A lead is a user who saw something about your brand, was interested in learning more or obtaining some content, and left you a personal contact information. Once a person voluntarily provides their information and you have them in your database, they become a lead.
How can you achieve this? Through social media, a web form, your website, a buy bulk sms service Google ad, a landing page, etc. Any means that allow you to obtain user information will help you generate leads.
Once you have a lead, begin your process of nurturing it with relevant information and moving it forward through your marketing funnel. Once the lead successfully passes your initial screening process and demonstrates potential for purchase, it becomes a Marketing Qualified Lead ( MQL ).
“Once you have a lead, begin your process of nurturing them with relevant information and moving them through your sales funnel.”
The main difference is the stage of the funnel in which each one is found.