Buyer intent signals: how to spot people ready to buy
Updated · ThreeCommas
Short answer
Buyer intent signals are things people say or do that show they're close to buying: asking for recommendations, comparing options, asking about prices, complaining about their current provider, or describing a deadline. The strongest ones are written in public, in the buyer's own words, and you can reply to them directly.
The signals, strongest first
Here they are, with how ThreeCommas scores them (0 to 100).
| Signal | Example | Typical score |
|---|---|---|
| Asking for a recommendation | "Can anyone recommend a bookkeeper for my LLC?" | 85 to 100 |
| Comparing options | "X or Y for a 5-person team?" | 70 to 90 |
| Unhappy with a competitor | "Our agency keeps missing deadlines, who else?" | 65 to 85 |
| Asking about price | "Is $3k fair for this?" | 60 to 80 |
| Describing the problem | "Spending hours on invoices every week" | 30 to 60 (conversation) |
| General talk in your field | "How has quantity surveying changed?" | 30 to 45 (conversation) |
Where to find them
Reddit, industry forums, Q&A sites, Hacker News, and social media. ThreeCommas watches these every hour and sorts posts into leads and conversations to join.
Questions
What is the difference between first-party and third-party intent data?
First-party is what people do on your own site. Third-party is gathered elsewhere. Public posts are a kind of third-party intent you can see word for word and reply to.
Is intent data only for B2B?
No. Consumers and small businesses post buying intent in public all the time.