Marketing, sales and owners often use “bad lead” to mean different things.

Use medians, ranges and reason codes where they help. One unusually large order or one terrible day can distort an average and create a false sense of certainty.

Reachable

The contact method works and the person can be reached with reasonable follow-up.

For “Reachable,” do not mix unlike periods or populations. A lead from a new city, a returning customer and a cold prospect can behave differently even when they arrive through the same channel.

Relevant

The need matches a service or product the business actually sells.

For “Relevant,” a useful internal report ends with a decision: continue, change, stop, or collect one missing piece of evidence. A report that only creates more charts has not finished the job.

Serviceable

Location, quantity, timing or project constraints fit current operations.

For “Serviceable,” put a human review step at the point where an error could reach a customer, supplier or public page. Automation should reduce repetition, not remove accountability.

Commercially plausible

The buyer can accept the general price level or commercial model, even if negotiation remains.

For “Commercially plausible,” write inclusions, exclusions and timing beside the number. A price without scope creates a second negotiation later.

Actionable

There is a clear next step such as estimate, sample, appointment, quote or nurture date.

For “Actionable,” write inclusions, exclusions and timing beside the number. A price without scope creates a second negotiation later.

Make the categories operational

For this article, each category needs a definition and an example. If two people classify the same lead or event differently, refine the rule before comparing the totals.

How to keep the report honest

For this article, label internal samples as internal, note the date range and definitions, and keep claims proportional to the evidence. If a number comes from a public source, verify that the population and period actually match the decision you are making. For this topic, the first things I would put on that review are reachable, relevant.

Editorial note: Global Sirius does not fabricate interviews, customer quotes, test results or market statistics. Composite scenarios and test designs are labeled, and current platform rules, product specifications, prices and local requirements should be verified before use.
General editorial information only. Where legal, medical, safety, engineering, financial or compliance questions are involved, use the appropriate current professional or official guidance.