The competitor engagement signal: they are already on the topic
The competitor engagement signal flags people who react to LinkedIn posts from companies selling what you sell. They care about the problem, sometimes about a specific solution. The rule on this page: the signal picks the moment and the topic, and is never mentioned to the prospect.
14-day free trial · No credit cardSee the signal in Prosperian
- Signal
- Reacted to two competitor posts this week
- Why now
- The topic is on her desk right now.
- Suggested angle
- The problem covered in the post, never the competitor itself.
Use the competitor engagement signal to talk about the problem, never the like
What happens: someone in your target reacts to a competitor's content
Your competitors post on their LinkedIn pages: case studies, webinars, launches, takes on the market. People react or comment. Some of them fit your target: right role, right company size, right industry.
So the trigger has two parts. A public reaction to a post, and a profile that matches your ICP. Without the second, the signal is worthless.
A reaction at a competitor shows curiosity, not loyalty
The person follows the topic you work on. They may be comparing options, already be a customer of that competitor, or simply follow a page they skim. Either way, your category is not new to them: you do not need to explain why the problem exists.
What the signal does not allow: quoting it. Telling someone you saw their reaction on a competitor's post creates the "I'm watching you" effect and shuts the door. The signal tells you when to write and what to write about. The message itself starts from the problem raised in the post.
Email: start from the problem in the post, not its author
Take the theme the competitor covered and put it in your own words. No hint of LinkedIn, the post or the other company. One question, a light offer.
Subject: {topic} at {company}
Hi {first_name},
Many {function} teams we meet this year are stuck on the same question: {problem}.
At {company}, how do you handle it today? In house, or with a tool?
If it is an open question, I can show you in 20 minutes how {customer_type} solved it. If not, one word is enough and I will not follow up.
{my_name}
LinkedIn: an invitation based on a shared interest
The invitation talks about the topic, not about their activity. Once accepted, the invitation becomes a signal you can mention: you can thank them and carry on.
Invitation: Hi {first_name}, I work on {topic} with {function} teams like yours. Happy to connect here.
Message once accepted: Thanks for accepting, {first_name}. A question I am asking many {function} people lately: what slows you down most on {problem}?
Phone: call while the topic is hot
The call comes after an open, an acceptance or a reply. The reason you give is the problem, never the activity you observed. The call card reminds the rep what not to say.
Opening: Hi {first_name}, this is {my_name} from {my_company}. I am calling about {problem}, something a lot of {function} teams are working through. Do you have two minutes?
Discovery: How do you handle it today? What works, what gets stuck?
Comparison: Have you already looked at solutions for this? What did you take away?
Next step: I suggest 30 minutes to show you a different approach. Does {day} work?
In Prosperian, engagement at your competitors sets the timing
- Step 01You name your competitorsYou point Prosperian to the LinkedIn pages of companies selling what you sell.
- Step 02People who react are collectedProsperian picks up who reacts to their posts and keeps those who match your target. Each contact kept costs 1 credit.
- Step 03Heat rises, the message stays neutralThe signal raises the heat score. The agent writes messages on the theme, and the card states that this signal is not to be mentioned.
- Step 04You approve if you want toThe agent's drafts can go through Slack for approval before sending.
- Step 05The call lands at the right timeThe prospect moves up a call queue sorted hottest first. The rep calls with the suggested angle.
What burns this signal in a single sentence
- Writing "I saw you liked {competitor}'s post": exactly what not to say.
- Bashing the competitor when the prospect may like them.
- Contacting everyone, including the competitor's employees, partners and candidates.
- Sending a comparison pitch before knowing whether they already use a solution.
- Waiting weeks: interest in a topic fades fast.
What engagement at a competitor does not tell you
- A reaction takes one second: many likes are reflexes, not intent.
- Some of the people reacting work for the competitor, partner with them or are applying there.
- The prospect may be a happy customer of that competitor with no wish to switch.
- The signal means something when it stacks with others: hiring in the function, an accepted invitation, a reply to your emails.
Frequently asked questions
Why never mention engagement at a competitor?
Because the prospect did not react for you. Telling them you saw it makes them feel watched and ends the exchange. Prosperian uses this signal to choose the moment and the topic, and the call card lists it under what not to say.
How do I sort the people who react?
By your target: role, company size, industry. Leave out the competitor's staff and anyone outside your ICP. A comment is usually worth more than a like.
What does this signal cost?
1 credit per contact kept. Only people who match your target are kept and charged.
What if the prospect already uses the competitor?
Do not attack that choice. Ask what works and what does not. If they are happy, note it and come back later, for example at renewal time or after a job change.
Is this signal enough to call?
Rarely on its own. It raises the heat score; the call comes when another signal adds up, such as an accepted invitation or a reply.
See who is interested in your market at your competitors
Free trial · Ready in minutes · Cancel anytime