MQL
What is MQL?
An MQL is a marketing qualified lead — a prospect whose profile and engagement (content downloads, pricing-page visits, webinar attendance) signal enough buying intent for marketing to pass them toward sales.
Also known as: Marketing Qualified Lead
Common Mistakes with MQL
- Defining MQLs by activity alone (any ebook download) instead of fit plus intent — flooding sales with leads that never had a chance to close.
- Paying marketing on MQL volume while sales is paid on revenue: the classic misaligned-funnel incentive.
MQL vs Related Metrics
- MQL vs SQL — how the two differ and when each matters.
MQL FAQ
What is an MQL?
A marketing qualified lead is a prospect who matches your target profile and has engaged deeply enough with marketing (content, webinars, pricing pages) to be worth sales attention. It is the handoff stage between marketing nurture and sales qualification. Typical MQL criteria combine ICP fit with intent signals such as pricing-page visits or demo-content engagement.
What is the difference between an MQL and an SQL?
An MQL has shown interest; an SQL has been vetted by sales as having real budget, authority, need, and timeline. Most funnels convert only a fraction of MQLs into SQLs — that conversion rate is a key funnel health metric.
More questions? See the full MQL FAQ.