The four signals that matter most
- Fit. Does the thread describe a problem your product or expertise actually addresses?
- Intent. Is the user asking for recommendations, expressing active pain, or trying to change behavior?
- Safety. Does the subreddit context allow a helpful reply without obvious promotion risk?
- Freshness. Is the conversation still alive enough that a reply matters?
What weak qualification looks like
A relevant keyword appears in the title, so the thread gets pushed into drafting immediately.
The thread shows a real workflow problem, the user is looking for help, the subreddit context is workable, and the discussion is still fresh enough to justify attention.
A quick operating rule
If the thread fails two of the four signals, skip it. This keeps the queue small, protects team time, and prevents the review stage from turning into a pile of interesting but low-value conversations.
Use the fast pass: run the thread through the Reddit Lead Qualification Tool, then manually verify any thread that comes back as strong or borderline.
How to act on each result type
- Strong opportunity: move the thread into review immediately.
- Review carefully: open the full thread, check comments, and validate subreddit norms before drafting.
- Low priority: skip it unless there is unusual strategic context that the tool cannot see.
FAQ
Should every qualified thread become a lead?
No. Qualification decides whether the thread deserves attention. Lead capture decides whether the conversation deserves long-term follow-through.
Is freshness always required?
No, but stale threads rarely deserve a draft. Older threads may still matter for research or buyer language, just not for active outreach.