The idea of a sales funnel is so alluring because they give you a good return on investment. If they are used alongside proper timing and strategies, they can be very effective tools. Many people have heard of them but aren’t sure when would be the right time to use one.
A good time to use a sales funnel would be right before you launch your product or service. You can also use it when you have limited resources but want maximum impact on your customer acquisition efforts. They can be used at any point, though, because their goal is to attract and retain customers.
Sales funnels are valuable marketing tools, and timing can play a big role in their effectiveness. So let’s talk about using these tools strategically. We’ll also introduce you to four real-life business scenarios where you may want to use a sales funnel.
Real-Life Business Scenarios Where You Could Use A Sales Funnel
There are several different business scenarios where you can use a sales funnel. Here are four examples:
Scenario #1: You Want To Launch A New Product
Are you looking to launch a new product? If the answer is yes, plan to launch it alongside a sales funnel. A sales funnel will help you:
- Generate traffic to your website
- Increase the number of leads you get
- Convert more leads into paying customers
Use the following steps to launch a new product using a sales funnel:
Step 1: Generate Traffic
You’ll first need to generate traffic from people who may be interested in your product.
You can use Google AdWords and Facebook ads (among other channels) for increased visibility.
Step 2: Nurture Leads
Once you have generated traffic, you’ll need to nurture the leads. This can be done through email marketing and lead nurturing campaigns.
You can learn more about this in my article on ‘What is email marketing best used for?‘.
Step 3: Convert Leads
Once you have nurtured the leads, it’s time to convert them into paying customers.
Use effective lead conversion strategies, such as offering discounts or free trials.
Step 4: Retain Customers
Once you have converted the leads, you’ll need to retain them as customers.
Use effective retention strategies, such as providing customer service or offering incentives.
Step 5: Analyze Results
After completing the steps, it’s time to analyze the results.
Use analytics to determine which measures were the most effective and which ones need improvement.
Here you can read our article on Tracking Your Sales Funnel to learn how!
Scenario #2: You Have Recently Launched A New Product Or Service
Let’s say you just launched a new product or service in your business, and you want to increase sales.
You can implement a sales funnel for this purpose since it will help you attract leads and convert them into paying customers.
At this stage, a sales funnel will help you:
- Generate traffic to the landing page of your product or service.
- Get more email subscribers for your business’s newsletter list.
- Increase the number of people who will purchase your product or sign up for your service.
This stage of your sales funnel will include a lead magnet that you can use to convince visitors to join your email list.
Offer some samples and premium content in this stage (such as an e-book or webinar access). You can also use this stage to promote your product’s features and benefits.
Scenario #3: You’re Not Getting As Many New Customers As You Would Like
If you are struggling to find new customers, a sales funnel can also help with this. You can use a sales funnel to:
- Increase the number of leads you get each day.
- Attract more people who are interested in what you have to offer.
- Turn your leads into an invested audience even if they’re not ready to purchase from you yet.
Here, you’ll want to focus on creating a funnel that’s specifically tailored to your business.
You’ll also need to make sure you’re tracking the results of your funnel so you can see what’s working and what isn’t.
Be responsive to customer needs and feedback so you can offer them the best deal possible.
A company that implements the elements of the change to its processes gains an overwhelming competitive edge in the market.
Scenario #4: You Are Looking To Expand Your Business
Many people want to expand their businesses. To do this, you need more leads and more money.
Implementing a sales funnel will help you attract more leads and convert them into customers.
At this stage, a sales funnel will help you:
- Generate traffic to your website
- Increase the number of leads you get
- Convert more leads into paying customers
We recommend using a sales funnel to increase your chances of financial success. Implementing a sales funnel is one of the most efficient ways to grow your business.
Understanding the Customer Journey
You can successfully map out your sales funnel and identify the weaknesses in your strategy once you understand the customer journey.
As we said before, timing is important, so you’ll want to focus on certain parts of the funnels at different stages.
The customer journey is the process that customers go through when interacting with your brand or product.
Therefore, it’s essential to identify and understand the entire journey, so you can better understand when and how to use a sales funnel every step of the way.
The goal of the customer journey is to advance your prospects from awareness to consideration to purchasing.
You can do this by developing a series of touchpoints to guide them through the journey.
1. Awareness
This stage is where you introduce your brand or product to the customer.
You want to create a positive first impression and make them aware of who you are and what you do.
2. Consideration
The consideration stage is where the customer starts to think about whether your product or brand is something they would like to purchase.
They are weighing the pros and cons of making a purchase, so it’s crucial to provide them with the right information at this stage.
3. Purchase
This is the part where the customer decides to buy your product or service.
They have weighed the pros and cons and have decided that your product is the best choice for them.
How to Target the Customer Journey Using a Sales Funnel?
To target the customer journey using a sales funnel, understand their pain points. Then, identify the stage of their journey and provide only what they need.
Finally, earn their trust through a solid product and after-sales support. The customers will eat the upsells right out of your hands.
When you decide to use a sales funnel, your goal is to guide your customers through their journey.
You want to communicate the right information at each stage so that they remain interested in what you have to offer and feel confident enough to invest in your product or service.
There are a few things to keep in mind when targeting the customer journey with your sales funnel:
- When creating your sales funnel, start by understanding the customer journey.
- Create a series of touchpoints that will guide your customers through the journey.
- Make sure to provide the right information at each stage of the journey.
- Keep your prospects interested in what you have to offer.
- Make your leads feel confident enough to invest in your product or service by communicating the right information.
Now you understand the basics of the customer journey and how to target your audience using a sales funnel.
Refer to the scenarios listed above and look for ways that you can apply the ideas to your own business. Your funnels may have different focuses at different times, depending on your needs.
The Right Time to Use a Sales Funnel is NOW!
Sales funnels can be used in many different situations, from increasing traffic and generating leads to expanding your business.
By understanding when and how to use a sales funnel, you can achieve your business goals.
But what’s stopping you from creating it for your business today? What stopping you from creating it NOW?
Why not go and create the best ever sales funnel?