Definition
Two clocks: first signals and full deals
In this guide from Wellness Marketing Reports, a first signal is a positive reply, a booked call or a lifted email metric. A full deal is a signed wholesale account, contract or ongoing affiliate. First signals can arrive in weeks. Full healthcare deals take much longer.
Sagefrog cites a Healthcare Sales Association 2024 benchmark of 14.7 months on average from first contact to signature (Source: Sagefrog, B2B Healthcare Marketing in 2026: How to Win Longer Sales Cycles). Outcomes Rocket notes that in a 2024 study, about half of respondents reported purchasing cycles of 19 months or longer (Source: Outcomes Rocket, Top B2B Healthcare Marketing Agencies in 2026).