What is the difference between a lead and a customer?

What is the difference between a lead and a customer?

• A. A lead is a finished sale; a customer is a possible prospect.
• B. A lead is a potential customer; a customer has completed a purchase or conversion.
• C. A lead is a paid ad click; a customer is a site visitor.
• D. A lead is someone who unsubscribed; a customer is someone who opened an email.

Answer: (B)

The important idea is understanding where someone sits in the buyer journey. A lead is a potential customer who has shown interest or shared contact information and can be nurtured toward a purchase. A customer has completed a purchase or a defined conversion, meaning the transaction has taken place and revenue has been generated. So the difference is about status: leads are in the exploration/qualification phase, while customers have already converted. Actions like a paid ad click or a site visitor aren’t automatically leads unless you’ve captured their details to begin nurturing, and an opened email is a sign of engagement, not a purchase.

The important idea is understanding where someone sits in the buyer journey. A lead is a potential customer who has shown interest or shared contact information and can be nurtured toward a purchase. A customer has completed a purchase or a defined conversion, meaning the transaction has taken place and revenue has been generated. So the difference is about status: leads are in the exploration/qualification phase, while customers have already converted. Actions like a paid ad click or a site visitor aren’t automatically leads unless you’ve captured their details to begin nurturing, and an opened email is a sign of engagement, not a purchase.