What does Qualified lead mean?

A qualified lead is a potential customer whom a company has assessed as having a higher likelihood of becoming an actual customer. Unlike a regular lead, they usually already meet certain conditions, for example they match the target audience, have shown specific interest, have a suitable budget or are actively addressing a need the company can meet. Qualification can be based on user behavior, submitted information, lead scoring or the judgment of the marketing or sales team. Qualified leads help companies focus time and sales capacity on contacts with higher potential and move them toward a purchase or cooperation more efficiently.