diff --git a/src/handbook/sales/v2/index.md b/src/handbook/sales/v2/index.md index 0274f6c33e..0de25f08df 100644 --- a/src/handbook/sales/v2/index.md +++ b/src/handbook/sales/v2/index.md @@ -1,3 +1,8 @@ # Sales Handbook (v2) > Under construction. This is the new Sales structure being built in parallel with the existing Sales Handbook. + +## Processes + +- [MQL Handling](./mql-handling.md) — Step-by-step guide for handling inbound MQLs, from research to same-day follow-up +- [Edge Connectivity Sales Process](./edge-connect-process.md) diff --git a/src/handbook/sales/v2/mql-handling.md b/src/handbook/sales/v2/mql-handling.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..0fe65df204 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/handbook/sales/v2/mql-handling.md @@ -0,0 +1,122 @@ +--- +navTitle: MQL Handling +--- + +# MQL Handling Process + +A Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL) represents a contact that marketing has evaluated and determined ready for direct sales engagement. +Before acting, understand why: the [lifecycle stages table](/handbook/sales/hubspot/#lifecycle-stage) +defines the exact criteria that elevate a contact to MQL status — this is not a cold lead. +Marketing has already done the work to confirm fit signals. + +The goal of the process is to convert MQLs into first meetings with prospective buyers +and further into qualified pipeline. + +Speed is of the essence. Same-day follow-up is **required**. Research and +outreach should happen on the day the MQL lands. Every hour of delay reduces conversion probability. + +## Step by Step Plan + +### Step 1: Review the MQL in HubSpot + +Open the contact record in HubSpot as soon as you are notified of a new MQL. + +- Check the `Lead Status` field — it should be set **Open**. +- Review the activity timeline: what triggered the MQL? (form submission, trial sign-up, contact request, webinar registration, etc.) +- Review the original source of the MQL if available (AI Referrals, Organic Search, Direct Traffic, Referrals, Paid Search, Offline Sources, Paid Social, Organic Social, Email Marketing, etc.) +- Check and update the [activation category](/handbook/marketing/lead-activation/) applies: inbound, intent outbound, warm outbound, or cold outbound. This shapes your messaging angle. +- Check if there is an existing deal or prior contact history. + - If so, understand investigate if this is a stakeholder in a current deal or expension opportunity. + +### Step 2: Research the Contact + +Spend approximately 5 minutes researching the person before reaching out. +Do not skip this step — personalization depends on it. + +Find and update Hubspot with: +- Their LinkedIn profile + - Investigate their current role, tenure, background, recent activity or posts +- What they likely care about given their title (operations, IT/OT, engineering, management) +- Any shared context: mutual connections, events, content they engaged with +- Request Clay to update the fields in Hubspot if needed. + +Research the account the contact is employed at. Update the Account fields where needed. +- Company size, industry, and geography +- Technology stack or known operational setup (relevant to Node-RED / OT/IT use cases) +- Recent news, funding, growth signals, or hiring patterns +- Whether they are likely an ICP match (manufacturing, industrial automation, OT/IT convergence) + +### Step 3: Assess Fit Before Reaching Out + +Before writing the email, make a quick fit assessment: + +- Does the company match the [Ideal Customer Profile](/handbook/marketing/messaging/#ideal-customer-profile-(icp)) +- Update the ICP field in the Contact with "Yes" or "No" based on your fit assessment. **Don't leave that field empty.** +- Is the contact title aligned to a buying role or influencer role? +- Is this an **education** contact? (university, school, academic institution) + +If the contact is clearly from an **education institution**, move directly to Step 4b. + +## Step 4a: Send a Personalized Follow-Up Email (Commercial MQLs) + +Send the first email **the same day** the MQL lands. Use a HubSpot sequence to +automate delivery timing and follow-up steps, while keeping the content personal. + +What each email must include: +1. A personal opener — reference something specific: their role, the company, what they signed up for, or a relevant industry challenge. Do not use a generic opener. +2. A short, relevant question about their problem or use case — ask about what they are trying to solve, not about FlowFuse. Examples: + - "Are you looking to connect OT data across multiple sites, or is this more of a single-plant initiative?" + - "What does your current setup look like for managing Node-RED deployments?" + - "Is this for a production environment or still exploratory at this point?" +3. A meeting booking link — include your HubSpot meetings link to make it easy for them to book time directly. + +Use the approved HubSpot email templates as a starting point, then personalize based on your research. +Templates handle structure; your job is to make it feel like a 1:1 message. + +Log the email in HubSpot and update `Lead Status` to **In Progress**. + +## Step 4b: Send a Standard Template (Education MQLs) + +For contacts from educational institutions (universities, colleges, schools), a +standard follow-up template is sufficient. Personalization effort beyond the +basics is not required. + +- Use the designated education follow-up template in HubSpot. +- Include a brief acknowledgement of their context (student, researcher, educator). +- Include a meeting booking link. +- Log in HubSpot and update `Lead Status` to **Unqualified**. + +## Step 5: Schedule a Follow-Up Call Task + +Immediately after sending the email, create a HubSpot task on the contact record: + +- **Type:** Call +- **Due date:** 1 business day after the email was sent +- **Title:** "Follow-up call — [Contact Name]" +- **Notes:** Include the email angle used and any open questions to explore on the call. + +This ensures no MQL falls through the cracks. The call is the second touch. +The goal is to have a live conversation, confirm interest, and begin qualifying toward SQL. + +## Step 6: Execute the Follow-Up Call + +On the scheduled day, call the MQL. If no answer, leave a brief voicemail and +log the attempt in HubSpot. + +On the call, aim to: +- Reference the email you sent +- Ask the open questions prepared during research +- Begin the qualifying conversation (see [MQL to SQL qualifying questions](/handbook/sales/hubspot/#from-mql-to-sql---qualifying-questions)) + +If the contact is ready to move forward, schedule a discovery meeting and update the lifecycle stage to **SQL**. + +## Summary Checklist + +| Step | Action | Timing | +|------|--------|--------| +| 1 | Review MQL in HubSpot, check trigger and history | Day 0 (same day) | +| 2 | Research contact and company (~5 min), update Clay/HubSpot fields | Day 0 | +| 3 | Assess ICP fit and contact type (commercial vs. education) | Day 0 | +| 4a/4b | Send personalized email (or standard education template) with meeting link | Day 0 | +| 5 | Create HubSpot call task due next business day | Day 0 | +| 6 | Execute follow-up call; qualify or log attempt | Day 1 |