Sales Qualified Lead (SQL)

A prospect that has been vetted by the sales team and deemed ready for direct sales engagement.

Definition

A Sales Qualified Lead (SQL) is a prospect that has moved beyond marketing qualification and been accepted by sales as worth pursuing. SQLs typically meet both fit criteria (right company, right role) and intent criteria (engaged, showing buying signals). The MQL-to-SQL handoff is a critical point in the sales funnel.

Why It Matters

SQL criteria create alignment between marketing and sales on lead quality. Without clear SQL definitions, marketing may pass unqualified leads, wasting sales time. Conversely, sales may reject good leads due to unclear standards. SQL metrics also measure marketing effectiveness.

Examples

MQL who requested a demo and matches ICP becomes SQL
Lead scoring threshold triggers automatic SQL status
Sales accepts lead after initial qualification call

How Bullseye Helps

Bullseye delivers SQL-ready leads by identifying visitors who match your ICP and show high intent through their behavior. Instead of marketing passing leads that sales rejects, you get visitors who are already researching your solution—pre-qualified by their actions.

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