Sales pages and funnels
Simple sales funnel: 4 steps for solo sellers
A sales funnel is the path from discovering your business to becoming a customer. You don’t need expensive software to build one. If you sell an ebook, a course, or a service, start with these four steps.
3 min read
In this article
What is a sales funnel?
It’s called a funnel because plenty of people enter at the top, but fewer make it through to a purchase. At each stage, some move on to the next: discovering you, taking an interest, then buying. Your job: bring people in and lose as few as possible at each stage.
1Get seen (the top of the funnel)
Without visitors, the rest is wasted effort. Social posts, Pinterest pins, answers in niche communities, collaborations with complementary businesses—all bring people to you. Start with Increase your online visibility: 7 ways without ads.
What you need: one link, used everywhere, that leads to what you offer.
2Give before you sell
Few people buy on their first visit. Offer something useful in exchange for an email address: a checklist, a short guide, or a free workshop.
What you need: a free resource and a simple signup form.
3Make the case (your sales page)
People who’ve used your free resource are ready to learn more. Your sales page explains who the product is for, what it helps them do, what’s included, and what it costs.
What you need: a clear sales page. Use our 12-point sales page checklist to review it.
4Follow up
Not every sale happens on the first contact. Write a sequence of three to five emails for people who agreed to receive them after getting your free resource. Share a tip, tell a student’s story, answer an objection, then make your offer.
What you need: a basic email marketing tool and a few emails written in advance.
Common sales funnel mistakes
- Building a perfect funnel with nobody entering it.
- Asking for too much information on the form in step 2.
- Pitching your most expensive product to someone who just discovered you.
- Never checking where people drop off.
Measure your funnel
Track four numbers each week: visitors, email signups, sales page visits, and purchases. Work first on the stage where the numbers drop sharply. Check the top first: your funnel needs visitors before it needs fine-tuning.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need sales funnel software?
Not to get started. An entry page, a form, a sales page, and an email marketing tool are enough.
How many follow-up emails should I send?
Three to five, a few days apart. Make each useful even if the reader never buys.
Is a funnel worth it for a low-priced product?
Yes. Keep it short. Your free resource can even be a sample of the product.
Where should I start?
At the top: one link that leads to your free resource or product, shared everywhere.
