How to find people asking to buy on Reddit, Facebook groups and forums
Short answer: people show buying intent with a few repeat phrases: "where can I buy", "any recommendations for", "looking for", "does anyone know a shop that", "need X for". Search those phrases together with your product type on Reddit, in Facebook groups, on Quora and on forums, sort by newest, and skip anything older than a few weeks.
Phrases that signal someone wants to buy
| Phrase | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| "where can I buy..." / "where to get..." | Ready to buy, needs a seller |
| "any recommendations for..." / "what's the best..." | Comparing options, open to suggestions |
| "looking for someone who makes..." | Custom or handmade order |
| "need 50 / 100 / 200 of..." | Bulk, event or corporate order |
| "gift ideas for..." | Gift buyer with a deadline |
| "does anyone sell... in [city / country]" | Local or shipping-sensitive buyer |
Use Reddit search with your product plus "recommend" or "where to buy" and sort by New. Search inside niche subreddits, and check rules before replying: many allow helpful answers but not links. From Google, try site:reddit.com "any recommendations" "weighted blanket" and set the date filter to the past week.
Facebook groups
Local community groups, parenting groups, wedding groups and hobby groups are full of "who sells..." posts. Search inside the group for your product type. Public group posts sometimes show in Google with site:facebook.com/groups "recommend" "cake toppers".
Quora, Nextdoor and forums
Quora has many "what's the best..." questions that keep getting views for years, so a good answer can bring buyers long after. Nextdoor is useful for local delivery. Niche forums, for hobbies, pets, outdoor gear or crafts, often have "where to buy" threads.
How to tell a buyer from noise
- Buyer: "Looking for a minimalist leather wallet that fits 6 cards, under $60."
- Not a buyer: "How do I make my own leather wallet?" (DIY), "Just launched my wallet shop!" (seller), "Leather prices are rising" (news).
Also check the date and the location. A post from three months ago, or from a country you don't ship to, is rarely worth a reply.
How to reply
Answer their question first, say honestly that you sell the product, give one specific detail that fits what they asked, and follow the community's rules on links. Never copy and paste the same reply everywhere.
Let a tool do the searching
Doing this by hand works but takes time. Lead Harbour runs these searches for your store every day, removes sellers, DIY questions and old posts, and gives you up to 5 buyers with a reply for each. Compare it with keyword alert tools on our comparison page.
Common questions
What is a buying-intent post?
A public post where someone says they want to buy something, asks where to buy it, or asks for product recommendations. For example: "where can I buy linen curtains that block light?"
Which platforms have the most buying-intent posts?
Reddit and Facebook groups have the most for consumer products, followed by Quora, Nextdoor for local requests, and niche forums. The best one depends on your product.
Can I see posts in private Facebook groups?
Only if you are a member, and you should follow each group's rules. Tools like Lead Harbour only see public posts that search engines can find.
Let Lead Harbour do the searching
Paste your store link and see 5 people asking for what you sell, each with a reply ready to send. First 5 buyers for $1, refunded if we find fewer than 5.
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