How to Build a High-Converting Sales Funnel

A successful sales funnel is all about the design! If you want a high conversion rate, you need to consider all the components of your sales funnel, from the copy to the connections.

When you’re designing a sales funnel, think about it like a map. You’re creating the path you want your audience to take through your website — and you want that path to end in a sale!

The best sales funnel is one that’s optimized for your website and your audience. Read on for our top tips on building an effective sales funnel. 

How to Build a High-Converting Sales Funnel

1 | What’s a Sales Funnel?

First things first — what even is a sales funnel? This fancy marketing term simply describes your ideal customer’s journey from finding your business to buying your products or services. 

Here’s a quick example: a visitor Googles a question and finds your blog post about that topic. They read the post and then click on the link you included. That link takes them to a product (or service) page, and they decide to make a purchase. Success!

That person’s journey (sales funnel) started with the customer not even knowing about your business and ended with them buying your product. 

If you can encourage lots of potential customers to take that journey, that’s a high-converting sales funnel!

Other sales funnels might look like someone opting into your lead magnet and then being nurtured (via email) into buying one of your higher-ticket offers. Others might look like someone buying a low-cost product and being sent to an “upsell” page where they can add another item to their cart.

All of these are sales funnels — and all of them are great ways to drive revenue without you ever having to hop on a call or try to convince someone to buy! 

If want your online business to make money (without having nonstop sales calls), then you need a sales funnel!

If all you do is create your website and build your product pages and write a few blog posts, you might make a couple sales here and there.

But if you want a high conversion rate, you need to optimize those individual elements and make sure they work together effectively.

Related post: Our #1 Trick to Drive More Sales for Your Online Shop

2 | Build Solid Connections

OK, so you know you need to create and optimize your sales funnel. What does that actually mean?

First, think about connections. Think about the path your ideal customer takes through your website. Do each of those steps logically connect to each other? 

For example, does that product link in your blog post actually relate to the topic of the post? Does it take your reader through a logical path?

Let’s look at another example — a sales funnel designed around a free opt-in. You capture a potential client’s interest by offering a freebie. Then, you want them to move to the next step and make a purchase! 

So, what’s the next logical step? A low-cost offer! 

For example, you could lead a potential client to a $30 social media graphics library by offering 10 free templates. That’s a funnel that makes sense.

Trying to get a potential customer to purchase an expensive, expert-level social media marketing course? That’s not a logical next step from a free set of stock photos. That’s not a logical sales journey.

3 | Figure Out How to Direct Your Audience

Before you design every element of your funnel, you need to know what you want your visitor to do. 

Are you designing a “long game” conversion? For example, are you giving away a free download in exchange for their email address, which you’ll use to nurture them into a future sale?

Or are you looking for something quicker, like a tripwire funnel? In this case, the free offer immediately flows into a sales pitch for a low-cost paid offer.

Decide on the actions you want your visitor to take, and then build a path that takes them through those steps. 

And make sure your funnel includes everything you need at each step! We’re talking timers, order bumps, cart reminders, and similar elements.

Related post: How to Make an Opt-in Your Audience Actually Wants

4 | Optimize That Copy!

It’s right there in the name — your sales funnel needs to sell!

Now, that doesn’t mean every part of your website should be a sales pitch (don’t do that!). But it does mean that you must be intentional about your copy, so it convinces people to buy.

Your copy is what will encourage your visitors to keep going down the path you designed. Give them a reason to continue navigating your website! Explain exactly how you can help them solve their problem.

For example, don’t just advertise “free social medial templates!” Rather, offer potential customers the chance to “simplify social media and save time with these gorgeous, easy-to-use templates!”

See the difference?

Related post: 6 Copywriting Tips for Entrepreneurs Who Hate Writing

5 | Integrate the Funnel Into Your Website

Finally, make your sales funnel a seamless part of your website. You don’t want your visitors to feel like you’re pushing them away to some third-party site just to get them to spend money.

You want to create the opposite experience — a sales funnel that feels like a natural part of your site.

That’s why you need to choose sales funnel tools and templates that integrate with your website. (We’ve got you covered there — check out these options.)

Final Thoughts 

Good design is the key to a high-converting sales funnel. Your funnel should integrate seamlessly with your website and address your audience’s specific needs. 

And don’t forget to consider user experience! You want your visitors to enjoy the time they’re spending with you — they’re not likely to purchase from a site that’s confusing, buggy, or too “salesy.”

Finally, don’t forget to track your sales funnel to see how well it’s converting. If you’re not reaching your sales goals, try to identify areas of the funnel that you can improve.
Want more help designing a sales funnel that converts? Shop our funnel templates!