Leads vs. Contacts

An article on the difference between leads and contacts in salesforce.com

In Salesforce, leads and contacts are both important components of managing your customer relationships. However, there are some key differences between the two.

A lead is someone who has shown interest in your product or service but has not yet become a customer. Leads can come from various sources, such as web forms, trade shows, or marketing campaigns. They are typically at an early stage of the sales cycle and require further nurturing before they can be converted into a customer.

On the other hand, a contact is someone who is already a customer or has an existing relationship with your organization. Contacts can be individuals or companies and can have multiple associated accounts or opportunities.

In Salesforce, leads and contacts are stored in separate objects, with leads being the starting point for creating new business. Leads can be qualified, converted, or disqualified based on the outcome of the sales process. If a lead is qualified, it can be converted into an account, contact, and opportunity.

Contacts, on the other hand, are used to manage ongoing relationships with existing customers. They can be associated with multiple accounts and opportunities, and can be added to campaigns, tasks, and events.

In summary, leads are potential customers who require further nurturing, while contacts are existing customers with whom you have an ongoing relationship. Understanding the differences between leads and contacts is critical to effective sales and marketing management in Salesforce.

Ref. ChatGPT