Do you know what a sales funnel is? You have, of course. Do you, however, understand what a funnel is and how to use one? That one is a little trickier. But don’t be concerned! We’ll begin unraveling the internet marketing cosmos of the sales funnel today…beginning with the basics.

The table of content

What is a sales funnel, exactly?
Why are sales funnels important?
Why should web designers be concerned about this?

What is the definition of a sales funnel?

The customer experience. The value chain. There are two parts to a website: the front-end and the back-end. A sales funnel, in web design jargon, is the series of steps a website visitor takes from the first-page view to the final purchase.

Conversion is the end goal of every sales funnel, and many sales funnels have multiple conversion stages built-in. Understanding how to increase conversion is critical to sales funnel success, and site design may help.

Let’s have a look at an example of a sales funnel:

1. Traffic;
2. Landing page or a blog article;
3. Email opt-in;
4. Low-price upsell on the confirmation page;
5. Email sequence;
6. New and improved offer;
7. The funnel keeps going.

1. Online traffic

Traffic can come from a variety of places. The first phase in any funnel — and the “widest” component of the funnel — is always getting visitors to the website (whether it’s a business site, a blog, a landing page, or whatever). (Read also our article “What is internet traffic. The best 3 ways to increase it”).

2. Web page for the landing

When a visitor arrives at your website, they have the option of reading the (free, no-strings-attached) material. This is crucial in terms of web design because the site visitor must be able to find what they’re looking for with ease. A visible, compelling call to action is also required, which leads us to the. (Top 6 Web Design Trends in 2021).

3. Opt-in through email

The call-to-action in many sales funnels is to trade an email address for something of value. A discount to a store, a downloadable checklist, an ebook, or even a free email course are all possibilities. The purpose of the vast majority of sales funnels at this stage, regardless of the offer, is to convince someone to give you their email address. Because the number of individuals that do this will be less than the number of people who visit the site, your funnel will begin to “taper” at this stage.

4. Upselling

The upsell, often known as a “trip wire,” is your first move away from “free” and into the realm of “paid.” (After all, this is a sales funnel.) After someone opts in, the upsell usually shows on the confirmation page and gives a limited-time offer (usually with a countdown timer) to get a high-value product at a low price. The goal from a conversion standpoint is to convert the visitor from reader to consumer by selling something that normally costs $49 for a limited-time price of $7. (for example).

5. Follow the email sequence

Regardless of whether the new prospect purchases the upsell, they will be included in an email series. The first email in this sequence is usually used to deliver the opt-in they were looking for. There could be different sequences for those who buy and those who don’t, or they could all be in the same one. The purpose of the sequence is to “nurture the connection,” and the copy of these emails is heavily emphasized. The material should include an additional value that compliments the original opt-in while also indicating what the reader should do next.

6. A new offer

Another product, a course, or a specialist service could be included in this deal. It should be the prospect’s next logical action after taking advantage of the free opt-in and (if available) the upsell. It’s also typically more expensive than the upsell.

7. Follow-up emails

Regardless of whether or not the new prospect purchases the upsell, they will be added to an email list. The opt-in they were looking for is usually delivered in the first email of this sequence. There might be distinct sequences for those who buy and those who don’t, or they could all be placed in the same one. The sequence’s purpose is to “nurture the relationship,” and the copy of these emails is heavily weighted. The material should offer value to the original opt-in while also indicating what the reader should do next.

Why are sales funnels important?

At the end of the day, sales funnels are all about making money for the business owner (whether that’s you or a client). When done correctly, they may be a very effective way of fixing market problems while also earning a lot of money.

A free opt-in, solid emails, and then one more offer are the foundations of many successful enterprises (like a high-ticket program, subscription, or membership). Many other organizations have a multi-layered sales funnel with five, ten, or even fifteen or more rungs. There truly isn’t a limit on how many steps your funnel can have.

Why should designers be concerned about this?

The most important thing to remember about sales funnels is that they only operate when the material they offer is of high quality. If a funnel isn’t converting or breaks down in the middle, the problem is most likely with the positioning or the content itself.

Digital marketing relies heavily on sales funnels. They are two distinct areas of competence, but they are intertwined. Web design isn’t only about producing pretty websites; it’s also about making websites that fulfill the needs of your clients and their target audiences.