What the #*$% Is a Sales Funnel?!

You know you need a sales funnel…but, real talk, you kinda need to know what it is first.

Sales funnels, marketing funnels, product funnels, lead funnels, click funnels…the marketing world is always talking about these darn things and you know enough to nod your head at the right points but when it comes to actually implementing one in your small business strategy, you feel lost.

Fear not! You’re about to enter the Shame-Free Funnel Demystification Zone. I’m tearing down the hype and confusion around sales funnels, so you can spend more energy actually selling (and helping your clients sell) and less on Funnel FOMO.

This episode of Awkward Marketing is for you if: 

  • You’re a small business owner and you feel less than confident about what a sales funnel is and how to implement one on your website (or anywhere else for that matter)
  • You’re a digital marketing professional and you help your clients build funnels but have a hard time explaining the basics so they “get” what you’re doing and why

Follow along with the parts of a sales funnel here:

Parts of a Sales Funnel

Sales funnels in a nutshell:

  1. Brand awareness: Letting people know you exist
  2. Website visit: Moving people from awareness to interest
  3. Value proposition: Educating people on how you can help them
  4. Lead generation: Inviting people into relationship with you
  5. Lead marketing: Nurturing the relationship by sharing ongoing value 
  6. Making a sale: Cha-ching! Cha-ching! 
  7. Memorable experience: Surprising and delighting your customer
  8. Client advocacy: Making it easy for people to advocate for you

For more on how to implement a sales funnel on your website, be sure to check out my free eBook, Don’t Hire a Web Designer (Until You Read This eBook).

And, for more on the lead generation part of your sales funnel, don’t miss Episode #42 of Awkward Marketing, Your Lead Magnet Sucks. Try This Instead.

Rachael Kay Albers

Rachael Kay Albers is a creative director, business comedian, and brand strategist gone wild. She writes and performs about branding, pop culture, tech, and identity. When she’s not muckraking about marketing, Rachael runs RKA ink, a reinvention studio and branding agency for businesses that burn the rulebook. She's also on Instagram a lot.