What’s the one thing every business needs to succeed? A funnel, of course.
Specifically, you need a marketing sales funnel–a way to draw in customers and get them interested in your product. Filling up your funnel is a key element for expanding your sales.
If you aren’t familiar with the sales funnel concept, don’t worry; this article will explain how a marketing funnel works, as well as offering a few tips on how to improve yours.
Keep reading to have the concept of the sales funnel explained and to get some valuable advice on how to fill one!
What Is a Sales Funnel?
There are numerous sales funnel examples because most businesses follow the principle of the sales funnel (whether they realize it or not). The ‘sales funnel’ concept is just a way of visualizing basic marketing stages.
The funnel comprises four stages, in the following order: attention, interest, desire, action. These stages are often abbreviated as AIDA.
To sell a product, you need people to notice the product. You do that by grabbing people’s attention. Once you have their attention, you pique their interest by highlighting the benefits of your product.
When they’re interested, you can then make an emotional connection that sparks a desire to purchase. Then, you tell them the action you want them to take: click here, buy this, and so on.
Conferences
Conferences and similar events are a fantastic way to fill up several spots in your funnel. The most obvious benefit to a conference is that it helps you grab attention; it gives you the chance to meet new people.
It’s about more than getting your name out, though. You have an opportunity to make a connection with people face to face, which can help you establish both interest and desire, all in one place.
Referral Programs
Referral programs are a great way to get more eyes on your business. You’re essentially incentivizing positive word of mouth, letting your current customers do the marketing for you.
As a matter of fact, these programs fit nicely with a more modern, revised sales funnel–one that has five steps: awareness, consideration, conversion, loyalty, and advocacy.
This funnel is essentially the same as the standard funnel, but it adds a few steps focused on customers you already have: loyalty (so they keep buying from you) and advocacy (so they get other people to buy from you, too).
Prioritize Customer Service
Want to improve every single stage of your funnel? Then, you need to focus on making your customer service the best it can be. Great customer service puts you in the good graces of new and returning customers alike.
Having great customer service helps you before you even make a sale. For instance, say you’re cold-calling potential leads. People are more receptive to a polite, positive caller.
If the person making the cold call sounds bored or unenthusiastic, they could lose the customer.
Fill Your Marketing Sales Funnel
With a full marketing sales funnel, you’ll be grabbing everyone’s attention and moving products like never before. You’ll be amazed at how even one new sales funnel strategy can revitalize your marketing efforts.
For more great ideas that can fill your marketing sales funnel to the brim, check out our digital marketing blogs!
