What is Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL)?
A Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL) is a lead who has shown strong engagement with a company’s marketing efforts, such as downloading content, attending webinars, or visiting key pages. This behavior signals interest but not yet readiness for direct sales outreach.
Table of Contents
Full Definition
MQLs are nurtured primarily through inbound marketing tactics and are identified based on their engagement with targeted content.
They are a signal for sales teams to prepare for possible outreach but often require further qualification.
Proper handoff between marketing and sales ensures MQLs are effectively converted to sales qualified leads.
Examples
Indicates strong buyer interest
Helps prioritize leads for sales follow-up
Aligns marketing and sales efforts
Benefits
Over-reliance on engagement metrics may misclassify leads
Poor handoff processes can cause lead leakage
Lack of clear criteria causes inconsistent MQL definitions
Common Mistakes
Define MQL criteria collaboratively and monitor conversion rates regularly.
Conclusion
Define MQL criteria collaboratively and monitor conversion rates regularly.