Use buying signals to time outreach perfectly
Images on this page are for illustrative purposes only. Example outputs in this play are illustrative — the structure, fields, and format reflect real Lusha connector and Gmail output, but were not pulled from a live session. Run the prompt with your own account data and connectors to see live results. Personal details in any live examples are masked or abbreviated for privacy.
Reaching out at the wrong moment is the most common reason a strong pitch gets ignored. This Claude prompt checks what’s actually happening at a target account right now via Lusha‘s signals layer, cross-references any prior outreach history in Gmail, and returns a specific timing recommendation — NOW, SOON, HOLD, or COLD APPROACH — with the right contact and opening angle attached.
The prompt
This prompt may contain placeholders — look for [BRACKETS] and fill them in.
<context>
I want to know the best moment to reach out to a specific prospect — not based on a calendar reminder, but based on what's actually happening at the account right now. I want to check for signals, cross-reference with any prior email history, and get a specific recommended outreach timing and angle.
My prospect:
- Company: [COMPANY NAME OR DOMAIN]
- Contact: [NAME AND TITLE — or "find the right person"]
- What I sell: [PRODUCT / SOLUTION]
- Last time I reached out: [DATE OR "NEVER"]
</context>
<task>
1. Use Lusha's signals layer to check what's happening at this account right now:
- New exec hire in the function I sell into?
- Funding event in the last 60 days?
- Headcount growth in the relevant function (15%+)?
- M&A activity?
- Any structural change that creates urgency or budget?
2. Search Gmail for any prior outreach history with this company:
- Has anyone from the team emailed this account before?
- What was the last topic? Did the contact reply?
- How long ago was the last touch?
3. Combine signal + history to produce a timing recommendation:
- NOW: strong signal detected + no recent outreach — reach out this week
- SOON: signal detected but recent outreach exists — wait 2–3 weeks
- HOLD: no signal + recent unanswered outreach — wait for a trigger
- COLD APPROACH: no signal, no prior history — reaching out on ICP fit only
4. If NOW or SOON: draft the specific outreach angle:
- Which signal to lead with
- Which contact to reach (verified via Lusha)
- Whether to reference prior email history or treat as fresh outreach
- Draft subject line and opening sentence only — not a full email
5. Return:
- Signal summary: what was detected, when, and why it matters
- Prior contact summary: last touch, topic, outcome
- Timing recommendation: NOW / SOON / HOLD / COLD APPROACH
- If NOW or SOON: contact details and opening angle
</task>
<constraints>
- Timing recommendation must be based on actual signal data — not a default "reach out now."
- HOLD is a valid recommendation. Don't manufacture urgency where none exists.
- The opening angle must reference the specific signal — not a generic product pitch.
- If no contact is specified: find the most relevant verified contact via Lusha.
</constraints>What you'll get back
The situation: An AE wants to reach out to Dunmore Analytics. Last outreach was 54 days ago — a pricing question that went unanswered on the AE’s side. Running the timing check before deciding whether to reach out again.
Signal summary
Series B funding confirmed via Lusha — announced 18 days ago. Post-funding is the highest-intent window for tooling conversations: new budget allocated, new headcount targets set, new urgency to build the right stack before the next growth phase. Window is typically 4–6 weeks from announcement.
Prior contact summary
Gmail thread found — 54 days ago. T.K., VP of Sales, replied to cold outreach asking about pricing. No follow-up was sent. Thread went cold on the AE’s side.
Timing recommendation: NOW
Strong signal (Series B, 18 days ago) + open thread with unanswered pricing question = reach out this week. The funding creates the urgency. The open thread creates the angle. Don’t start cold — reference the thread.
Contact: T.K., VP of Sales, Dunmore Analytics — t.k@[dunmore].com ✓ · direct mobile available
Opening angle:
Don’t treat this as a fresh outreach — T.K. already replied and was waiting on pricing detail that was never sent. Use that as the re-entry.
Subject: Pricing question from March — worth revisiting
Opening: “Back in March you asked about pricing and I never followed up properly. With the Series B just closed, the conversation is probably more relevant now than it was then.”
Illustrative example — fictional company names used. Run with your own account data to see live results.
Why use Lusha in Claude
Timing is the variable that’s invisible without a signal check. The Dunmore situation — a warm thread that went cold exactly as the company closed a funding round — is the classic missed window. Without a signal check, the AE has no reason to reach out. Without a Gmail check, the AE doesn’t know T.K. already asked about pricing. With both, the outreach angle writes itself and the timing is obvious: the funding creates urgency, the open pricing thread creates a specific re-entry that isn’t cold. HOLD and COLD APPROACH are equally important outputs — stopping a rep from adding noise to an account where the moment isn’t right is as valuable as telling one when to act.
Data drawn from 300M+ verified contacts under GDPR, CCPA, SOC 2, ISO 27701, ISO 31700, and TRUSTe.
FAQ
What's the difference between NOW and SOON?
NOW means reach out this week — the signal is fresh and no recent outreach creates noise. SOON means a signal exists but recent outreach was sent in the last 2–3 weeks — wait for the signal to develop slightly before adding another touch. The distinction prevents piling a re-engagement on top of a sequence that’s still running.
What if there's a signal but no prior Gmail history at all?
The recommendation is still NOW if the signal is strong — the opening angle shifts from referencing a prior thread to leading directly with the signal. “Saw your Series B just closed” is a legitimate cold opener when the timing is right.
Can I run this for a full list of accounts at once?
For a single account this prompt gives the full signal + timing + angle output. For scanning a full territory for accounts with live signals this week, the weekly signal digest covers the full list in one pass and returns only accounts worth acting on.
What if the signal is old — detected 45+ days ago?
The prompt factors in signal age. A funding round 45 days ago is past the peak intent window — the recommendation may shift from NOW to SOON or COLD APPROACH depending on whether recent outreach exists. Signal freshness is part of the timing logic, not just signal presence.
What counts as a strong enough signal for NOW?
Funding event in the last 30 days, new exec hire in the relevant function in the last 21 days, or headcount surge of 15%+ in the last 30 days. Any of these alone qualifies. M&A as the acquirer is also a NOW signal. M&A as the target is a HOLD — procurement freezes during integration.
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