SQL
SQL is the acronym for Sales Qualified Lead.
Sales Qualified Lead
A prospective customer that has been researched and vetted – first by an organization’s marketing department and then by its sales team – is deemed ready for the next stage in the sales process. An SQL has displayed intent to buy a company’s products or services, and this intent is usually determined through lead scoring.
In a typical sales process, leads are initially captured by marketing activities, such as content marketing, trade shows, advertising, or social media. These leads are then nurtured through various marketing strategies, including email campaigns, webinars, or direct outreach. Leads are typically classified as Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) during this nurturing phase.
The transition from an MQL to an SQL involves a series of qualifications. These qualifications may include factors such as the lead’s budget, authority, need, and timeline (BANT). Once a lead is assessed based on these criteria and deemed to have a significant likelihood of becoming a customer, the lead is elevated to SQL status and handed over to the sales team.
For the sales team, an SQL is important because it represents a potential customer who has shown interest in the product or service and is also more likely to convert into a sale, thus saving time and resources. Qualifying leads helps align sales efforts with the most promising opportunities, thereby increasing efficiency and effectiveness in the sales cycle.
- Abbreviation: SQL
- Source: Gartner
