---
title: "What Is a Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL)? Definition | ONEGTMLAB"
description: "A marketing qualified lead (MQL) is a lead that meets marketing's fit and engagement criteria and is ready for sales. Learn how MQLs differ from SQLs."
canonical: https://www.onegtmlab.dev/glossary/marketing-qualified-lead
---

# What Is a Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL)? Definition | ONEGTMLAB

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GTM Glossary

# Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL)

A marketing qualified lead (MQL) is a lead that marketing judges more likely to become a customer than other leads, based on fit and engagement, and ready to pass to sales.

Also called: MQL

## Why it matters

An MQL marks a handoff point in the funnel. Teams usually define it with a lead score that combines fit (job title, company size, industry) and behavior (pricing page visits, demo requests, repeated content views). Once a lead crosses the agreed threshold, it is routed to a sales development representative or an account executive for follow up.

An MQL is not the same as a sales qualified lead. The MQL label reflects marketing's view, while an SQL is a lead that sales has reviewed and accepted as a real opportunity. Because a single content download can push a lead over the line, many teams track the MQL to SQL conversion rate and tighten the definition when sales rejects too many.

## Example

A software company scores leads out of 100. A job title in the target persona adds 30 points, a company in the right size band adds 20, a pricing page visit adds 15 and attending a webinar adds 20. Any lead at 70 points or more becomes an MQL and goes to an SDR. A student who downloads three guides stays well below the threshold.

## Related terms

-   [Sales Qualified Lead (SQL)](/glossary/sales-qualified-lead)
-   [Lead Scoring](/glossary/lead-scoring)
-   [Lead Generation](/glossary/lead-generation)
-   [Demand Generation](/glossary/demand-generation)
-   [Sales Development Representative (SDR)](/glossary/sales-development-representative)

## Related service

[RevOps Clean CRM data, lead routing and reporting your team can trust.](/services/revops)

## Related playbook

-   [Intent Data Playbook Score fit and timing separately, act on stacked signals, and read every signal by meaning.](/growth-playbooks/intent-data)

## Questions people ask

### What comes first, MQL or SQL?

The MQL comes first. Marketing qualifies a lead on fit and engagement, then hands it to sales; it becomes a sales qualified lead once sales reviews it and accepts it as a real opportunity worth pursuing.

[← All GTM terms, A to Z](/glossary)

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