What Is a Sales Funnel and How to Optimize It
Whether or not you use the term, every business that sells a product or service uses some kind of sales funnel. But what is a sales funnel?
Generally speaking, it’s the route that customers take to end up making a purchase. That process is very complicated, but it’s simplified when you look at things in terms of a clearly organized funnel.
We’re going to talk about optimizing your sales funnel in this article, giving you some insight into how to view it and make it work for you.
Let’s get started!
What is a Sales Funnel? Understanding the Process
There are a lot of sources that will throw complex ideas your way and suggest that a sales funnel has to be complicated.
It’s something that has existed since businesses started, though, so it’s possible to break it down into essential parts. That’s what we’ll do here.
Your Community and Initial Customers
The first thing to consider is the community you’re engaging with. The outer ring of your sales funnel is the general demographic that you’re trying to attract.
These are people in your community, online or geographic, that are within your potential sphere of influence. Your first move is to understand how you’re going to great them.
Next, you move forward to engage the members of the community that have interacted with you in some way. That means getting on good terms with those individuals by providing some way for them to interact with your product.
They’ve expressed interest, now it’s your turn to interest them. That could mean showing them a little bit of who you are and why you’re valuable, or interacting with a few people on a personal level.
Engage, Get Conversions, and Establish Your Base
Your next step down the funnel involves letting people know the specifics about your product and brand. Blog posts, advertisements, and sales offerings are excellent ways to engage these early customers.
Essentially, you want to educate them on who you are and what you do. Display your value to them in very specific terms. The individuals who have hung with you this far are likely the ones who will move forward to make a purchase and engage with you financially.
This might require a sales pitch or an opportunity to come to your store or visit your site. Engaging customers in this way can be difficult, but rest assured that customers who have made it this far have at least a lingering interest in doing business with you.
When they do make the final step to do business, make sure you show your gratitude. The final piece of the funnel is establishing your core customers and sending the love back their way.
Engage with them, offer rewards or benefits for being lasting customers, and ensure that they know you appreciate their presence. Those core customers will naturally form your base and draw business through recommendations and continued support.
Need More Marketing Insight?
So, what is a sales funnel? It’s a funny term for the process you go through to get valued customers. If you’re in need of more help optimizing that funnel, we’re here to help.
Explore our site for more marketing insights and options to help you move forward.
