A Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL) is a lead that is ready, or qualified, to be handed off to the sales team for the next steps. Every Marketing Department should set its own criteria (in conjunction with the Sales Team) for an MQL, but it should include a positive interaction with the organization, such as engagement with a Lead Magnet, that signals the lead is warm enough to be considered a prospect and is ready to move to the next stage of the sales funnel.