The sales funnel is such an effective tool because it can be automated. Though it needs analysis and alteration to maximize its potential, it operates largely on autopilot, and it operates at a mere fraction of the cost of offline sales and marketing teams.

Sales funnels boil down to:

  • Content pages for various stages of the buyer journey
  • Squeeze pages that offer a lead magnet
  • Landing pages that direct visitors to take a specific action
  • An introductory offer – often a loss leader
  • Your main offer

If your site doesn’t have at least one of each of these pages (per product or service) you are missing out on a complete funnel. The key is to direct your website visitor to take an action that leads them into a funnel that has a well thought out end result. One that benefits you.

Each aspect of your funnel should solve its own specific problem without the need for your intervention – unless one part of qualifying your leads is to involve yourself in a webinar or consultation.

Modern websites are far easier to use than the old HTML ones that required coding know-how and experience. Now, content management systems such as WordPress allow users to upload all sorts of files for their subscribers to access, including checklists, audio files, videos, webinar replays, buyer’s guides and resource lists. Membership plugins and/or email marketing software allow you to schedule courses for delivery. There is almost no limitation to how you might deliver value to your leads without the necessity to be present when they are. Even at 4 am!

Once your choice of value-laden content has been made, your sales funnel will very much depend on a good copywriter. Be aware that these days a good copywriter will understand not just the compelling use of language, but what color schemes work on buy buttons and where they should be placed. Other small details like the fact that an image beside a buy button works better than a buy button on its own set aside the average copywriter from the pro.

Autoresponders allow you connect with your leads through a series of targeted emails, each with a specific purpose and call to action.

There’s only one part of your sales that you shouldn’t automate, and that’s customer service. Aside from an automatic response to say you’ve received their email, every interaction from there on should be personally dealt with. Though it’s not considered a part of the traditional sales funnel – word of mouth is a powerful lead generation tool and shouldn’t be ignored.