Which one will suit your needs better; sales funnel vs. website? What’s the difference, and when should you use a funnel instead of a site?
Sales funnel vs. website: What’s the difference?
A sales funnel is basically a webpage or landing page that directs website traffic to another page.
For example, you have a page ‘landing page #1’ with a sales video, and visitors can sign up for the next step on ‘Landing page #2’. The goal of each landing page is to get people signed up for an opt-in form to become paying customers.
A website’s purpose is to provide your company details, such as your address and contact number, to potential customers.
A sales funnel is designed for people to click through the pages in a sequence that will ultimately lead to you getting paid. On the other hand, your website is all about showing off your brand or business, what products you have available, and how it can help them.
Deciding which one is right for your business depends on your goals.
For example, if you’re a consulting business that needs to generate leads, then a sales funnel would be the best option for you.
However, if you are a restaurant and want to show people your menus, menu prices, opening hours, and contact details, then a traditional website would be the right choice.
What is a sales funnel, exactly?
A sales funnel usually starts with a page with a single opt-in form that leads to more pages, and the sequence is designed, so you capture each person’s contact information.
The funnel usually has 3 or 4 steps.
That is why it’s called a funnel because, in sales, most people who are interested in your product will drop off at some point during the process.
The ones who don’t, become customers. This is sometimes called a conversion funnel.
What are the steps of a sales funnel?
The first step is usually your landing page, and it’s what most people think of when they say “sales funnel.” It has a sales video or sales letter to convince potential customers that you are an expert.
The second step is the thank-you page, which typically contains a link for an offer or opt-in form. And then, visitors will move on to the third and fourth steps (if needed).
The third step is usually a ‘one-time offer page, where prospects can make an impulse purchase.
And the fourth is your delivery page or confirmation page. For example, you can have a free training video and then a paid video available for sale on the one-time offer page. The final step would be where they receive access to their paid content.
What is a website, exactly?
A website is a place where you can display your brand or business and showcasing your products. You want prospects to know what you are all about before they sign up for your offers.
On a website, you usually have 2 to 5 main pages: Home Page, About Us page, FAQ’s page, Products/Services offered, and Contact information.
What should I use? A sales funnel or website?
If people need more convincing than just reading a few lines of text on a webpage, then it is better to use a sales funnel rather than a product page.
If you have a lot of products or services, then you should definitely get a website.
The best option for you is whatever works with your marketing goals and type of business.
It depends on your sales process.
While a funnel can be used for most types of business, it depends on the type of inbound traffic you’re attracting.
If your target audience is ready to buy immediately, then a website or e-commerce store will be enough.
But if your ideal customer requires educational material or needs to be warmed up before the purchase, a funnel is your best bet.
For example, if you are a consultant or coach, you should use a sales funnel because it will give a website visitor enough time to warm up to you, get an idea of who you are, help them, and decide if they want your product.
If they do not buy right away, that’s okay as long as you continue providing value in other formats (online training, emails, etc.)
The pros and cons of a sales funnel
A sales funnel offers you the opportunity to create a very personalized experience that can be taken as long or short as necessary since there is no time limit.
If your prospects want information about your product before they buy, then this may be the best choice for them; think of it like an online classroom where you’re teaching people what they need to know in order to make their decision.
Pros: They allow someone who is not ready to buy right away time to gain trust in your brand, product, service, and company; it’s similar to conversing with someone at a networking event.
Cons: It takes time to get people from the first step through all of your pages in order to purchase.
The pros and cons of a website
A website allows you to showcase your product or brand quickly. You won’t spend hours on end giving explanations and stories that are not relevant just for someone to buy something they don’t need.
Pros: If your visitors are ready to buy right away, then a website will be better; think of it like being able to walk into a store immediately instead of spending time driving around until you find what you want.
If you already have an e-commerce store, then you can use that to sell your products. One of the best options is Shopify since it allows you to set up your store in a matter of minutes and easily sync with all aspects of Google apps (like Google Analytics).
Cons: If someone does not buy right away and leave your website, their chances of returning are slim. This means lost opportunities.
Where does a sales funnel fit into my marketing strategy?
A sales funnel should be part of an overall online marketing strategy for your business. It can help you generate qualified leads; instead of getting phone calls from cold prospects, you’ll have potential customers signing up for your newsletter on a regular basis.
Targeting them with content via email means less wasted money on advertising since you are only paying for those interested in your products.
Also, you’ll be able to convert more leads into customers because of the trust and relationship that you’ve built by providing valuable content over time.
A sales funnel allows you to slowly build a relationship with people so they are willing to buy from you, even if they have not had a chance to meet or talk to you yet.
So it’s an opportunity for prospects to get used to buying from you before making any commitments – all while giving them quality content that is relevant and helpful in their lives (which also makes it easy for new customers as well).
Remember: If they don’t sign up or buy right away, just continue conversing with them via email. Offer them more of your great content regularly.
If you’re selling a service, your sales funnel should probably look different from generating leads and trying to sell products.
Good sales funnels take time for the prospect to go through in order for them to feel comfortable about buying anything else from you, especially if it’s an expensive or large purchase like a car or home.
If they are not ready to buy yet, then continue providing content that will help guide them in the right direction.
Can A sales funnel and website work together?
Yes. This is how most marketers do things.
Have you ever landed on a website, blog, or e-commerce store and been asked to subscribe to an email list? This is usually the start of the marketing funnel process.
This way, you can provide content to the visitors and customers while capturing them as leads that you can follow up with later on.
It’s the best of both worlds.
The key is that you will need a lead capture page (in order for them to subscribe) and an autoresponder service (for sending out your emails).
What sales funnel software do I need?
There is a wide range of sales funnel tools available for practically every budget. And best of all, you can automate your sales funnel too.
ClickFunnels is one of the more popular ones. If you are just getting started, go for something simple and easy to use.
You can always move onto a more advanced platform once your sales funnel becomes successful.
Another great tool is Leadpages. Many people seem to like it because it’s so simple – both in terms of building a sales funnel and setting things up on your own website or blog.
They have pre-made templates to choose from; you only need to edit them slightly if you want them tweaked.
Another great tool is Unbounce. They have a lot of templates to choose from, and they are constantly adding new features, which makes it easier for you to change things up easily.
Kartra is an all-in-one funnel builder, and it’s the one I use most. The analytics is second to none. I can offer ebooks and courses through Kartra too, so my customers don’t have to go anywhere else to checkout for those items.
Conclusion
I hope this article has taught you the difference between a website and a sales funnel, as well as which one is better, what tools are needed for each one, and how they can work together.
Also, learn how to build a free plus shipping funnel, and how to make an inbound marketing funnel here.