見込み客

• 読み: みこみきゃく
• ローマ字: mikomikkyaku
• 漢字の分解: 見 (ken/mi) — see, anticipate; 込 (ko) — include, expect; 客 (kyaku) — customer, guest
• 発音: /mi.ko.mi.kʲa.kɯ/

意味

Prospective customer; potential client; sales lead. Someone identified as a likely buyer who has not yet made a purchase.

A key term in sales and marketing, referring to an individual or organisation that meets the criteria for a likely customer — showing interest, need, and purchasing capacity. Developing 見込み客 (見込み客を開拓する/育てる) is a core activity in B2B and B2C sales. Equivalent to 'lead' or 'prospect' in sales pipeline terminology. Distinct from 既存客 (existing customer) and 潜在客 (latent customer who is not yet aware of the product).

例文

1. 展示会での名刺交換が新たな見込み客の獲得につながった。
2. 見込み客へのフォローアップを怠ると商談が進まない。
3. 質の高い見込み客を育てるにはコンテンツマーケティングが効果的だ。

使い方ガイド

場面: sales, marketing, B2B, business development

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

Compound of 見込み (expectation, prospect; from 見込む 'to anticipate, to regard as likely') and 客 (customer, guest). Literally 'an anticipated customer' — a person one expects to become a buyer.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: Sales professionals

社会的背景: Corporate/Sales