What are buying signals?

43 buying signals in 10 groups

• People buying signals

  A people buying signal is a dated change in who leads or influences a company: a new executive, a new head of a function, a first hire, a departure, a board change or a past buyer in a new job.

  6 examplesUpdated Oct 6, 20267 min read

  • New executive0–180 days
  • New head of a function0–90 days
  • First hire in a role0–120 days
  • Leader departure0–120 days
  • New board member0–180 days
  • Past contact moved company0–180 days, paid data

• Growth buying signals

  A growth buying signal is a dated event that shows a company getting bigger: a funding round, announced growth, a new site or market, a product launch, fast headcount growth or an IPO.

  6 examplesUpdated Oct 6, 20266 min read

  • Funding round0–180 days
  • Strong growth announced0–180 days
  • New site or market0–180 days
  • Product launch0–120 days
  • Fast headcount growth0–180 days, paid data
  • IPO or listing0–365 days

• Corporate change buying signals

  A corporate change buying signal is a dated event that changes who owns a company or how it is organized: an acquisition or merger, a carve-out, a new owner, a restructuring, a headquarters move or an exit from bankruptcy.

  6 examplesUpdated Oct 6, 20266 min read

  • Acquisition or merger0–730 days
  • Carve-out or spin-off0–540 days
  • New owner0–180 days
  • Cost program or restructuring0–365 days
  • Headquarters move or rebrand0–180 days
  • Exit from bankruptcy0–365 days

• Financial pressure buying signals

  A financial pressure buying signal is a dated, public sign that a company must improve its numbers: margin pressure named in results, a profit warning, debt refinancing or a downgrade, inventory or cash strain, or an activist investor.

  5 examplesUpdated Oct 6, 20265 min read

  • Margin pressure in results0–180 days
  • Missed guidance or profit warning0–180 days
  • Debt refinancing or downgrade0–365 days
  • Inventory or cash pressure0–180 days
  • Activist investor0–365 days

• Hiring buying signals

  A hiring buying signal comes from job posts: several open roles in the function you sell to, posts that name a project such as a migration, or roles left open for months.

  3 examplesUpdated Oct 6, 20264 min read

  • Hiring in a function0–60 days
  • Job posts naming a project0–90 days
  • Roles open a long time60–180 days

• Technology buying signals

  A technology buying signal is dated evidence that a company is changing, renewing or struggling with its systems: a system replacement, a tool reaching end of support or renewal, a website relaunch, or a security breach or outage.

  4 examplesUpdated Oct 6, 20265 min read

  • System replacement0–180 days
  • Tool being retired or renewing0–365 days, paid data
  • Website relaunch0–120 days
  • Security breach or outage0–180 days

• Regulation and risk buying signals

  A regulation or risk buying signal is a dated event outside a company’s control that forces it to act: a deadline ahead, a tariff or market change, a supply disruption, or a recall, warning letter or fine.

  4 examplesUpdated Oct 6, 20265 min read

  • Deadline ahead0–365 days before
  • Tariff or market change0–180 days
  • Supply disruption0–180 days
  • Recall, warning or fine0–365 days

• Commercial buying signals

  A commercial buying signal is a dated move a company makes in its market: winning a major contract, announcing a partnership, publishing a public tender, or exhibiting or speaking at an event.

  4 examplesUpdated Oct 6, 20265 min read

  • Major contract win0–180 days
  • New partnership0–180 days
  • Public tender published0–60 days
  • Exhibiting or speaking at an event0–90 days

• Public statements buying signals

  A public statement buying signal is a dated statement in which a company commits to a priority: a leader naming the problem you solve in an interview, post or earnings call, or a strategic initiative announced at an investor day or in an annual report.

  2 examplesUpdated Oct 6, 20264 min read

  • Leader talks about the problem0–180 days
  • Announced strategic initiative0–365 days

• Relationship buying signals

  A relationship signal shows an account’s attention to your topic or to you: third-party intent data on the topic, visits or engagement with your site or email, or a past deal or former customer active again.

  3 examplesUpdated Oct 6, 20264 min read

  • Researching the topic0–30 days, paid data
  • Visits or engagement0–30 days, your own data
  • Past deal or customer active again0–90 days, your own data

Each window is the default number of days after the event during which the signal counts; for a deadline, the days before it. Outreach lands best early in the window. Signals marked paid data or your own data are not found on the open web.