If you’ve ever wondered how top marketers turn a stranger into a loyal customer — and then into a raving fan — it’s all about the funnel.
And no, not the kind you use for cooking (although… digital marketing is a bit of a recipe). This funnel maps out your customer’s journey — from “Who are you again?” to “Take my money.”
What Is a Marketing Funnel?
A marketing funnel is a series of steps designed to guide someone from first discovering you all the way to buying from you — and ideally, buying again.
Think of it like dating.
You don’t start with “Marry me?”
You start with “Hey, I saw your post, it made me smile.”
The Classic Funnel Stages (AIDA)
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Awareness – They discover you (via SEO, ads, social media)
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Interest – They explore your content (read a blog, follow you)
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Desire – They start wanting what you offer (join your email list, check product pages)
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Action – They buy, sign up, book a call — whatever your goal is
Once they’re in? You keep nurturing them. Think loyalty emails, upsells, community, etc.
Unique Fact of the Day 🧠
Only 2% of sales happen on the first contact.
The other 98%?
That comes from following up, nurturing trust, and delivering value over time.
A funnel makes sure you don’t leave those 98% behind.
Anatomy of a Simple Funnel
Let’s break this into something you can start building today:
Funnel Example for a Digital Course Creator
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Traffic Source: Instagram reels + SEO blog
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Lead Magnet: Free checklist — “5 Things You Must Do Before Launching a Course”
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Landing Page: They sign up with their email
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Email Sequence:
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Day 1: Deliver free checklist
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Day 2: Your story
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Day 3: A valuable tip
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Day 4: Invite to a free webinar
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Day 5: Introduce your course
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Day 6–7: Answer objections, add testimonials
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Day 8: Final call + bonus urgency
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Each email = a gentle step toward the sale. No hard push. Just a warm nudge.
Funnel Tools (No Coding Needed)
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Lead capture: ConvertKit, MailerLite, Systeme.io, Carrd
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Landing pages: Leadpages, Swipe Pages, Mailchimp
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Automation: ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, MailerLite
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Funnels-in-a-box: Systeme.io, ClickFunnels (powerful but pricey)
Start small. Build just one. You can scale later.
Beginner Funnel Strategy (Action Plan)
Step 1: Choose Your Offer
What’s one product/service you want to sell right now?
Step 2: Create a Lead Magnet
Think “bite-sized transformation.” Something they want. Simple. Fast. Free.
Step 3: Build a 3–5 Email Welcome Series
Example flow:
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Email 1: Here’s your freebie!
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Email 2: Why this matters (educational + personal story)
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Email 3: Common mistakes or pain points
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Email 4: Invite to your product/service
Step 4: Add One Traffic Source
Promote the lead magnet using:
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A blog post
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A carousel on Instagram
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A 60-sec TikTok
Done.
This simple funnel can generate leads and warm them up 24/7.
Pro Funnel Tips 🧪
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One call-to-action per page – Don’t confuse, just convert.
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Add scarcity – Limited-time bonus? Spots? Use it.
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Optimize your landing page – No distractions. Keep it focused.
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Test and tweak – Small changes = big impact over time.
Funnels aren’t set in stone. They’re living systems you evolve as you learn what works.