I'm looking for advice on how best to calculate MQL to deal and MQL to customer conversion rates. I've been using the funnel report for this, but the CVR varies wildly based on the timeframe selected. Is it best to choose a time window that matches the average sales cycle length?
Also, is this really an accurate view that can be relied on?
A funnel report would be the best way to do this. I would limit the report to look specifically at MQL>Opportunity and MQL>Customer, provided you are using the standard HubSpot lifecycle stages. These would be 2 separate reports, most likely.
As far as the timeframe, that is a tough question. As you stated, a report that only looks at a Quarter or Month which may be shorter than your average close rate would likely not tell the whole story, but this is also someone dependent on the numbers that we're looking at. If you have a high volume of MQLS, Deals, and New Customers, you should garner enough data to look at shorter timeframes. If you are lower volume deals, you will want to expand timeframes to get an accurate view on conversion rates.
To answer your last question...it will be accurate if you take into considerations the time frames and volumes. Also, everyone in the organization must be using the CRM for everything and they should be using it in the same fashion, or this will lead to inaccurate reports.
A funnel report would be the best way to do this. I would limit the report to look specifically at MQL>Opportunity and MQL>Customer, provided you are using the standard HubSpot lifecycle stages. These would be 2 separate reports, most likely.
As far as the timeframe, that is a tough question. As you stated, a report that only looks at a Quarter or Month which may be shorter than your average close rate would likely not tell the whole story, but this is also someone dependent on the numbers that we're looking at. If you have a high volume of MQLS, Deals, and New Customers, you should garner enough data to look at shorter timeframes. If you are lower volume deals, you will want to expand timeframes to get an accurate view on conversion rates.
To answer your last question...it will be accurate if you take into considerations the time frames and volumes. Also, everyone in the organization must be using the CRM for everything and they should be using it in the same fashion, or this will lead to inaccurate reports.