Sales funnels are an integral part of any business. They are used to attract interested parties to your products and services and turn them into paying customers. That’s why you should make them an essential part of your marketing plan or business strategy.
Landing pages and email campaigns in particular are important in the service-based industry, since it is harder to let the product do the talking when the product is a service.
Turning Awareness into Interest
Prospective customers showing an interest in what your business offers is the second stage or interest phase of a sales funnel.
When this happens, consumers are both aware that they have a problem or need and that you offer a solution to that. In other words, they’re qualified buyers. This also means your prospect is now looking actively for a solution and has considered your business as a place they might potentially get it.
During this stage, you’ll need a lead magnet. A lead magnet is a special offer you provide to draw in prospective customers. This can be a discount or other forms of promotional offers. Be sure to add conditions when giving a lead magnet, such as having a prospect subscribe to your email list.
The Decision Phase in Your Sales Funnel
The third phase of a sales funnel is the decision phase. At this point, the prospect has come to the conclusion that they want their problem solved or a need satisfied.
They should now be looking at specific things you’re offering and which offers can provide them the best value or what would suit their particular problem or need. Specific offers should be directed towards your ideal audience so you can maximize the value being offered to them.
This is also the phase where you need to set yourself apart from all your competitors in your market. You already know the prospect is interested in the services you provide, so it definitely makes sense to devote time to landing them as a client.
The Last Part of Your Sales Funnel
The last part in your sales funnel, which is the most important section, is the purchasing phase.
This is the stage in which a prospect buys your product. The wider the bottom of your sales funnel is, the more money your business is bound to make. This is why it’s important that your business makes the transaction as user friendly as possible.
Why Sales Funnels Matter
A sales funnel is vital to your business because it allows you to create a consistent stream of repeat business and customers.
Regardless of the size of your business, you need to be able to act on the above things. You can’t just simply focus on marketing and then switch to sales when you feel you have enough prospects lined up.
Without a sales funnel, you might find yourself frequently drifting between few prospects or even no clients. A sales funnel allows you to have a steady supply of both. You must always be advertising and you must always be closing sales and dealing with customers.
By creating a sales funnel, you can ensure your marketing and sales plates are always full.
