Predictive modeling is a process used in predictive analytics to create a statistical model of future behavior.  Predictive analytics is the area of data mining concerned with forecasting probabilities and trends.  A predictive model is made up of a number of predictors, variable factors that are likely to influence future behavior or results.  In marketing, for example, a customer's gender, age, and purchase history might predict the likelihood of a future sale.

To create a predictive model, data is collected for the relevant predictors, a statistical model is formulated, predictions are made, and the model is validated (or revised) as additional data becomes available.  The model may employ a simple linear equation or a complex neural network, mapped out by sophisticated software.