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Common Mistakes to Avoid

ThreadSignals makes it simple to uncover real buying intent—but only if your Signals are set up and managed correctly.

Avoiding a few common mistakes will help you save credits, improve lead quality, and ensure your results stay relevant to your business goals.

1. Using Keywords That Are Too Broad

Keywords like marketing, software, or design are far too general.
They may return hundreds of irrelevant posts and quickly drain your credits.
Instead, focus on phrases that indicate action or intent, such as “need logo help” or “recommend CRM tool.”

If you want to explore broadly, create one general Signal for testing—but keep most of your Signals more targeted.

2. Ignoring Group Selection

Many users focus only on keywords and overlook the importance of choosing the right groups.
Selecting relevant or localized groups can drastically improve your results.

Example: Targeting the Denver group with the keyword agency finds posts about agencies in Denver.
Using the keyword “agency in Denver” in a huge global group will often miss those same leads.

Smart group selection keeps your results focused while reducing the need for long-tail keywords.

3. Adding Too Many Keywords at Once

Each keyword functions as an OR statement, meaning ThreadSignals will search for posts containing any of them.

Using too many keywords can dilute your Signal’s focus and pull unrelated results.
Start with 2–4 strong keywords that represent your audience’s core problems, then refine as you go.

4. Ignoring Low-Performing Signals

If a Signal consistently finds few or irrelevant posts, it’s time to adjust it.
Check your Run History to see how often it’s running and how many credits it uses.
Consider:

Trying different keywords.
Selecting new groups.
Increasing or lowering your max credits per run.

Regular optimization ensures your credits go toward Signals that deliver the best results.

5. Responding Like a Salesperson

Once you’ve found a promising post, your reply matters just as much as the Signal that found it.
Avoid dropping direct links or promoting your business immediately.
Instead:

Offer help or advice first.
Build trust and start a real conversation.
Then suggest messaging privately to share more about your service.

People respond better to genuine value than to self-promotion.

Pro Tip

The most successful users treat ThreadSignals as a listening tool, not just a lead finder.
Focus on understanding what your audience is asking for—and use that insight to adjust your messaging, keywords, and overall outreach strategy.