The term "lead" has different meanings depending on the context. Here are some of the most common definitions:
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Lead generation: In marketing, lead generation is the process of identifying and cultivating potential customer leads for a business. A lead is the contact information and, in some cases, demographic information of a customer who is interested in a product or service of a business.
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Lead (verb): To guide someone or something along a way, to lie, run, or open in a specified place or direction.
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Lead (noun): A margin or measure of advantage or superiority or position in advance, a channel of water especially through a field of ice, indication, clue, a principal role in a dramatic production, a soft, heavy, metallic element with atomic number 82 found mostly in combination and used especially in alloys, batteries, and shields against sound, vibration, or radiation.
In the context of marketing, a lead is a person who has shown an interest in a companys products or services. They have provided at least some basic information suggesting potential interest in buying from the company. For example, they may have shared their contact information, interacted with the companys website, or subscribed to their blog.
