An SQL is a lead that sales has reviewed and confirmed as a real deal opportunity. The stage after MQL: qualified by sales, not marketing.
Back to the knowledge baseAn SQL (Sales Qualified Lead) is a lead the sales team has personally reviewed and confirmed as "yes, this is a real opportunity." If marketing qualifies the MQL, sales qualifies the SQL. It's the funnel stage closest to the sale.
The MQL → SQL transition is a key control point: if many MQLs come in but few become SQLs, marketing's and sales' lead criteria don't match. That's exactly where a feedback loop is needed.
An MQL meets marketing's criteria and is worth passing to sales. An SQL is one sales has reviewed and confirmed as a real deal opportunity. An SQL always comes after an MQL.
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