Every business wants more and more customers. But did you know that 70 out of 100 visitors leave websites without buying? That’s huge but there’s a way to help them stay and buy. It’s called a sales funnel.
A sales funnel is like a path. It directs your customers from viewing your business to making a purchase. You don’t need big budget tools or fancy words. All you need is a clear understanding of what it is.
Here we will discuss how to build a sales funnel from scratch, even if you’re new to marketing. We’ll break down each stage with simple examples, actionable tips, and stats to help you avoid common mistakes. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to attract leads, nurture them, and boost sales.
Let’s begin:
What is a Sales Funnel?
For your customers, a sales funnel functions similarly to a road map. Imagine you are pouring from a kitchen funnel. You pour in a lot of grains (website visitors), but only some make it through the narrow end (buyers). Your job is to guide as many people as possible from the top (“I just found this brand!”) to the bottom (“Take my money!”).
Why does this matter? Companies with optimised funnels see 3x more conversions than those without. A funnel also helps you spot leaks. For example, if 1,000 people visit your site but only 10 buy, you can track where they’re dropping off and fix it.
The 4 Stages of a Sales Funnel
1. Awareness: Who Are You?
At this stage, potential customers don’t know your brand exists. You want them to pay attention.
Use platforms your audience already loves. For instance, 47% of buyers watch 3+ videos before purchasing. Create short, helpful content like Instagram Reels showing quick fixes for common problems (e.g., “How to unclog a sink in 30 seconds”). Blog posts like “5 Signs You Need a New Laptop” also work well.
Focus on their pain points, not your product. People scroll fast. Get them hooked by solving an issue in less than ten seconds.
2. Interest: “Tell Me More!”
Now, casual viewers are curious. They might visit your website or follow your social account. Your job is to turn them into leads by collecting contact info.
It is a good idea to offer a freebie in exchange for their email. For example:
– A budgeting template for finance brands
– A “10-Day Skin Care Challenge” PDF for beauty businesses
3. Decision: “Why Should I Buy from You?”
Here, leads compare you to competitors. They need a final push to choose your brand.
Add trust-building elements:
– Testimonials: 88% of buyers trust reviews as much as friends.
– Guarantees: “30-day money-back guarantee” reduces risk.
– Scarcity: “20% off for the next 24 hours” works better than endless discounts.
Example: A SaaS tool could offer a free demo with a bonus “setup guide” for signing up.
4. Action: “Let’s Do This!”
The final stage is about making the purchase effortless.
Fix your cart abandonment by:
– Offering guest checkout (no forced account creation)
– Adding multiple payment options (Apple Pay, PayPal)
– Sending a discount code follow-up email if they leave the cart
Use phrases like “Get Started in 30 Seconds” instead of “Buy Now” to reduce pressure.
Six Steps to Build Your High-Performing Sales Funnel
Step 1: Know Your Audience
Start by researching your ideal customer. What keeps them up at night? There are many free tools like Google Forms or Instagram polls to ask questions.
For example, meal-prep service discovers their audience (busy parents) cares more about “15-minute recipes” than “organic ingredients.” They adjust their messaging to highlight speed. Try that for your product.
Step 2: Create Buzz-Worthy Content
Attract strangers with content tailored to their interests.
– B2B? Write LinkedIn posts like “5 Mistakes That Kill Small Businesses.”
– B2C? Post TikTok videos like “How to Style Curly Hair in 1 Minute.”
Articles with “how to” in the title almost doubles your click rate.
Step 3: Create a Converting Landing Page
A landing page is where leads go after clicking your ad or social post. Keep it simple:
– Headline: “Get Glowing Skin in 7 Days (Free Guide Inside)”
– Subheadline: “Join 10,000+ women who transformed their skincare routine.”
– CTA Button: “Download My Free Guide”
Use Carrd (for cheap plans) or Leadpages (drag-and-drop builder) to create pages fast.
Step 4: Nurture Leads with Email
Personalised emails boost sales by 20%. Send a series of emails to build trust.
– Email 1: Share a free tip (e.g., “5 Budget Hacks for New Parents”).
– Email 3: Offer a limited-time discount.
– Email 5: Show customer success stories.
Step 5: Close the Sale Smoothly
Address last-minute doubts.
– Offer live chat support during checkout.
– Add a FAQ section: “How long does shipping take?”
– Use urgency: “Only 3 left in stock!”
Step 6: Turn Buyers into Repeat Customers
Follow up after the sale. Ask for feedback or offer a loyalty program.
Example: “Refer a friend and receive a $15 discount on your next order!”
Remember to follow this sequence:
1. Awareness
2. Interest
3. Decision
4. Action
Tools to Build Your Sales Funnel Faster
Here are some tools to build your funnel faster
- Landing Pages: Carrd ($19/year) or Unbounce (for A/B testing).
- Email Marketing: MailerLite (free up to 1,000 subscribers).
- Analytics: Google Analytics (free) to track where visitors drop off.
Final Tip
Your first funnel won’t be perfect and that’s okay. Check metrics weekly:
- Which emails have the highest open rates?
- Do videos perform better than blog posts?
- Are people abandoning the cart on the payment page?
Run A/B tests on headlines, images, and CTAs. For example, test “Get Started Free” vs. “Try Risk-Free for 7 Days” to see which converts better.
Conclusion
Building a sales funnel takes time, but even small improvements can boost sales. Begin with one step (like creating a simple landing page or posting a helpful video) and grow from there. A funnel isn’t a “set it and forget it” tool. Track what works, fix what doesn’t, and repeat.
For example, if your emails aren’t getting opened, test new subject lines. If visitors leave your site quickly, simplify your homepage. Over time, these tweaks add up.
Your customers’ needs will change. Keep your funnel flexible. Update content, refresh offers and stay curious. With patience and persistence, you’ll turn more strangers into loyal fans, and you’ll never need a “magic” template.
