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5 Ways to Measure ABM Campaign Effectiveness

  • Writer: Samuel Hall
    Samuel Hall
  • 5 days ago
  • 8 min read

Updated: 7 hours ago

  1. Account Engagement: Track how target accounts interact with your website, emails, social media, and content. Metrics include page views, email open rates, and social media engagement. Tools like HubSpot and LinkedIn Analytics can help.
  2. Pipeline Progress: Analyse how ABM impacts your sales pipeline. Key metrics include average deal size, win rate, and pipeline velocity. Use CRM tools to track account-specific metrics like engaged contacts and deal activity.
  3. Buyer Journey Tracking: Monitor how target accounts move through the sales funnel. Metrics like account velocity, stage conversion rates, and engagement scores help identify bottlenecks and optimise the journey.
  4. Customer Success: Focus on retention and growth by measuring customer retention rate (CRR), churn rate, and net revenue retention (NRR). Track account health using factors like product usage and customer satisfaction scores.
  5. Revenue Impact: Evaluate the bottom-line results of your ABM campaigns. Calculate metrics like target account revenue, ABM ROI, and customer acquisition cost to understand financial performance.

Quick Comparison

Measurement Area

Key Metrics

Tools/Methods

Account Engagement

Page views, email open rates, social shares

HubSpot, LinkedIn Analytics

Pipeline Progress

Deal size, win rate, pipeline velocity

CRM tools, automated workflows

Buyer Journey

Account velocity, conversion rates

Funnel stage analysis, engagement scores

Customer Success

Retention rate, churn rate, NRR

Customer health scores, NPS surveys

Revenue Impact

ABM ROI, acquisition cost, revenue

Revenue tracking, ROI calculations


Account Based Marketing Metrics That Matter


1. Account Engagement: Key Interaction Metrics

Understand how entire accounts interact across various channels.


Basic Engagement Measurements

Website activity offers a clear view of an account's interest level. Keep an eye on metrics like:

  • Page views per account
  • Average session length
  • Content downloads
  • Form submissions
  • Frequency of return visits

Email engagement reflects how well your content resonates with decision-makers. Metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and response rates are essential. In fact, 86% of marketers consider these metrics crucial when shifting to ABM strategies.

Social media activity can also provide valuable insights. Track:

  • Interactions on your LinkedIn company page
  • Shares of your content by account contacts
  • Comments and reactions
  • Responses to direct messages

Measurement Tools Overview

Using marketing automation platforms can simplify tracking account engagement. For example, HubSpot offers tools that allow you to measure interactions with precision. Fes Askari, Director of Sales and Strategic Accounts at strategicabm, highlights the importance of a unified approach:

"Just having that single customer view means that Marketing and Sales can work together to create a compelling account experience".

Here’s a quick guide to key engagement metrics and tools:

Engagement Type

Key Metrics

Recommended Tools

Website Activity

Page views, Time on site, Downloads

HubSpot Analytics, Leadfeeder

Email Engagement

Open rate, Click-through rate, Response rate

HubSpot Email Tools

Social Media

Interactions, Shares, Comments

LinkedIn Analytics, HubSpot Social

Content Consumption

Downloads, Video views, Webinar attendance

HubSpot Marketing Hub

Marketing automation has been shown to increase overall productivity by 20% and improve sales productivity by 14.5%. To make the most of these tools, ensure your tracking aligns with your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and target account list.

"Think of this as your top-most funnel stage, the de facto stand-in for MQLs. Except that here, all of the traffic is pre-qualified (because you did a great job of picking the right accounts in the first place)." - Terminus

When tracking engagement, focus on quality over quantity. A spike in engagement from a target account often signals genuine interest and should prompt immediate follow-up. Use automated alerts in your platform to notify your sales team for timely action. These engagement signals are a strong foundation for evaluating pipeline progress.


2. Pipeline Progress: Sales Impact Analysis


Pipeline Performance Metrics

To understand how ABM impacts sales, focus on pipeline metrics. These help you measure the total pipeline value for target accounts, along with individual deal sizes. Key metrics to track include:

  • Average deal size for ABM accounts
  • Pipeline velocity (time from first interaction to closing)
  • Win rate percentage for target accounts
  • Number of new opportunities generated

Additionally, evaluate account penetration by looking at:

  • Number of engaged contacts per account
  • Engagement levels of decision-makers
  • Multi-threaded relationships development
  • Coverage of the buying committee

CRM Tracking Methods

To measure your pipeline effectively, you need a properly configured CRM. Here’s how to get started:

Custom Properties SetupCreate specific fields in your CRM to track ABM-related metrics. For example:

Property

Purpose

Example

Contact Level

Attribution tracking

SDR Owner

Deal Level

Activity measurement

Touch Count at Creation

Account Level

Engagement scoring

Account Health Score

Automate Workflows for AccuracyAutomation ensures your data stays reliable. Key steps include:

  1. Track AttributionUse deal-based workflows to automatically link SDR contact ownership to deal ownership. This ensures credit is assigned correctly for pipeline influence.
  2. Measure Activity ImpactAdd custom deal properties to calculate total activities logged when opportunities are created. This helps gauge how effective your outreach has been.
  3. Monitor Account ProgressSet up automated alerts to notify you when target accounts hit specific engagement levels or move to a new pipeline stage.

Key Metrics to ReportMake sure to track and report on these essential metrics:

  • Opportunities created by SDRs
  • Target accounts engaged through campaigns
  • Conversion rates from activity to meetings
  • Pipeline velocity, broken down by account tier

These insights offer a clear view of how individual accounts are progressing through the buyer journey.


3. Buyer Journey: Account Movement Tracking

Tracking how accounts move through the buyer journey not only shows how well your strategy is working but also highlights areas for improvement in your ABM approach.


Movement Speed Metrics

Understanding how quickly accounts move through the funnel is key to improving performance. Here are some important metrics to measure movement speed:

Account Velocity ScoreThis score tracks the average time accounts spend at each stage of the funnel. Use the following table to set a baseline:

Stage

Metric

Measurement

Awareness

Time to First Engagement

Days from targeting to first interaction

Consideration

Depth of Engagement

Number of meaningful touches per month

Decision

Sales Cycle Length

Days from opportunity creation to deal close

Pipeline Progress IndicatorsThese metrics help assess the overall health of account movement:

  • Engagement Score: Tracks how actively accounts interact across various channels.
  • Stage Conversion Rate: The percentage of accounts moving from one stage to the next.
  • Deal Velocity: The average time accounts spend in each pipeline stage.
  • Multi-thread Engagement: The number of active contacts within each account.

Once you've established these metrics, you can focus on making targeted adjustments to speed up account movement.

"By focusing on , you can get a true comparative measure of how programs impact revenue, without fights over which attribution model is best and how much partial credit each email or web touch should get." – Terminus

From here, it's time to explore strategies to accelerate this movement.


Movement Improvement Steps

To help accounts move faster, consider these approaches:

Stage-Specific Content MappingTailor your content to match each stage of the buyer journey:

Journey Stage

Content Type

Engagement Goal

Early Stage

Industry Reports, Thought Leadership

Build Awareness

Mid Stage

Case Studies, ROI Calculators

Drive Consideration

Late Stage

Implementation Guides, Custom Proposals

Support Decision-Making

Movement Acceleration Tactics

  • Engagement Scoring: Create a weighted scoring system for high-value interactions commonly seen in successful deals.
  • Multi-Channel Orchestration: Use coordinated campaigns across multiple channels to maintain momentum. Monitor which combinations work best for faster progress.
  • Account Health Monitoring: Set up automated alerts for accounts that stall longer than expected, allowing for timely interventions.

4. Customer Success: Retention and Growth

Once you've assessed account engagement and pipeline progress, it's time to focus on retaining customers and driving growth over the long term.


Customer Loyalty Metrics

Keeping track of customer loyalty is crucial for sustained success in ABM.

To calculate your Customer Retention Rate (CRR), use this formula:CRR = ((E – N) / S) × 100Where:

  • E = Customers at the end of the period
  • N = New customers acquired during the period
  • S = Customers at the start of the period

Key metrics to monitor include:

Metric

Description

Customer Retention Rate (CRR)

Percentage of customers retained over a specific timeframe

Churn Rate

Percentage of customers lost during the same period

Net Revenue Retention (NRR)

Revenue from existing customers, factoring in expansions

Customer Effort Score (CES)

How easy it is for customers to do business with you

"As a revenue growth metric, NRR can also help you determine where you've gained and lost value with customers across your customer expansion initiatives, especially in periods where there may be economic uncertainty or booms." – Madison Logic

To create a customer health score, track factors like product usage, resolution times for support tickets, Net Promoter Score (NPS) responses, engagement with educational content, and participation in business reviews. These insights help you understand how existing customers contribute to revenue growth.


Account Growth Tracking

Expanding existing accounts is a key way to maximise the potential of ABM while strengthening retention strategies. With 65% of an average company's revenue coming from existing customers, focusing on growth within your current base is a smart move.

Channel Performance Metrics:

Channel

Key Metrics

Content Syndication

Cost-per-lead, downloads

Display Advertising

Reach, click-through rate

Email Campaigns

Open rates, response rates

Social Engagement

Shares, comments

Value Expansion Indicators:

  • Changes in Annual Contract Value (ACV)
  • Adoption rates for products or services
  • Cross-sell conversion rates
  • Account penetration (e.g., number of active users)
  • Expansion revenue as a percentage of total revenue
"These numbers are about understanding the sustainability of your growth strategy - focusing solely on gross sales without these insights is like celebrating a packed restaurant without knowing if you're actually making a profit." – Jonas Torrang, Co-founder, Is Brave

Since acquiring a new customer costs four times more than upselling to an existing one, it’s crucial to identify and track expansion opportunities within your current customer base.


5. Revenue Results: Bottom-Line Impact


Key Revenue Metrics

To assess the financial impact of your ABM campaign, keep an eye on these key revenue metrics:

Metric

Description

How to Calculate

Target Account Revenue

Revenue earned from accounts targeted through ABM

Add up all closed deals from targeted accounts

ABM ROI Ratio

Returns generated compared to ABM investment

Revenue ÷ Total ABM spend

Average Deal Size

Average value of closed deals

Total revenue ÷ Number of deals

Customer Acquisition Cost

Cost to bring in each account

Total ABM costs ÷ Number of new accounts

Here’s how to calculate ABM ROI step by step:

1. Determine Total ABM Investment

Include all associated costs, such as:

  • Marketing campaign expenses
  • Sales team efforts
  • Tools and technology
  • Content production
  • Account engagement activities

2. Track Revenue Generated

This includes:

  • Revenue from closed deals
  • Additional revenue from upselling or expanding existing accounts

3. Calculate ROI Ratio

Divide the total revenue generated by your total ABM investment.

These metrics give a clear picture of how ABM efforts contribute to your revenue. They also highlight the financial benefits of focusing on targeted accounts.


ABM vs Standard Results

When you compare ABM with traditional marketing, the differences in efficiency and focus become clear. ABM prioritises quality over quantity, which often leads to better outcomes.

Metric

ABM Approach

Traditional Marketing

Deal Quality

Targets high-value accounts

Mix of high- and low-value leads

Sales Cycle

Shorter due to better alignment

Can vary widely

Resource Allocation

Focused on specific accounts

Spread across a broad audience

Customer Acquisition Cost

Lower for targeted accounts

Typically higher overall

ABM campaigns often deliver higher conversion rates, larger deals, better customer lifetime value, and more efficient use of resources compared to traditional methods.


Conclusion: ABM Measurement Checklist

Evaluate your ABM performance using these five methods and key metrics:

Measurement Method

Key Metrics

Tools & Actions

Account Engagement

Website visits, event attendance, ad conversion rates

Analyse engagement trends and interaction data

Pipeline Progress

Opportunity creation rate, meeting booking rate

Track sales efficiency indicators

Buyer Journey

Account progression rate, sales cycle speed

Assess movement through pipeline stages

Customer Success

Customer lifetime value, account churn rate

Monitor retention and account growth

Revenue Impact

Annual contract value (ACV), ROI ratio

Measure influenced pipeline and revenue outcomes

Follow this checklist to guide your process:

  1. Set Baseline MetricsWork with finance, sales, and operations teams to define metrics aligned with your business goals.
  2. Measure Revenue ImpactKeep an eye on opportunity creation and closed revenue. A whopping 86% of marketers see measurement as crucial for ABM success.
  3. Monitor ProgressRegularly review account engagement scores, penetration rates, and progression rates to fine-tune your strategy.

To get the most out of these steps, focus on these additional tips:

  • Prioritise metrics that directly connect to business results.
  • Use engagement data to improve personalisation efforts.
  • Keep an eye on sales cycle speed to close deals faster.

These insights can help sharpen your targeting, personalise interactions, and deliver more value to stakeholders.


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