What reaction types tell you about a lead

LinkedIn offers six reaction types, and each tells you something different about a lead's mindset. Understanding these signals helps you prioritise outreach and craft better messages.

The six reaction types

Liked (thumbs up)

The most common reaction. Indicates general approval or agreement with the content. It is a low-effort signal but still shows the person was paying attention.

What it means: "I saw this and thought it was worth acknowledging."

Celebrated (clapping hands)

A stronger positive signal than Like. Often used for achievements, milestones, or impressive results.

What it means: "This is exciting or impressive. Well done."

Found Insightful (lightbulb)

Indicates intellectual engagement. The person found something valuable to learn or think about.

What it means: "This taught me something or made me think differently."

Cared (heart)

Shows emotional connection. Often used for personal stories, company culture posts, or supportive content.

What it means: "This resonates with me on a personal level."

Found Funny (laughing face)

Light engagement with humorous content. Less common in B2B contexts but can indicate someone who appreciates personality in business.

What it means: "This made me smile or laugh."

Thanked (hands together)

Appreciation and gratitude. Used when someone found something genuinely helpful or when acknowledging someone's contribution.

What it means: "This helped me. Thank you."

Prioritising outreach by reaction type

Not all reactions are equal for outreach purposes. Here is a rough priority order:

Highest intent:

1. Found Insightful - actively learning about the topic
2. Celebrated - excited about developments in this space
3. Thanked - found direct value, likely facing relevant challenges

Medium intent:

1. Cared - emotionally engaged, may be dealing with related issues
2. Liked - general interest, worth following up

Lower intent:

1. Found Funny - casual engagement, may need more warming up

Using reactions in outreach

When reaching out, acknowledge the specific post they engaged with:

Good: "I noticed you found [Company]'s post about pipeline management insightful. We have been working on something similar..."

Less good: "I saw you interacted with [Company] on LinkedIn..."

The first shows you paid attention to their specific engagement. The second feels generic.

Combining with other signals

Reaction type is one signal among many. Also consider:

• Job title - are they a decision-maker?
• Company fit - do they match your ICP?
• Recent posts - what else are they engaging with?
• Enrichment data - do you have their contact details?

A "Found Insightful" from a VP at a target company is worth more than a "Celebrated" from an intern at a company outside your market.