Qualified Lead / Marketing Terms Qualified Lead A qualified lead is a potential customer who has been evaluated and meets certain criteria indicating they are more likely to become a paying customer. Qualification can be based on demographics, behaviours, expressed interest or fit with a company’s ideal customer profile. Qualified leads are typically passed from marketing to sales for further engagement and conversion. There are different types of qualified leads, including marketing qualified leads (MQLs), sales qualified leads (SQLs) and product qualified leads (PQLs). An MQL has shown interest by engaging with content, downloading resources or signing up for a newsletter. An SQL has been vetted by sales and shows clear intent to purchase. A PQL, often used in SaaS, is someone who has experienced value from using a product and meets predefined engagement criteria. Qualification processes often involve lead scoring, forms, behavioural triggers or CRM rules to ensure consistency and focus. Qualified leads are crucial to efficient sales and marketing operations. For B2B and SaaS companies, they help sales teams prioritise high-potential contacts and reduce wasted outreach. For nonprofits, a qualified lead might be a donor who recently attended an event, interacted with key content or started a donation process. Nurturing qualified leads with targeted messaging, helpful content and timely follow-ups increases the chances of conversion and long-term engagement. The process requires alignment between marketing and sales, clear definitions and regular performance reviews.