Funnel: What Is It And How Do You Set Up A Funnel?

What is a funnel?

A funnel is a marketing concept that refers to an automated process designed to guide potential customers through different stages—from their first introduction to your brand all the way to making a purchase.

Think of a funnel as a sales funnel: at the top, you attract a broad audience, and as they move down through the process, only the truly interested and motivated customers remain.

Why is a funnel important?

There are two main approaches to marketing: push and pull marketing.

• Push marketing involves promoting something through paid advertising—essentially putting your product or service in front of people, even if they’re not actively looking for it
• Pull marketing, on the other hand, is about attracting people to you through content marketing. This involves creating free, valuable, and helpful content that draws potential customers in

While pull marketing is powerful, it can feel overwhelming at first. Building a strong library of content and claiming your corner of the internet takes time. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be complicated.

With a simple funnel consisting of 7 steps, any small business or solo entrepreneur can effectively and automatically attract new customers. That’s the magic of a well-structured funnel—it works for you, even while you sleep!

Setting up an effective funnel in 7 steps

Anyone can set up a funnel with the right tools. Here are the 7 steps that form the backbone of almost every successful funnel:

1. Awareness: the funnel’s starting point

How does someone first discover your business? In content marketing, this is often through a blog post, a video, or a social media post.

Imagine you run a webshop selling supplements. A man in his thirties, let’s call him Theo, feels fatigued and has heard that vitamin B and magnesium might help. Theo googles his problem and finds your website with an article about supplements that boost energy.

• Your article is SEO-optimized, ranking high in Google’s search results. You’ve also done your homework on the pain points and needs of your target audience, making your content not just informative, but exactly what Theo is looking for

2. Interest: keeping their attention

Now that Theo has found you, it’s time to capture his interest. How? By offering him an irresistible Call to Action at the end of your article.

For instance, you could provide a free mini e-book about supplements—a concise 5-8 page guide packed with answers to frequently asked questions.

In exchange for this valuable resource, Theo leaves his email address. And just like that, you’ve taken the first step in building a strong email list. Using FlowQi Email Marketing, this process becomes a breeze. From setting up your email list to automating messages, you can manage everything in one easy-to-use platform.

• And here’s the best part: as a tester of our BETA Program, you can try all of FlowQi’s tools, including Email Marketing, completely free. Don’t miss out on this opportunity—sign up today and see how easy building an effective funnel can be!

3. Consideration

Great news—Theo has signed up for your email list and now receives your weekly newsletters. He hasn’t made a purchase yet, but that’s perfectly fine. Your newsletters are a way to build a relationship with him, establish trust, and show the value of your products.

• In these newsletters, you can share success stories, customer reviews, useful tips, or personal anecdotes that resonate with your readers. This keeps your audience engaged and connected. At some point, you can introduce a free webinar or workshop, where you dive deeper into the benefits of supplements

4. Intention

Theo is intrigued and doesn’t want to miss your webinar, so he signs up. And here’s a little secret: you don’t have to host the webinar live every time. Record it in advance and simply join the live chat to answer questions in real time.

• At the end of the webinar, you can offer Theo (and all attendees) a special discount on your supplements or other products. It’s a limited-time offer he won’t want to miss

5. Decision

Theo decides to make a purchase. Now, it’s crucial to ensure that your webshop runs smoothly and the checkout process is seamless—otherwise, he might abandon his cart.

Here are a few strategies to increase the value of his purchase:

• Upselling: Encourage him to upgrade to a higher-value product. “For just €10 more, you get the premium version”
• Cross-selling: Suggest complementary products that pair well with what he’s buying. “Combine these supplements for even better results”
• Bundling: Offer a package deal with multiple products at an attractive price. “Buy two supplements and save 20%”

6. Retention

Amazing—your funnel worked, and Theo made a purchase! But your work doesn’t stop here. It’s much easier (and cheaper) to sell to an existing customer than to attract a new one, so retaining customers is essential for long-term success.

Here’s how you can keep Theo engaged:

• Send a thank-you email after his purchase to show your appreciation
• Ask for feedback to make him feel heard and valued
• Continue providing valuable content in your newsletters, keeping your products top-of-mind
• Offer occasional perks like special discounts, early access to new products, or even a birthday card

7. Ambassador

As the cherry on top, you want Theo to be so satisfied with your products that he starts recommending them to everyone he knows. You want him to become an ambassador for your brand.

• Ask him to write a review or share his experience with your products. You can also offer him a commission for every new customer he refers who makes a purchase

Setting up a funnel with FlowQi

Now that you understand how a funnel works, it’s time to take action. With FlowQi’s digital tools, you’ll be up and running in no time.

1. Sign up as a tester for our BETA Program to try our tools for free
2. Define your goal What do you want to achieve with your funnel? More newsletter signups, more sales, or both?
3. Create a workflow Set up a series of actions/triggers. For example: if someone signs up for your newsletter, send a welcome email within 24 hours
4. Integrate with your website Set up signup forms and connect them to your site
5. Measure your results Use FlowQi’s statistics to see which steps are working well and where improvements are needed

Get started!

With the right steps and digital tools, setting up a funnel is a breeze. Take advantage of the free trial period for all FlowQi tools and start building your email list and sales funnel today!