The Heart of Growing Conversion Rates," 2008): Best in Class Average % higher Inquires to Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) nearly 10% 3.9% These follow a standard format: use performance to classify companies as best-in-class (top 20%), average (mid 50%) and laggard (bottom 30%) companies, and then look at differences the business processes and technology. Summary: So you want some hard numbers to prove the value of marketing automation? Here's a bunch. client asked yesterday if I had some benchmark information to justify the cost of her marketing automation project.