A "Qualified Lead" refers to a potential customer who has been identified as having a higher likelihood of making a purchase. This classification is based on specific criteria, such as their interest in a product or service, budget, and decision-making authority. Qualified leads are essential for sales teams as they focus their efforts on prospects that are more likely to convert into actual sales. There are two main types of qualified leads: Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) and Sales Qualified Leads (SQLs). MQLs have shown interest through actions like downloading content or signing up for newsletters, while SQLs are further along in the buying process and are ready for direct sales engagement.