pursue a lead

Meaning

To 'pursue a lead' means to follow up on a potential business opportunity, sales prospect, or piece of information that could result in a successful outcome. It is widely used in sales, marketing, and recruitment.

Examples

• Our sales team spends several hours each day trying to pursue a lead.

  Our sales team spends several hours each day trying to pursue a lead.

• I need to pursue a lead regarding a potential partnership with a local distributor.

  I need to pursue a lead regarding a potential partnership with a local distributor.

• Instead of cold calling, we should focus on how to pursue a lead from our website.

  Instead of cold calling, we should focus on how to pursue a lead from our website.

• She decided to pursue a lead she got from a networking event last Thursday.

  She decided to pursue a lead she got from a networking event last Thursday.

• The investigator is currently trying to pursue a lead on the source of the data leak.

  The investigator is currently trying to pursue a lead on the source of the data leak.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The salesman is trying to follow a lead aggressively.

  ✓ The salesman is trying to pursue a lead aggressively.

  While 'follow a lead' is acceptable, 'pursue a lead' is much more active and professional, implying a targeted effort to convert the prospect.

• ✗ We must run after the leads we received yesterday.

  ✓ We must pursue the leads we received yesterday.

  'Run after' is too literal and informal. 'Pursue' is the correct professional term.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Our marketing campaign was successful, and now we must ___.

  💡 Follow up on a potential sales contact.

  Show answer

  pursue a lead

• It takes time to properly ___ and convert them into paying clients.

  💡 Track down and cultivate a potential business opportunity.

  Show answer

  pursue a lead