In this article, we’ll look at how to set up a sales funnel. A sales funnel is the most important part of any internet marketing effort. You can do everything else right in your internet marketing efforts, and if you don’t create a great sales funnel that works, your whole business could fall apart.
We will discuss the entire buying cycle so you can see what happens to the customer as they go through your funnel, as well as some of the most common sales funnels and how you can use them on your website.
You might be wondering what exactly a sales funnel is. Sales funnels aren’t complicated, but they can be a bit confusing for anyone new to internet marketing.
A sales funnel is simply the process that someone goes through to purchase a product or service from you. The reason this is called a “funnel” is that everything in the process is meant for them to purchase at the end of it. Here is the process you need to follow:
1. Awareness
The first step in the process is the awareness phase. Remember that every sale you make is not just a value proposition, it is also a solution to a problem. The customer is looking for a solution and you have to be there to provide it. So, the first step in the process is for them to become aware of the solution. You don’t have to worry about the problem; they already have that part.
2. Interest
After you have made your audience aware of your solution, then you need to attract their interest. They want to know what you have to say and if you have the best solution to their problem. But you only have their interest temporarily. They have not yet invested in your solution until you can prove to them that you are the best person to solve their problem. They are just occasional visitors. Your job is to nurture and grow that interest.
3. Evaluation
Then they move on to the evaluation phase of the proposal. The review stage is where they compare your product to what they were looking for in the first place, as well as other products. They have to consider the brand, quality, and price of your solution compared to what they can find elsewhere. Now imagine that you have a way to convince them that they can’t get a lower price elsewhere. People are smart when it comes to advertising, so you’ll have to be creative.
4. Decision
The next thing that will happen is that your buyer will make a decision. They decide whether to buy your product or not. If you’ve done a good job and convinced them that your product will solve their problem, they’ll probably buy. Otherwise, they will go elsewhere. Making that decision depends on what you presented to them during the assessment or inquiry phase. If you’ve made a good pitch, they will make the purchase decision. But when it comes to a sales funnel, “no” to them doesn’t have to be final. For example, you might get a popup when they close the browser window where they get a discount.
5. Purchase
The next step in the buying process is the purchase phase. You should make it easy for them to buy at this point. They are committed, but that doesn’t mean they can’t go back. For example, consider purchases that you have cancelled. For instance, if you buy something that looks like a really good deal and finds that the buyer is charging four times the shipping cost, you’ll probably go back.
Finally, in addition to making it as easy as possible for the buyer to complete the transaction, now would be a great time for you to get their email address and permission to send them valuable emails about future products and services. They’re already excited to buy from you, so now’s the best time to ask.
