What Is a Funnel and How Does it Help Me Sell?

Awareness ➝ Interest ➝ Decision ➝ Action

Whether someone finds you on Instagram, through a blog, or from a referral, the funnel helps you control what happens next so you don’t lose the lead.

Do You Need One?

If you're selling anything online or building an email list—yes. Without a funnel, you're relying on people to make decisions on their own. That’s like inviting someone to a restaurant and not giving them a menu.

How to Set Up a Funnel & Capture Emails

1. Clarify Your Funnel Flow

• Begin with the end goal: what action or product do you want someone to take?
• Reverse‑engineer your steps backward from that final CTA (e.g. “book a call,” “buy your product”)
• Map out:
• Awareness (e.g. ads, content)
• Lead magnet or freebie
• Landing page or opt-in form
• Email nurture sequence
• Sales offer (tripwire, upsell, core offer)
• Closing CTA (checkout, booking)
• Post‑sale sequence or upsells

2. Capture Emails: Landing Pages & Opt-ins

• Lead Magnet (Freebie): a checklist, worksheet, mini‑class, video series — something valuable that solves a small problem.
• You drive traffic here via:
• Organic content (social, blog, YouTube)
• Paid ads (Facebook, Google, Instagram)
• Partnerships / guest posts
• Create a landing page with:
• Clear headline + promise
• Name & email fields
• Benefit-driven copy
• Appealing visual design or template

3. Opt‑in Formats You Can Use

• Inline forms (embedded on website/blog)
• Pop-ups (trigger on scroll, exit intent)
• Dedicated landing pages (great for ads or link-in-bio)
• All these capture email/name and connect to automated workflows

4. Nurture Sequence (Email Workflow)

• Delivered automatically when someone opts in:

1. Welcome email + deliver freebie
2. Value emails — helpful insights, ways to solve problems
3. Testimonial/social proof
4. Soft pitch or tripwire offer
5. Condition step: if they have already purchased, skip pitch email (Flodesk supports this)

• Delay timers (e.g. 1–2 days between emails)
• Use behavioral triggers and segmentation (e.g. “only send offer if not yet a customer”)

5. Sales Page + Checkout

• Always direct them to a sales page or checkout page in your nurturing emails:
• Present main offer clearly
• Include urgency/scarcity (discount codes, limited bonus)
• Offer an upsell or downsell during checkout (Flodesk supports this) 
• Deliver product or booking confirmation immediately

6. Ads & Traffic Strategy

• Use paid ads (Facebook, Meta, Instagram, Google) to send cold traffic to your landing page.
• Use UTM tracking to track conversion sources.
• Retarget email subscribers who didn’t purchase.

7. DIY Setup (Google Docs + Fiverr)

• Write full funnel flow in Google Docs: opt‑in page copy, email scripts (welcome-email, value emails, pitch, follow-ups), sales page copy.
• Use a low-cost platform like Flodesk or ConvertKit to bring that funnel to life.
• Hire someone on Fiverr to:
• Build landing page,
• Integrate email service,
• Set up automation and segments (~$50–150).
• You manage the strategy and copy; they handle the tech.

Funnel Platforms: Features & Who They’re For

Flodesk

• Best for: Creators, bloggers, coaches needing style-forward email & landing pages.
• Features: Drag‑drop forms (inline, popup, full‑page), workflows, Flodesk Checkout, upsells, built‑in email with templates
• Limitations: No full website builder, basic funnel mapping.
• Cost: Flat monthly (based on plan) – email + checkout integrated.

Kajabi

• Best for: Course creators, coaches, membership-based businesses wanting all-in-one platform.
• Features: Full funnels/pipelines with templates; website, blog, landing pages, email sequences, checkout, memberships; built-in payment, automation, community tools.
• Limitations: More expensive; fewer A/B testing options.
• Cost: $69‑149+/mo (Kickstarter to Pro)

Systeme.io

• Target: Beginners and side‑hustle owners.
• Features: Free plan available, landing pages, emails, courses, affiliate, funnel builder.
• Cost: Free to ~$97/mo.

Kartra

• Target: Marketers needing complex automation and conversion tools.
• Features: Funnel builder, email, affiliate system, SMS, membership sites, A/B testing, advanced upsells.
• Cost: $119‑549/mo.

ConvertKit

• Target: Creators, bloggers focused on email subscriber growth.
  Features: Email automation, simple landing pages/opt-in forms, subscriber tagging/segments.
• Limitations: Basic funnel pages; add-ons needed for checkout.
• Cost: Free tier available, paid from ~$29+/mo.

Platform Comparison Table

Platform

Best For

Email + Opt‑in

Landing/Page Builder

Sales + Checkout

Automation & Segmentation

Upsells

Website/Blog

Starting Price

Flodesk

Creators, coaches needing stylish, simple funnels

✅

Inline, popup, full-page

Flodesk Checkout

✅ (workflows, tags)

✅

❌

~$38/mo

ConvertKit

Writers, bloggers

✅

Basic landing and opt-in pages

Needs integration

✅ (tags, segments)

❌

❌

Free–$29+/mo

Systeme.io

Beginners, course/digital sellers

✅

Funnel pages, sales pages

Built-in checkout, course hosting

✅

✅

❌

Free–$97/mo

Kajabi

Course creators, coaches, membership businesses

✅

Templates + full website

Native checkout

✅ (sophisticated funnels)

✅

✅

$69–149+/mo (basic)

Kartra

Advanced marketers needing combos of funnels, SMS, affiliates

✅

Drag-drop pages & funnel mapping

Integrated payment engine

✅ (behavioral tags, A/B)

✅

❌

$119–549/mo

Funnel Examples by Business Type

1. Coaching / Consulting

• Lead magnet landing page (free guide)
• Email journey: deliver guide → value emails → invite to free discovery call
• Booking page integration (e.g., Calendly, integrated checkout)
• Upsells or paid programs on delivery page or via emails

1. Digital Product / Course

• Traffic (ad or content) → lead magnet page
• Nurture sequence → tripwire product ($7–$27)
• Core offer sales page ($97–$297)
• Post‑purchase upsell or course upsell

1. Physical Product / E‑commerce

• Ad traffic → product landing page with strong CTA
• Checkout with upsell/downsell
• Email follow-up: thank you, cross-sell, reviews request

Summary

• Setting up a funnel: Define the flow, build landing pages, capture emails, nurture with sequences, and deliver sales or calls.
• DIY option: Outline everything in Google Docs; hire someone on Fiverr to implement via a platform like Flodesk or ConvertKit.
• Platform decision:
• Use Flodesk if you want simple, stylish funnels and page + checkout without needing a full website.
• ConvertKit if you’re email-first and need simplicity.
• Systeme.io for budget all‑in‑one funnel + course hosting.
• Kajabi for full production: courses, membership, blog, funnel, checkout all integrated.
• Kartra if you want advanced automation, SMS, affiliate and A/B funnel testing.