What is an MQL (Marketing Qualified Lead)?
MQL stands for Marketing Qualified Lead. A marketing qualified lead is a lead (a potential customer) who is assessed to be receptive to and "ready" to be marketed to.
As such, a marketing qualified lead is considered to be closer to becoming a customer than, for example, entirely "cold" leads.
When and how does one become an MQL (Marketing Qualified Lead)?
When and how a lead transitions to a marketing qualified lead depends on the individual company and the customer journey. Typically, a lead qualifies as marketing qualified when they visit X number of pages on the website, download Y materials, open X emails, or similar actions — things that indicate the lead is ready to be marketed to and is no longer a completely "cold" lead.
Based on the criteria and lead scoring you choose to use, and which are relevant to your business, it is assessed when and how someone becomes an MQL.
MQL VS SQL
The next step from being an MQL is to become an SQL (Sales Qualified Lead), which means the lead is showing signals indicating they are ready to buy and should, for example, be handed over to the sales department. Read more about SQL here.
