What is a sales funnel? How do you create a sales funnel? What tools or software should you use? Is it possible to build a sales funnel with WordPress or Systeme.io?
I will attempt to answer all these questions in this article. I’ll even share an example of a sales funnel I set up for my WordPress & SEO training course. I’ll also discuss Systeme.io, the software I use to build my sales funnels.
—> Get a great discount on a Systeme.io subscription
What exactly is a sales funnel?
A sales funnel is a marketing process designed to bring in a cold prospect (who doesn’t know you) and convert them into a warm prospect (who trusts you or your product), and finally into a loyal customer.
In this article, we’ll first cover the theory behind creating a sales funnel, and then I’ll explain how to put it into practice using Systeme.io as an example.
Building a Sales Funnel in 4 Steps
There are various tools and techniques for setting up a funnel. Overall, a sales funnel aims to collect the prospect’s email address or phone number. Email marketing remains the most effective acquisition channel today, but you could also collect Facebook profiles, websites, or other data depending on your niche.
Step 1: The Lead Magnet
The lead magnet (or “customer magnet”) is the element that makes all the difference in capturing a prospect’s email. Too often, I see: “Sign up for our newsletter.” Unless your product is revolutionary, nobody wants more newsletters. We get spammed all day long; so, for a prospect to leave their email voluntarily, you must give them something in return: the Lead Magnet. This is the heart of any funnel strategy.
The rule is simple: give before you receive. We’ll see how to implement this with Systeme.io below.
Your lead magnet should be:
- A digital product/service (easily deliverable by email)
- 100% free
- Packed with value
This usually takes the form of an eBook, but your imagination is the only limit. You simply need to make the prospect want to leave their email. It’s a fair trade: a gift for an email. The more enticing the gift, the fewer questions they’ll ask.
Why email?
- From the prospect’s perspective: It’s simply the place where the gift needs to be sent.
- From your perspective: It’s the key to staying in touch and selling to them later.
Sending the lead magnet via email is crucial. Once the prospect opens your email and clicks a link inside, your future emails are much less likely to end up in spam.
A great example comes from Sephora, which always offers free samples. You test the product (cold prospect), and if you like it, you buy the full size (warm prospect).
This step is how the prospect enters your sales funnel.
|
Example of a simple funnel from my own professional site:
|
Step 2: The Email Sequence (Automation)
Once the email is captured, you have to use it. Depending on your niche, you have several options. You can send manual, personalized emails like the example above, or use Marketing Automation.
Simply put, once a prospect signs up, they receive a series of emails at set intervals. Every prospect receives the same sequence, but triggered by their individual signup time, unlike a manual newsletter broadcast.
The goal is to “nurture” your prospect. This is the transition from a cold lead (unknown) to a warm lead (ready to buy).
In this series, you provide value repeatedly without being too “salesy.” The objective is to showcase your expertise and give them a taste of your skills.
Marketing automation is seamlessly handled by Systeme.io, which we’ll look at further down.
Step 3: Selling at the End of the Funnel
The email sequence pre-warms the prospect. Once they know you, your skills, and your products, it’s time to make a sales offer. This is the culmination of the funnel.
Aim to offer something unique so they feel privileged. Usually, a good discount works well. Best practice is to make the offer time-limited to create urgency.
This offer typically involves one or more sales emails redirecting to a dedicated sales page.
Step 4: Driving Traffic to Your Funnel
Logic says this should be step 1, but you shouldn’t drive traffic until the funnel is built. Once ready, you need to maximize traffic through two main methods:
- Organic Traffic: Social media (Facebook/YouTube) or Search Engines (Google). If you need SEO services, I’m available to help!
- Paid Traffic: Ads (Facebook, Instagram, or Google Ads). This provides immediate results and acquisition.
For my business, I use both: strong SEO on my website combined with Facebook Ads.
Building Your Funnel with Systeme.io
Which Tools Should You Use?
To build a successful funnel, you generally need several tools:
- Web Design Tool: To create squeeze pages and sales pages (WordPress, Wix, etc.).
- Autoresponder: To collect emails and automate sequences (Mailchimp, Sendinblue, Aweber, etc.).
- Digital Hosting: To host private videos or courses (Learnybox, etc.).
Systeme.io: The All-in-One Funnel Solution
Tools like ClickFunnels or Leadpages are either very expensive or only offer partial solutions. I chose Systeme.io because it is all-in-one and very affordable (starting at €27/month). Click here to enjoy a great discount.
With Systeme.io, you can:
- Build landing and squeeze pages
- Create high-converting sales pages
- Manage email lists
- Automate email marketing and newsletters
- Host online courses with private access
- Run A/B tests
Real Funnel Example with Systeme.io
I use Systeme.io for my WordPress & SEO Course. Here is the process:
Step 1: Capture Page
I offer a high-value lead magnet: a 3-hour free training on how to create a WordPress site. I film my screen and lay out the basics of SEO.
Once the email is collected:
- The prospect is redirected to a thank-you page.
- They receive a welcome email 1 hour later with course access.
- They are subscribed to my automated nurturing sequence.
Step 2: Automated Email Sequence
The goal is to pre-warm the audience. My first three emails are packed with advice to solve a specific problem. The following emails sell my “Level 2” training by linking to a sales page.
Step 3: The Sales Page
While I built my specific sales page on WordPress for SEO purposes, you can easily do it within Systeme.io. My pages link to a Systeme.io checkout form integrated with PayPal and Stripe.
Step 4: Course Hosting
Everything—videos, PDFs, text—is stored securely in the Systeme.io membership area. There is no storage limit, which is a massive advantage.
Building a Funnel with WordPress?
Creating a complex funnel with WordPress alone is difficult unless you have an external autoresponder and expensive membership plugins like Wishlist Member.
Building a WordPress funnel is possible for simple lead generation. I recommend using the Elementor plugin for designing your capture and sales pages.
Conclusion: Why I Recommend the Combo
For €27/month, Systeme.io is unbeatable. I use WordPress for my blog’s SEO and Systeme.io for the conversion and delivery part of my business.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions on Sales Funnels
1. Why create a sales funnel?
It automates your customer acquisition. It takes someone from “I don’t know you” to “I trust you and want to buy,” building an email database along the way.
2. Should I use WordPress or Systeme.io?
Ideally, use both. Use WordPress to attract organic traffic (SEO) via your blog, and Systeme.io for the technical aspects (landing pages, emails, payments).
3. What is a “Lead Magnet”?
It’s a “bribe” or freebie (eBook, audit, mini-course) that you give away for free in exchange for a prospect’s email.
4. What is the role of an email sequence?
It nurtures the lead. Instead of selling immediately, you prove your expertise over several days, making the eventual sales offer much more effective.
5. How do I get visitors into my funnel?
You can use **Organic Traffic** (Social media and SEO) or **Paid Traffic** (Facebook or Google Ads) for immediate scale.
