A funnel of salesalso known as funnel, is a strategy b2b or b2c impulse digital that allows any company to grow. We are living at a time of important change to which we must adapt, where industry new relationships with customers, and this technique is equipped with a series of specific steps to guide potential customers to make a purchase decision.
When we want to increase our sales, it is essential to attract visitors and encourage them to drive conversions that result in new customers. However, to carry it out, it is necessary to follow a procedure studied to create value in each of the phases of which it is composed.
From here we're going to catch up on what is a funnel of sales and how it works. We will also see what are the stages by which it is governed, and how to implement it in your company. It started!
What is a funnel or sales funnel?
The sales funnel is a method of digital marketing that defines the steps a user at the time of entering in a web. Normally, looking for information, but if you like what you see, you can register or even make a purchase (called a funnel of purchase).
Follow all the stages of the funnel of sales we will learn some relevant data such as the percentage of losses that occur from the user to access the web site until you meet the end goal, which is usually the purchase of a product or service. In addition, helps to identify what is happening with the flow of users entering the platform in order to detect the errors and correct them.
The funnel-shaped part of the so-called inbound marketing, a discipline, a digital that makes it possible for reach your target audience without sin be very intrusive. The way to do it is very simple: providing content of value to the user, within which we find a surreptitious advertising is very effective.
The funnel of conversion has a intent very clear: to capture relevant data on users potential through the performance of certain actions which provide offers or valuable information, in order to convert them eventually into customers.
The more data qualified as, the greater your chances of sale. At first you might find yourself a little lost, but the goal is to obtain a system of sales well planned work practically only through a good CRM to help you manage your relationships with customers.
How does a funnel?
Now that you know what is a funnel of sales, let's talk about how to handle it and use it to your advantage.
The first will be to take care of every one of the stages of the funnelbut before you get down to work, it is important that you have clear about these aspects:
- Defines and sets the goals of your business.
- Know the principles that govern the inbound marketing.
- Make sure you have a marketing and sales team of competent, which can help to nurture and develop each phase.
Once they are ready the above actions, it is advisable to choose the perfect software to be able to work the funnels digital marketing. Only in this way you'll be able to go from prospects to customers.
The CRM is a management system that will allow you to review each stage of the process conversion and know all the metrics needed to achieve your goals. Before choosing the right program, make sure that it is intuitive and easy to use so your team can get the most out.
That said, there are some tricks in order to enhance your conversion funnel. Each level from the sales funnel involves some actions associated to different marketing strategies. Don't forget that the aim is to strengthen the relationship with your consumers, and to do it correctly you have to take note of some tips.
Analysis of the buying cycle
An analysis of the web traffic from the moment in which the user enters the website until the end of the purchase is essential. The data will allow you to make decisions appropriate and ask yourself some activities related to special promotions or to the creation langing pages to convert your visitors into leads.
Monitor metrics
Through the metrics you can get to know the evolution of the project taking into account the objectives planted. To stay up to date and enhance sales opportunities, it will be necessary to design metrics on a regular basis.
Differentiate well the phases or stages of the funnel
It is key to know how to distinguish concrete actions for each phase depending on your goals and the product or service that ofertes. That is why it is important to be aware of the buying cycle and perform different strategies in each stage.
Take care of the SEO
In all and each one of the stages of the funnel of sales it is important to pay attention to the positioning in the main web search engines. The more quality content you provide, the more positions you earn at Google and the more visits you have.
In this sense, it is useful to pay attention to several aspects: to know what are keywords used by the users, know the social networks where they spend more time to interact with them, and that other means or companies, that have to do with your industry, create links that lead to your website.
Now, create funnels digital marketing carries a certain implication and it requires your time, but the effort you take to get great results in the future. However, if you need advice or have not mastered the systems of measurement more pointers and methods of recruitment more effective, use Elabs so that together we can define and plan campaigns powerful conversion.
Advantages and benefits of a funnel of sales
If you still you're not clear about the reasons why you have to work a funnel or sales funnel, we're going to list some of the advantages associated with this trading strategy of inbound marketing to think about it:
- The main advantage of the funnel of sales is to allow you to plan a marketing plan is optimal that serve to achieve high profitability.
- Through the sales funnel you will know the percentage of loss of users that takes place in each phase so that you can act accordingly.
- You'll be able to analyze user behavior in your platform to identify the errors and make improvements. In short, you will provide the keys that you need to optimize your website and achieve the final goal.
- Forget about the mass marketing and intrusive and uses a funnel to concentrate on the audience interested in your product. Yes, before anything else, you'll need to know what your target ideal.
- It will help you to calculate the return on investment or ROI of your campaign in order to analyze your performance from the financial point of view.
- Will cause the highest number of visitors possible to get to the last stage of the funnel.
Phases of a funnel of sales
Below, we will describe the basic stages of the funnel of conversion or sales funnel. Basically, we have divided them into five phases are the following:
To publicize your brand
This first phase is distinguished by the different online marketing strategies used to position your brand. To do this well you will have to interact on social networks, to carry out a good SEO optimization, gain visibility within your industry and attract as much visitors as possible to your website.
Earn the trust of the visitor
Nothing will serve the effort and perseverance that you put into your marketing strategies if you do not win the trust of the audience. They say that the first image is paramount, and in the present case, could not be more true. Stirs up the interest of the users who come to your website and cáusales good impression through your content, images, promotions, etc.
Before selling any product or service, you have to educate the client. How? Showing all what you know about the topic and by delivering value content free of charge. That way, you will be able to meet you and know more about your brand.
To sell, you don't have to only focus on the sale, but have to follow a process that consists attract, educate, convince and to create a relationship between both until you get to the committed end-that is to sell. If a customer has provided their data to show an interest, continues to educándole through your emails, blog or social networks.
Retention
If the user has come up here is very good news. You have chosen, as a valid option, in order to make a final purchase, and for you not to abandon your idea you should try to spend as much time as possible on your website. Through the logs, users will provide their data to track and obtain their loyalty.
Sales
If your audience has come to this point of the conversion, it means that they have become customers. Yes, so that the purchase process is done effectively, it brings so much fluidity as possible and make this task is not too complicated to prevent its abandonment. Please note that you must facilitate the purchase as much as possible, making the process is fast, simple and convenient.
Loyalty
Once you have completed the sale, we must do everything possible to get shoppers back to purchase our products or services. The first thing is make sure they are satisfied with your purchase up to the point of referral. In fact, you'll be able to ask them to do it, perhaps with some financial reward, discount or points.
When you close a sale, your next mission will be to customer loyalty and provide valuable content. If it is a sale lost, you must not surrender to the first change, because with time you can become a customer or to publicize your brand or business.
Practical example
Netflix it is a streaming service for watching all kinds of audio-visual content, such as series, movies or documentaries. Users pay a monthly subscription, allowing you to access all of that content across different devices.
Netflix is one of the popular platforms with the largest number of subscribers. In fact, a survey 2018 conducted by the portal of statistics German Statista showed that in those moments had almost 73 million subscribers.
The most curious thing of all is that it is a platform very simple, but sometimes simplicity yields the best results. And is that in their site you will find texts easy to read, that users will understand without problem. In addition, on the main page images appear attractive on a visual level that are changing in function of the movies or series that are promoting at that time.
Netflix makes it very easy for the user and their subscriptions are not subject to commitments of permanence. That way, the user can cancel your subscription at any time without being tied to anything.
Steps in your funnel sales
- Home page. As already mentioned in our blog, it shows all the series and movies that you have in the promotion and makes it very clear that there is the option of a free trial which is not subject to any commitment. In addition, they also attest to the fact that there is no risk, because users will be able to cancel the subscription whenever you want to.
- Prices. Users will be able to easily access the information of the current rates through the section "frequently Asked Questions". Here come have specified the different options that there are clear and detailed so as not to confuse the visitor.
- Registration. On the registration page, the user will be able to subscribe to the plan that most interest him, filling in the empty spaces of the form through various personal data.
- Payment information. Netflix allows you to choose between multiple payment options, something that the user would like to thank: credit card, PayPal or gift card. Users also have the possibility of changing the form of payment through the editing function.
There is No doubt that it is an example of a good funnel which stands out for its simplicity. His platform is focused on the consumer and is able to clarify in a clear and efficient any questions or queries.
In addition to having a strong brand that has made itself without having to resort to a large investment in advertising, has created a trust relationship with the user to provide a customer service phone efficiently.
