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.

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⚙️ 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.

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🛠️ 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.
  

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⚙️ 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.
  

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🧩 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

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📦 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
     

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✅ 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.