A lead pipeline should be a predictable path to revenue. But in many B2B organizations, it's a leaky funnel draining budget without results. Here's how to tell if yours is broken—and what to do about it.
Red Flags
- Low Lead-to-MQL Conversion: Your top-of-funnel is busy, but nothing progresses.
- High Bounce Rates: Leads aren't engaging with your nurture content.
- Sales Ignores Leads: Reps don't trust marketing's lead quality.
- Low Meeting Rates: Leads don't respond to follow-up outreach.
- Poor Close Rates: Even good leads rarely convert into customers.
Fixes That Work
- Redefine your ICP and qualify leads accordingly.
- Run audits of your lead sources and double down on what works.
- Set up feedback loops between marketing and sales.
- Implement lead scoring and progressive profiling.
Conclusion If your pipeline isn't producing pipeline, it's time to stop the bleed. Clean up your data, align with sales, and focus on quality over quantity.