Companies that don’t entice leads and convert them into prospects don’t survive very lengthy.
Knowledge from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics signifies that 70% of personal companies shut earlier than their fifth 12 months. We’ll by no means know the complete causes behind why every enterprise fails, however we do know that 20% of failed startups cite competitors as a key motive.
You may’t management competing manufacturers, however you’ll be able to management the way you attraction to prospects by way of your gross sales funnel. A great gross sales funnel can win you loyal prospects, increase your gross sales, and improve your income. A poorly designed one will depart you outcompeted.
After all, that begs the query: how do you construct a gross sales funnel that drives conversions?
On this article, we’ll showcase 4 gross sales funnel examples from a wide range of industries, and break down what makes an efficient gross sales funnel tick.
What’s a gross sales funnel?
Your gross sales funnel (typically referred to as a “gross sales pipeline“) is the method that potential prospects, generally known as leads, journey by way of to grow to be prospects. Because the title suggests, leads enter the funnel once they uncover your model and depart the funnel once they finalize their buy.

In the present day, gross sales funnels can embody a variety of channels and touchpoints:
- Social media posts or commercials
- E-mail advertising
- Social proof
- Tv, radio, and newspaper commercials
- Content material advertising
- Pay-Per-Click on (PPC) commercials
- Search engine outcomes
- Retail retailer designs and layouts
- Interactions with salespeople
Gross sales funnels aren’t set in stone. As a substitute, each purchaser has a novel journey by way of the gross sales funnel, and, after all, some leads depart the gross sales funnel at every stage.
Why are gross sales funnels necessary for conversions?
Each model has a gross sales funnel, whether or not they understand it or not.
Understanding your model’s gross sales funnel is essential for rising buyer conversions.
As soon as you understand what resonates with leads, you’ll be able to alter your advertising to make it more practical, persuasive, and worthwhile.
Equally, mapping your gross sales funnel means that you can determine sudden modifications in your leads so you’ll be able to regulate your technique to keep up efficiency. You may even create a product funnel, constructing on prospect relationships to drive particular high-ticket product gross sales.
Good experiences ought to begin the second a possible buyer discovers you. So, optimizing your gross sales funnel helps you create a memorable and optimistic expertise that may incentivize prospects to make a repeat buy. Analysis from Harvard Enterprise College Publishing exhibits {that a} 5% improve in buyer retention can improve income by over 25%.
Keep in mind, your gross sales funnel influences how leads and prospects understand your model.
How do gross sales funnels work?
When entrepreneurs map out their gross sales funnel, they often use the Consciousness, Curiosity, Need, and Motion (AIDA) mannequin. Right here’s what usually occurs at every of the gross sales funnel levels:
Consciousness
The “consciousness” stage covers a lead’s first introduction to your model.
Throughout this stage, prospects study your mission, imaginative and prescient, your choices, and the way you place your self in your business (for instance, the inexpensive choice, the eco-friendly firm, the model that offers again, and so on.).
The content material for this primary stage (which we name “Prime-of-the-Funnel” (TOFU) content material) goals to draw curiosity.
Curiosity
The “curiosity” stage begins when potential prospects start to get invested in your model.
Throughout this stage, prospects be taught extra about your choices, together with value factors, options, and your Distinctive Promoting Proposition (USP).
The content material for this stage (referred to as Center-of-the-Funnel (MOFU)) goals to domesticate curiosity and educate the “ins and outs” of the model’s business.
Need
The “want” stage describes when leads understand they need to buy your choices.
Throughout this stage, entrepreneurs persuade results in your model’s services or products and that you just supply the answer to their drawback. This stage additionally separates Advertising and marketing Certified Leads (MQLs) from Gross sales Certified Leads (SQLs). MQLs need your product however aren’t able to buy it, whereas SQLs are able to hit “purchase now.”
The content material at this stage is known as “Backside-of-the-Funnel” (BOFU) content material.
Motion
The “motion” stage is self-explanatory, because it describes the stage through which you attempt to convert leads into paying prospects.
Now that we’re on the finish of the gross sales funnel, you could be questioning what advertising channels individuals use for content material at every stage.
The best way every model makes use of TOFU, MOFU, and BOFU content material may be very versatile and will depend on the model’s viewers, positioning, and choices. Nonetheless, every stage usually consists of these advertising mediums:
- TOFU = blogs, infographics, social media content material, pictures, movies, and articles
- MOFU = ebooks, white papers, case research, and how-to guides
- BOFU = a free trial, coupons, gross sales calls, and face-to-face gross sales conferences

Profitable gross sales funnel examples to be taught from
A research of 167 advertising professionals from the US discovered that entrepreneurs considered the simplest gross sales funnel content material to be articles, opinions, whitepapers, movies, webinars, analysis reviews, and social media posts.
These research present that the way you design your gross sales funnel issues. It’s not sufficient to slap collectively a weblog publish and hit “publish.”
So, what makes a gross sales funnel efficient? A powerful gross sales funnel:
- Has a excessive lead conversion price
- Will get leads enthusiastic about your providing
- Is instructional and teaches leads about your area of interest
- Makes your model extra memorable than competing manufacturers
- Paints your model, choices, and workers positively
- Conveys professionalism
- Produces completely satisfied prospects with a excessive retention price
Now that you know the way to identify a powerful gross sales funnel, let’s cowl 4 examples that may encourage you to rework your funnel and land extra conversions.
Earlier than we get began: Measuring the success of recent methods
In case you’re going to attempt to implement what you be taught from these examples, you want a strong analytics or CRM platform in place that can assist you observe the outcomes of what you modify.
For instance, ActiveCampaign makes use of AI to energy a “Deal Forecast Report,” which might rapidly assist you determine the influence of any techniques you undertake.

You also needs to use UTM tags for social media or content material advertising campaigns to measure the ROI of various platforms.
Gross sales Funnel Instance 1. ArTea

Homepage of ArTea
ArTea is a boutique tea enterprise based by Dominique Blechman and Gabriel Moreno in Santiago, Chile, in 2013. ArTea serves a rapidly-growing buyer base of tea lovers throughout Chile and South America.
Gross sales funnel steps
Right here’s how ArTea’s gross sales funnel works:
Step 1. Consideration
Potential leads discover ArTea by way of its web site (tiendadete.cl), social media profiles on Fb and Instagram, and PPC search engine promoting. ArTea targets key phrases like “wholesale tea” and “unfastened tea Chile.”
Step 2. Curiosity
ArTea makes use of its web site and weblog to extend the prospect’s understanding of its choices. The model additionally makes use of a downloadable information to tea as a lead magnet to draw individuals to hitch their electronic mail record.
Step 3. Need
ArTea makes use of electronic mail advertising, occasions, and brief programs on tea to construct a want for his or her merchandise.
Step 4. Motion
ArTea sells tea by way of its on-line retailer and its Santiago-based retail retailer.
Why ArTea’s gross sales funnel is efficient:
- It makes use of a number of advertising channels to draw leads.
- It gives leads low cost codes, free transport, and related content material by way of automated advertising emails.
- It solutions widespread questions and supplies schooling about tea.
What you’ll be able to be taught from ArTea’s gross sales funnel
The largest takeaways from ArTea’s gross sales funnel is the significance of lead nurturing. ArTea’s on-line programs, electronic mail advertising, and retail retailer join with prospects personally and supply a wealthy expertise that extra corporate-feeling companies can’t match.
To create an analogous gross sales funnel, create alternatives for buyer connection. Strive webinars, programs, occasions, or supply a memorable in-store expertise.
Gross sales Funnel Instance 2. GymShark
Based by Ben Francis in 2012, GymShark is a sportswear model price an estimated $1.3 billion. GymShark’s audience is exercise-lovers aged 18 — 40.
Gross sales funnel steps
Right here’s how GymShark’s gross sales funnel works:
Step 1. Consideration
Leads discover GymShark by way of PPC advertising, social media commercials, influencer advertising, commerce present appearances, or social media posts. GymShark at the moment has 5.6 million Instagram followers and 1.9 million Fb likes.
Step 2. Curiosity
GymShark teaches prospects about their merchandise by way of weblog posts, social media posts, and in-store discussions.
Step 3. Need
GymShark builds a want for its activewear primarily by way of sponsoring well-known athletes and influencers to put on them.
For instance, they accomplice with well-known weightlifters and health influencers to put on their gear when filming spectacular stunts.

GymShark additionally leverages electronic mail advertising funnels and the GymShark iPhone app.
Step 4. Motion
GymShark sells merchandise by way of its e-commerce retailer, London-based retailer, and through retailers.
Why GymShark’s gross sales funnel works:
- It makes use of recognizable individuals to make the merchandise look attractive
- It creates a group across the model on social media
- It engages with leads on platforms they use recreationally (Instagram, TikTok, Fb, YouTube, and so on.)
What you’ll be able to be taught from GymShark’s gross sales funnel
GymShark’s largest power is how successfully it leverages the Worry of Lacking Out (FOMO).
To construct FOMO round your model, discover alternatives to showcase your services and products in settings the place they’re very socially fascinating. For instance, you could possibly strive influencer advertising, showcase your merchandise on social media, or ship business figures Public Relations (PR) packages.
Gross sales Funnel Instance 3. Kurzgesagt
Kurzgesagt is an animation studio and design company that helps manufacturers create explanatory movies, infographics, and illustrations. Kurzgesagt has labored with many well-known shoppers, together with Microsoft, Lyft, Siemens, and the Invoice and Melinda Gates Basis.
Gross sales funnel steps
Right here’s how Kurzgesagt’s gross sales funnel works:
Step 1. Consideration
Leads primarily discover Kurzgesagt from its YouTube channel “Kurzgesagt — In a Nutshell.” This channel has 17.7 million subscribers and 1.8 billion video views.

Step 2. Curiosity
Kurzgesagt’s YouTube movies clarify sophisticated subjects in bite-sized clips with participating animations and sound results. The movies additionally hyperlink to Kurzgesagt’s different content material, which brings individuals into the Kurzgesagt group on Reddit, Twitter, Fb, Patreon, and Instagram.
Step 3. Need
Kurzgesagt makes use of its YouTube success to convey experience and professionalism to potential shoppers. Their web site additionally showcases their core companies.
Step 4. Motion
Potential shoppers get in contact with Kurzgesagt through the shape on its web site.
Why Kurgesagt’s gross sales funnel works:
- It makes use of the company’s social media fame (highly effective social proof) to showcase its talents
- It provides the company mainstream recognition
- It propels Kurzgesagt into the media incessantly
What you’ll be able to be taught from Kurgesagt’s gross sales funnel
Kurzgesagt’s largest power is its mastery over natural social media content material.
To make use of social media to succeed in potential leads, consider methods to showcase your experience on platforms your ideally suited viewers makes use of. For instance, you could possibly promote by way of Pinterest, create YouTube movies, or begin a podcast.
Gross sales Funnel Instance 4. Koia

Based mostly in California, Koia is a beverage retailer that produces dairy-free, kosher, and low sugar drinks. Koia’s goal prospects are individuals who need a substitute for unhealthy power drinks and sodas.
Gross sales funnel steps
Right here’s how Koia’s gross sales funnel works:
Step 1. Consideration
Leads discover Koia by way of their influencer partnerships, PPC promoting, social media posts, or advertisements. Koia at the moment has 89k Instagram followers and 47K Fb likes.
Step 2. Curiosity
Koia builds curiosity round its merchandise utilizing its weblog, TikTok movies, and aesthetically-pleasing Instagram photos. Koia may be very cautious with its model picture and makes use of a definite coloration palette for model recognition.
Step 3. Need
Koia’s distinctive positioning on social media helps them relate to a slim audience that may’t wait to strive their merchandise. They share recipes and create particular new flavors to get prospects prepared to purchase.
Step 4. Motion
Koia sells by way of its e-commerce retailer and through retailers (which embody Goal, 7/11, AmazonFresh, and Publix).
Koia even drives repeat actions (AKA gross sales) with its loyalty program, “The Koia Krew.” Members of the Koia Krew can use the Koia web site to speak with one another and get unique gives. Koia additionally makes use of ActiveCampaign for electronic mail advertising campaigns and makes use of giveaways and unique gives to incentivize prospects to buy.
Why Koia’s gross sales funnel works:
- It builds model loyalty
- It gamifies the client expertise
- It makes use of sturdy visible branding to make the model recognizable
What you’ll be able to be taught from Koia’s gross sales funnel
The largest factor you’ll be able to be taught from Koia is the significance of stable branding and a buyer loyalty program. Utilizing cohesive and aesthetically-pleasing branding throughout your advertising channels makes them look distinctly “yours.” Constructing a model loyalty program will encourage individuals to make repeat purchases and provides prospects social rewards.
Use ActiveCampaign to create a gross sales funnel that converts
There’s no “proper” technique to construct a gross sales funnel, because the optimum gross sales funnel for your enterprise will rely in your prospects, model, and choices. Nonetheless, listed here are some issues to remember when constructing your funnel:
- Attempt to construct FOMO by displaying off your choices.
- Leverage a number of advertising channels to succeed in a wider viewers.
- Use social media to extend your on-line attain.
- Create content material that’s participating and attention-grabbing.
- Use distinct visible branding throughout all gross sales channels.
- Construct a model loyalty program to get individuals to make repeat purchases.
And, after all, use ActiveCampaign for electronic mail advertising. Our platform will assist you create efficient electronic mail advertising campaigns that put the correct emails in entrance of the correct prospect, on the proper time. Use superior personalization and automations to create a next-level subscriber expertise.
Join a demo to see how ActiveCampaign might remodel your enterprise.