What Is a Funnel?

A funnel is a step-by-step system that guides your audience toward taking a specific action—usually a purchase. It’s a sequence of pages, emails, or messages that warm people up, handle objections, and close the sale. Think of it like this:

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

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
  
  

2. 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
  
  

3. 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.