain unchanged).
What’s the difference between example emails and templates?
- Example: A sample for guidance.
- Template: A reusable, parametrized message tied to Signals.
Notifications
What notifications can BirdDog send (Slack, Teams, Email)?
Signal alerts can be delivered to Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Email.
How do I mute or unmute notifications for a signal?
On Signals page, toggle Mute for that signal (alerts stop; the signal still runs).
Shortcuts & Productivity
What does pressing Enter on the keyboard do?
Opens Next Steps and advances your workflow for the current signal.
What does pressing I do?
Opens the account’s LinkedIn page.
What does pressing Y or N do in Farsight?
Y accepts and adds the recommended account; N dismisses it.
What does pressing D do in Signals view?
Dismisses the current signal and advances to the next.
Are there other keyboard shortcuts I should know?
Those are the core ones. Shortcuts may expand over time; check the in-app Need Help link for updates.
Data & Sources
Where does BirdDog pull its information from?
Public web sources: press/news, company sites, job posts, filings, earnings, and select social/professional platforms.
How reliable are the sources BirdDog uses?
Signals include source links so you can verify context yourself. BirdDog summarizes but never hides the original source.
Can I see the sources behind each signal?
Yes. Every signal shows linked sources used to generate the summary.
How does BirdDog summarize source data?
It extracts the relevant snippet, builds a concise summary, and highlights why it matters (e.g., hiring surge, leadership change).
Can I customize which sources BirdDog looks at?
You can steer what it looks for via Signals and context. Source-level whitelisting/blacklisting may depend on plan; ask support.
Best Practices
How many accounts should I actively manage at once?
Focus on what your reps can truly work (e.g., 50–200 each, depending on motion). Use Farsight to keep quality high.
How many signals should I create per team?
Start with 10–15 (mix of buying cues + disqualifiers). Iterate weekly based on performance.
How often should I clean/archive accounts?
At least monthly (credit reset). Use Farsight’s replacement rules to automate cleanup.
How should I prioritize signals for the best results?
Mark critical triggers as High (e.g., “hiring multiple AEs,” “new CRO,” “new funding/market entry”). Tie to your strongest templates.
How should I set thresholds in Farsight for my industry?
Start Score >30 with at least 1 high-priority signal. Adjust by observed quality (raise the bar if SDRs complain about fit).
What’s the best workflow for working signals daily?
Open Signals view → sort by recency/priority → Enter to work → Generate message → push to CRM → D to dismiss → repeat.
How can BirdDog help me find “hidden” opportunities?
Use creative Signals (e.g., “pilot program,” “POC,” “migration,” “RFP,” “consolidation,” “sunsetting”). BirdDog surfaces less obvious but actionable triggers.
Troubleshooting
Why isn’t my account scoring correctly?
Newly added (wait ~20-60 min), sparse public data, or weak Signals. Add more/better Signals and context; ensure domain/URL is correct.
Why aren’t signals showing results yet?
They may be too narrow or brand-new. Broaden phrasing, remove disqualifiers, or give it a day for crawling.
Why do I see duplicates of an account?
The same company might sit in multiple lists or use variant domains. Consolidate to a canonical domain and merge/clean lists.
Why can’t I create a new list as an admin?
You may be on a restricted role or environment setting. Check permissions or ask your BirdDog admin/support to enable list creation.
How do I fix onboarding emails not sending?
Verify the user exists, click Send Email again, and have the user check spam. If still blocked, contact support to confirm domain policy.
Why isn’t my CRM integration working?
Confirm the CRM connection is authorized, that the account exists in your CRM, and that pop-ups/redirects aren’t blocked.
Who do I contact for support?
Reach out via Slack, email, or LinkedIn (as noted in-app). Include screenshots, account URLs, and a short description.
Advanced
Can I use BirdDog with custom APIs?
Some advanced plans support custom hooks/integrations. Share your use case with support to review feasibility.
Can I run A/B tests with signals?
Yes—make a signals with slight variations in phrasing/priority and track result volume/quality over a fixed window.
Can I rank accounts manually in addition to signals?
You can adjust signal priority, which influences ranking. Manual rank nudges may be available depending on plan.
Can I track performance by signal type?
Yes—monitor results count, engagement from templates tied to each signal, and downstream outcomes in your CRM reports.