How fast should you follow up with leads?
Response speed is one of the biggest conversion drivers. These ranges are directional and based on common response-time multipliers.
Anonymized aggregate
Live benchmarks
The live aggregate is not running — these are directional figures, not measured.
What this means
Benchmarks are directional ranges, plus anonymized aggregates from past diagnostic runs when sample sizes are sufficient — suppressed below that threshold rather than shown thin. They are meant to set expectations, not declare pass or fail.
Use this follow-up speed benchmark to compare your trailing 90 days, then quantify the impact of any gap before you change process or policy.
- Compare your trailing 90-day average to the typical range.
- If you are above the range, translate the gap into monthly revenue impact.
- Open Reckon to pinpoint the step that is driving the gap.
If this is high for your business, tighten response ownership and set a first-touch SLA you can hit.
Try the tools
Estimate how response time affects conversion before you change process or staffing.
Response time vs conversion drag
Use this as a directional reference. Actual impact depends on lead quality, channel, and expectations.
| Response time | Expected drag |
|---|---|
| 5–15 minutes | Baseline (0% drag) |
| 1 hour | Directional 15% conversion drag |
| 4 hours | Directional 30% conversion drag |
| 1 day | Directional 50% conversion drag |
| 2+ days | Directional 65% conversion drag |
How to use this benchmark
Compare your median first-response time to the buckets above. If you are consistently in the 4-hour or 1-day range, quantify the revenue impact before changing process or staffing.
Try a calculator
Use the calculator to translate response speed into dollars.
Need the root cause? Reckon can explain why this is happening.
Want a diagnosis, not just a benchmark?
Reckon names what is holding the money back, from four questions on your own numbers.
Open Reckon →Related benchmarks
FAQ
Is response speed more important than message quality?
Both matter, but speed is the first filter. A fast, clear reply wins attention before details matter.
Do existing customers need the same response speed?
Not always. New leads are far more sensitive to response delay.
What is a realistic response window for small teams?
Many teams aim for same-hour responses during business hours and same-day replies after hours.
How should I measure follow-up speed?
Track the time from the first inquiry to the first human response, not just automated replies.