How do I create an SLA when I don’t know conversion rates?

[JonPayne]

Not all of us have access to a complete data set to be able to calculate our conversion rates to set an SLA between marketing and sales. Join the discussion to get advice on how to create your SLA based on industry estimates.

*To learn more about this, check out the Holding Your Teams Accountable With an SLA lesson via HubSpot Academy. 

[MonicaJavvaji]

To create an SLA without knowing exact conversion rates, you can use industry standards as a benchmark and make informed estimates based on the data available in your CRM.

[USingh94]

One can use the industry standard rates and evaluate then against whatever data is present on the CRM.

[MBayrami]

To create an SLA without knowing exact conversion rates, you can use industry standards as a benchmark and make informed estimates based on the data available in your CRM. Start by researching average conversion rates for your industry or similar businesses to establish a baseline. Then, analyze any relevant data within your CRM, such as past performance metrics, customer behavior, or lead-to-customer ratios, to make educated guesses. Combine these insights to draft an initial SLA, ensuring it's flexible enough to be adjusted as more accurate data becomes available over time.

[NVIJ]

Using industry standards and make sone estimated guess based on the data available in your CRM.

[Heni1]

In that case the teams should start paying more attention on recording conversion rate. Until then, perhaps consider using industry standards, or using the metrics of the sales velocity as an initial guidance if theey are being tracked in CRM

[DriveThoseSales]

If you don't have access or know your conversion rates you could check on industry standards and use those, or make educated guesses based on those benchmarks, or go off what you know at your company. You can even just ask online or from peers in similar industries or companies and use that until you have more accurate data. 

[LCinelus]

Understand how to calculate your velocity that can help you improve your numbers, how many leads those assets are generating.

[CBlandini]

You do so by unerstanding the velocity of deals in your pipeline ontop of there win rate and sales cycle. 

[JessicaHead]

I am working to calculate historical sales data that has not been logged properly in my CRM, but it seems possible if I am able to identify sales velocity by number of opportunities x win rate x average deal value / sales cycle length. 

[alannarhodes]

I am managing my sales and marketing in my job search and personal branding outreach efforts, so I am glad you posed this question. 

I should create benchmarks and goals based on specific objectives, resources, and timelines.  I am currently setting goals and expectations for myself but am not measuring them against KPIs or particular goals or objectives. 

When I have a method and platform to perform them, the KPIs I will use will include lead generation, sales conversion rates, content creation and distribution, and social media engagement metrics.

I will likely need premium accounts to track this and take training courses to learn how to do it and how it works. Regarding KPIs relevant to my sales and marketing efforts, I am currently using a temperature check when speaking with someone based on their engagement and how long I can keep them on the phone or video using objectivity and active listening. 

[TSavvy]

As per my understanding, customer persona and consumer data are key assets when dealing with service level agreements to reach a desired conversion percentage based on leads created by the marketing department! For example, a website with tracking cookies may be able to track consumer behavior on the website itself to see the percentage of customers interested in particular product or service based on CTA clicks and pages visited! Eventually, one should be able to create a SLA based on consumer data without knowing the conversion rates! This way the marketing department will create appropriate number of leads that the sales department can use for conversion!

[alannarhodes]

Yes, I think so 

[CLobo1]

Without a clear conversion rate or ratios, starting with estimates can be difficult. Consider these stages: Website visitors to qualified leads, leads to sales opportunities, and Opportunities to wins. Each of these has a conversation percentage to calculate and also creates a marketing and sales accountability funnel, starting with a target number of website leads to how many were converted into closed revenues.

It’s fair to get estimates from industry standards, but these standards may not give you a good baseline as your company (sales people, campaigns, content, marketing systems, etc.) will certainly differ from industry standard.

Historical data on conversion rates per stage is ideal, but if this is unavailable, then industry standards can be a guide. But be cautious - if your company deviates from the industry standard, again those standard rates might not apply.

In such cases, waiting 4-6 months to gather actual conversion data is a wise approach. Once you have some data to work with then rollover those percentages or rations each month to take the averages and get your SLAs working after the 6-month period. This concept is similar to a zero-based budgeting in finance, as this allows marketing to build calculations from scratch and then refine them based on ongoing performance.

[alannarhodes]

Smart

[chaitany2x]

Industry estimates are a good place to start but, as you build you data set, use that to tweak estimates based on your product lines, customers, and then eventually conversion rates.

[LBarbozaRey]

The  best solution will implement industrial standerds for reference 

[Dip1]

To utilise industrial rates for reference is a good idea too

[DanielaZepeda]

I havent create one yet, im still learning but Iám really happy about that.

[Dyrrachium]

Important is to define clear objectives, establish lead qualification criteria, set response time expectations and agree on communication channnels

[Susan11]

Use industry benchmarks or standards as a reference point.