Sales Qualified Lead (SQL)
An SQL is a lead that has been vetted by both marketing and sales as ready for a direct sales conversation and likely to buy.
A sales qualified lead has cleared a higher bar than an MQL: clear buying intent, budget, authority, and timing. The handoff from marketing to sales happens here. Sales accepts the lead, confirms fit through discovery, and works it as an active opportunity. A tight SQL definition keeps reps focused on deals that close instead of chasing curiosity clicks.
The MQL-to-SQL conversion rate is one of the most revealing metrics in growth. A low rate usually means marketing is sending volume over fit, or that scoring needs tuning. Pairing clean SQL routing with an AI-native CRM like Autocloz — which runs outbound across email, LinkedIn, SMS, calls, and WhatsApp — means qualified leads get worked the moment they are ready.