Signals
Buying signals: know when a company is ready
Companies do not buy at random. Something changes first. This library lists 112 of those moments in four groups, with how long each one stays useful and what to do about it.
What is a buying signal?
A buying signal is a change you can see that makes a company more likely to buy soon, such as a new leader, fresh funding or repeat visits to your pricing page. One signal is a hint. Several different signals at the same company in the same few weeks mean a buying window is open, and that is when to reach out.
The idea in three steps
How to use signals without drowning in them
- 1
Pick the company first
Signals only matter at companies that could actually buy. Decide who fits before you watch for timing.
- 2
Let old signals fade
A pricing-page visit today is worth far more than one last month. Every signal loses value over time, some in days, some in months.
- 3
Act when they stack
One signal is a data point. Two or three different ones at the same company in the same few weeks mean the door is open.
Four groups
From "act this week" to "worth watching"
Act now
Best within 30 daysSomething just changed at the company. The door is open, but not for long.
See all 40 signalsWarming up
Fades in 1 to 2 weeksInterest is building. One on its own means little. Two or three together mean it is time.
See all 47 signalsGood fit
Changes slowlyFacts about the company that make it worth watching in the first place.
See all 16 signalsTailored
Review monthlySignals you design around what you sell. Harder to find, and your competitors will not have them.
See all 9 signalsThe full table
All 112 buying signals
Filter by group or search. Click any signal to see what it means and what to do about it.
- 01PpPricing page activity
- 02CcCustomer/champion job change
- 03GaGitHub activity
- 04SpSurge in product usage
- 05CiCompliance or IT user identification
- 06EbEconomic buyer activity
- 07IpIdeal persona community join (owned)
- 08RrRapid rise and fall in product usage
- 09TsTech stack adjacency
- 10MwMultiple workspaces created by single org
- 11PuPower user threshold reached
- 12PcPaid ceiling threshold approached
- 13SoStale opportunity
- 14CfCommunity or forum question asked
- 15SeSurge in email opens (internal)
- 16LcLegislation change
- 17PlPlatform policy change
- 18CoCompetitor feature deprecation
- 19CmCompetitor close or acquisition
- 20MpMultiplayer product activity
- 21PmPayment method added
- 22UsUpgrade screen activity
- 23PaPlan upgrade
- 24AmAha! moment reached
- 25NiNew integration connected
- 26BqBug question/complaint
- 27CpCompetitor follow
- 28EcEmployee of competitor follow
- 29IdIdeal persona support forum join
- 30SuSurge in product log-ins
- 31ScSecurity page/terms page activity
- 32PrProduct link share
- 33GpGmail/personal sign-up enrichment
- 34SlSurge in layoffs
- 35IrIntegration removal (external)
- 36InIntegration disconnected (internal)
- 37CuCommunity or forum question answered
- 38ItIntegration page activity
- 39DpDocs page activity
- 40RpRelevant post engagement
- 41NpNegative product review
- 42NaNew account sign-up
- 43TeTrial end approached
- 44UrUpcoming renewal with competitor
- 45CjCompetitor job change
- 46SiSign-up flow abandonment
- 47FcForm or chat flow abandonment
- 48PdPayment declined
- 49RcRage clicks
- 50StSupport ticket creation
- 51RtRound-tripping (contacts from a vendor used internally)
- 52ShShared opportunities across partners
- 53QaQuestions answered
- 54NmNegative media coverage
- 55PoProduct activity after stagnant period
- 56KeKeyword engagement
- 57ToTopic engagement
- 58IfInfluencer follow
- 59IeIdeal persona community join (unowned)
- 60SrSurge in hiring
- 61IaIdeal persona recently hired
- 62CnContent consumption
- 63CrCapital raised/new funding secured
- 64EaEvent attendance
- 65ErEarnings call/10-K release
- 66PtProduct review intent
- 67WpWebinar participation
- 68AtAnalytics tag added to website
- 69AdAdvertising tracking tag added to website
- 70WrWebsite relaunch
- 71NlNew leadership recently hired (CEO, C-level, board)
- 72PgPodcast guest appearance
- 73EtEvent talk/keynote/panel participation
- 74SaSocial post
- 75LeLive event registration/attendance
- 76DeDigital event registration/attendance
- 77SdShared investor
- 78SvShared advisor
- 79EsEvent sponsorship
- 80PfProduct or feature launch (internal)
- 81PeProduct or feature launch (external)
- 82BlBeta launch (internal)
- 83MaMerger or acquisition
- 84JoJob opening(s)
- 85SgSurge or decline in website traffic
- 86ArAward or recognition received
- 87CsCustomer story published (internal)
- 88LpLinkedIn profile view
- 89CtCustomer/prospect promotion
- 90ReRegion expansion
- 91LiLinkedIn insights tag activity
- 92LkLikes/comments on relevant topics across content aggregators
- 93OeOffer expiration (internal)
- 94SnShared connections (colleague)
- 95PsProspect or customer email bounce (internal)
- 96SbSubscribe (blog, newsletter, video, podcast) (internal)
- 97PiProfessional milestone
- 98PnPersonal milestone
- 99PvPositive media coverage
- 100BwBrand/website relaunch
- 101NcNew customer story published
- 102MtMandate team exists
- 103CdCommittee depth reached
- 104SsStrategic shock
- 105FbFunction build-out with new head
- 106BpBoard or peer underperformance pressure
- 107ExExternal spend on the problem
- 108PbPublishing on the problem
- 109CaComparison or alternatives page visit
- 110PyPositive outbound reply
- 111EvEvent registrant no-show
- 112SyStrategic planning cycle
Signal names adapted from Common Room’s library of 100 signals, plus enterprise signals of our own. Descriptions, groups, time windows and plays are RevOps Lab’s. Time windows are starting points: tune them with your own results.
Questions people ask
What is a buying signal?
A buying signal is something you can observe that makes a company more likely to buy soon: a new leader, fresh funding, a job ad for the problem you solve, or repeat visits to your pricing page. Signals tell you who to contact and when.
Which buying signals matter most?
It depends on what you sell. Leadership changes and a past champion moving to a new company are strong for most B2B teams. Website and content signals matter more when several stack up at one company in the same week.
How many signals should I track?
Start with three to five you can actually see today, and one owner for each. Add more only when those reliably lead to conversations. A short list you act on beats a long list you ignore.
Do I need expensive software to track signals?
No. Many signals come from free sources: LinkedIn, job boards, news and your own website analytics. Tools like Clay or an AI agent save time once you know which signals work for you.