Some business owners have shunned away from the term “sales funnel” because they think it’s too mechanical and even unnecessary. What they don’t know is that a sales funnel is a creative way to describe the complex sequence by which customers move from awareness to purchase. It helps business owners get a good visual of the entire process.
What is a sales funnel?
To simply put it, a sales funnel describes each step that every visitor takes that will lead them to become your customer.
For example, online users come across your ad. A percentage of them decide to click on your ad’s link. One of the users scrolls through your website. Then, he or she puts a few items in their cart. They then end up finishing the purchase. Every step that potential customers take is considered a funnel.
Your sales funnel can be a retail store, sales team, website, email, and personal consultation. This means that any marketing channel can be considered a part of your sales funnel, which can be spread across different channels.
By illustrating the path that prospective customers take will help you understand your funnel better, helping you find certain aspects that can be improved on.
Creating your sales funnel from scratch
Before you can create your sales funnel, first, you need to know the four different stages: AWARENESS, INTEREST, DECISION, and ACTION. These represent your target market’s mindset and require different approaches.
AWARENESS – your opportunity to catch a consumer’s attention.
INTEREST – when prospects are thinking about your offer, researching, and making comparisons. This is when you should impress them with your expertise.
DECISION – when the consumer is ready to buy from you.
ACTION – when the consumer acts and purchases your product or service.
Now that you are aware of the different stages, here’s a quick guide to help you build your own sales funnel.
1 Analyzing your audience’s behavior.
The more information you have about your target audience, the more effective your sales funnel can be. Remember, you’re marketing to a certain group of people who are highly likely to be interested in what you are selling.
2 Capturing your audience’s attention.
This is where you put your content out there across different platforms for your target market. Use different kinds of content to pique consumer’s interest. Spend more on paid or sponsored ads on social media platforms because that’s where your audience is.
3 Create an awesome landing page.
Your ads will need to lead prospects to your website. To make sure potential customers stay long enough to make a purchase, you need to have a brilliant landing page that steers visitors toward taking the next step.
4 Start an email drip campaign.
Provide great content through email or newsletter. Educate people and provide value to them to convince them that you are an authority in your niche. This increases brand awareness and makes more people believe in what you can offer them.
5 Open the lines of communication.
Make customers feel that they’re more than just a number, a sale. Continue reaching out to them by thanking them for their purchase, offering freebies or coupon codes, and keeping them updated through social media.
Remember to tweak your sales funnel as your company grows. Keep track of your conversion rates to know whether your campaigns are working or not.