How our Contact-Level Intent Model works (and why it’s a turning point)

What if you didn’t just know which company is in-market… but exactly who is ready to buy?

Sounds too good to be true, right? But that’s exactly what Digitalzone’s contact-level intent model delivers. It’s the engine behind our Programmatic Nurture™ solution—and it’s changing the game for modern B2B teams. 

While most providers are still stuck guessing at the account level, we go deeper—pinpointing real individuals showing real buying signals. 

So how does it work? Why does it matter? And what makes it different? 

We’re breaking it all down. 

First, what is an intent model (and why should you care)? 

Intent models help you spot buyers before they raise their hands. 

Instead of waiting for someone to fill out a form or book a demo, intent data tracks behavior—things like visiting specific pages, downloading content, or comparing vendors. These behaviors are scored to predict how close someone is to making a purchase. 

Traditionally, this has been done at the account level—meaning vendors track which company is showing intent, not which individual. But let’s be honest: companies don’t buy. People do. 

That’s where our contact-level intent model flips the script. 

How our Contact-Level Intent model works. 

We track and analyze the behavior of individual users—not anonymous visitors tied to a company IP address. Here’s how we do it: 

Step 1: Establish a baseline 

We start by understanding what “normal” looks like for each person. Their usual behavior—how often they engage, what content they consume, how long they spend on-site—becomes their baseline. 

Step 2: Track changes in behavior

From there, we look for signals of buying intent based on: 

• Recency: How recently someone engaged with your content. A spike in recent activity? That’s a strong signal. 
• Frequency: How often they’re engaging. Repeat visits and downloads? Definitely worth a closer look. 
• Decay: Have they stopped engaging? If so, their score gradually decreases—so your team focuses on hotter leads. 

What do these scores actually mean? 

We bucket users into clear categories, so you know exactly how to act: 

• High intent: Recent, frequent activity way above baseline. These are your buyers-in-waiting. Call them. Email them. Now. 
• Moderate interest: Showing interest, but not quite ready to buy. Perfect for nurturing or retargeting. 
• Low intent: Light engagement, but still worth a gentle drip of content to keep them warm. 

What makes this possible? 

You might be wondering: How are you able to track people at the contact level when others can’t? 

It’s all in the data. We’ve spent over a decade building and owning our own proprietary database—and that changes everything. 

We own our Contact-Level ID Graph

Most B2B vendors rely on account-level ID graphs, which link activity back to office IP addresses. But in today’s WFH world—and a future without cookies—that’s not enough. 

Our contact-level ID graph is different. It’s built using privacy-compliant identifiers like MAIDs (mobile ad IDs) and device IDs. This means we can resolve individuals across digital touchpoints, not just guess based on location or IP. 

We go beyond guesswork

Just because someone at an account shows interest doesn’t mean the actual decision-maker is the one doing the research. Our model helps you connect with the right person, not just the right company. 

Real use cases, real impact. 

Here’s how you can use our contact-level intent model to work smarter across the funnel: 

• Lead prioritization: Focus your sales team on the people most likely to convert—right now. 
• Retargeting: Serve ads to individuals who are showing real interest but need more time or nudging.
• Personalized recommendations: Send the right message or offer based on their specific research behavior. 

And yes, we play by the rules.

Our model isn’t just powerful—it’s privacy-first. We align with IAB, DMA, GDPR, CCPA, and all major data ethics standards. That means anonymized data, clear consent protocols, and a commitment to ethical marketing. 

We’ve taken proven B2C best practices and brought them to the B2B world—because your buyers expect the same personalization and relevance whether they’re shopping for shoes or software. 

So, why settle for account-level guessing?

With our contact-level intent model, you’re not just casting a wide net. You’re targeting the exact people who are ready to take action—based on real behavior, not just assumptions. 

If you’re ready to leave outdated models behind and get serious about precision targeting, let’s talk. 

Speak with an expert to see how Programmatic Nurture™ can transform your funnel.