{"id":1021,"date":"2023-07-25T14:48:25","date_gmt":"2023-07-25T14:48:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kartra.com\/?p=1021"},"modified":"2024-10-25T13:59:46","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T13:59:46","slug":"how-to-build-a-sales-funnel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kartra.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-sales-funnel\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Sales Funnel? How to Build One in 7 Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A sales funnel is an intentional series of interactions a brand uses to lead potential customers toward a buying decision. While the concept is simple, sales funnels themselves can be complex systems. Today, most sales funnels are digital \u2013 combining tactics like email marketing and social media advertising to create a holistic customer journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, you\u2019ll learn how to build an effective sales funnel, how to measure its success, and what tools you need to make it happen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is funnel building? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Funnel building is the strategic process of creating automated marketing and sales systems that guide potential customers through their buying journey. It involves developing targeted content, landing pages, and automated messages that move prospects from initial awareness through consideration and finally to purchase. The process typically includes three core stages: attracting visitors and capturing leads with top-of-funnel content, nurturing leads with middle-of-funnel engagement, and converting prospects with bottom-of-funnel offers. Successful funnel building requires mapping customer touchpoints in sales funnel software<\/a>, creating conversion-focused assets, implementing tracking systems to measure results, and storing customer data in a CRM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does funnel building work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Funnel building is broken down into three basic stages: awareness<\/strong>, interest<\/strong>, and decision<\/strong>. These stages represent the three main steps in a customer journey, as prospects discover your brand (awareness), understand how your product or service would benefit them (interest), and decide to buy from you (decision).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marketers often refer to these three stages as \u201ctop of the funnel,\u201d \u201cmiddle of the funnel,\u201d and \u201cbottom of the funnel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The purpose of breaking down your marketing strategy into different stages is to meet the needs of the customer during each step of their journey. In real life, most people don\u2019t typically see an ad, read a blog, or listen to a podcast one time and decide to make a purchase. We follow a non-linear path of research, awareness, product interest, more research, and finally a decision\u2014a timeline that winds variably through the busyness and distractions of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal of a sales funnel is to be omnipresent throughout your ideal customer\u2019s journey, meeting them at each stage through digital content and engagement.
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How to Build a Sales Funnel in 7 Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are parts of the sales funnel process that only you can do \u2013 such as figuring out what your brand uniquely offers and how to best connect with your target audience. Your customer base isn\u2019t one-size-fits-all, and neither are sales funnels! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there is a fundamental process to use as you build funnels for your audience. Follow these steps to build an effective sales funnel that drives conversions:
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1. Create bottom-of-funnel assets first <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most common mistake brands make when building a marketing funnel is starting with top-of-funnel content before building out assets or content for the middle and bottom-of-funnel stages. What often happens is brands end up with tons of traffic and interested leads, but no strategy to nurture them. When this occurs, leads become disinterested and eventually fall out of your funnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We recommend you build out your bottom-of-funnel assets \u2013 like lead magnets, sales pages, and testimonials \u2014 before anything else. These are arguably the most important assets you will create, so make sure every element, from the offer to the call to action, has a consistent message. Every element needs to work together to promote your brand! 
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2. Educate your audience to grow brand awareness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One way or another, every brand starts its marketing efforts in the awareness stage<\/strong> of the sales funnel. Your top-of-funnel audience might not be aware of your brand or even fully realize the problems that you solve. The goal in marketing to this audience is education that \u201ccreates an itch.\u201d This requires a lot of content \u2013 and we mean a lot. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll need to deeply understand buyer personas to show up in their online spaces, craft messaging that hits their pain points, and offer them impactful and expert information. There are a wide variety of tactics that work in this stage, including:
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