UNDERSTAND THE SALES FUNNEL PROCESS WITH A SIMPLE AI-DRIVEN FUNNEL SIMULATOR
Manuel Pistner
AI marketing system to help you grow revenues and profits, NOT workload and stress (FREE how-to training below)
Welcome to the world of the sales funnel process—a dynamic and strategic approach that not only amplifies your brand's visibility but also nurtures valuable customer relationships, paving the way for sustainable business expansion and increased profitability.
The sales funnel is a powerful roadmap that can guide you through the intricate labyrinth of customer acquisition and lead conversion.
Understanding the sales funnel process makes your day easier, ultimately providing a structure that makes your sales and marketing goals SMART.
Watch the video to learn more about the psychology of the buyer, and how to use AI and ChatGPT to solve the problem-solution gap in the sales funnel process:
The Sales Funnel Process Explained in 15 Steps
Let’s talk about the sales funnel process, which is basically the journey your customers take from first hearing about your product or service to actually buying it.
Here’s how it works, step by step (through an AI-powered sales funnel simulator) to help you lead your team to success.
STEP 1: GETTING NOTICED (STAGE: AWARENESS)
The first step is making sure people know you exist. Spread the word about your product or service through social media, ads, and other ways to get people’s attention.
The clients you want to win have a problem they are trying to solve.
Bridging the problem-solution gap should be at the core of your business strategy. It is the starting point to develop a customized sales funnel process with the tools you have at your disposal.
Logically, your clients will find you (become aware of you) if you connect with them, empathize, and offer a solution for this problem.
In the awareness stage, ChatGPT can help you unveil your clients’ most pressing problems.
“Your ad campaign or organic exposure needs to represent a potentially good solution to their problem to arouse interest for squeezing them into the next stage.”
STEP 2: SPARKING CURIOSITY (STAGE: INTEREST)
Once they notice you, you need to get them interested. Share interesting stuff about what you offer, and get them curious about what you can do for them.
Here comes the content.
“Ideally, the content of your ad and the content of your squeeze page align and spark enough interest for those ‘hm’, ‘maybe’, ’interesting’, and ‘it has some potential’ leads to seriously consider you as a provider for the solution that alleviates their problem.”
Since you cannot be sure about what makes your clients interested specifically in your business instead of anyone else’s, it is time for A/B testing.
ChatGPT can provide you with content ideas to use as testing variations in this stage of the sales funnel process.
STEP 3: HELPING THEM LOOK (STAGE: RESEARCH AND CONSIDERATION)
When they start to look for more info, be there to help. Make sure you’ve got clear and helpful info for them to find.
Answer their questions and show them how you can solve their problems.
Both A/B testing and contact forms are tools for gathering information about how you can help your clients and eventually win them.
Keep in mind that your clients have one big problem that consists of subproblems.
The best way to demonstrate that you can help them with your business is to offer a solution to one of their subproblems.
“Solving a subproblem of the main problem is a support token for your expertise which leads your clients to start evaluating the pros and cons of choosing you as their problem solver.”
STEP 4: STANDING OUT (STAGE: EVALUATION)
When they’re comparing you with other options, show them why you’re special.
Let them know what makes you different and better than the rest.
“Unless done right, poorly educating your clients at this stage is a common pitfall. Ensure you provide clear and captivating subsolutions to the subproblems to inform the clients you are trying to win that you are ‘the one’.”
Video training is one such method for explaining your problem-solving abilities. ChatGPT can help you develop full video sales scripts provided it is fed the right prompts to generate them.
Learn more: Best ChatGPT Prompts to Develop Your Business
STEP 5: MAKING IT EASY (STAGE: INTENT)
Make it as easy as possible for them to choose you.
Be clear about your pricing, benefits, and any guarantees you offer.
Make it easy for them to say yes to you.
Win your clients’ trust by offering client testimonials and successful case studies.
STEP 6: SEALING THE DEAL (STAGE: PURCHASE)
When they’re ready to buy, make sure the process is smooth.
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Help them get what they need quickly and easily.
Optimize your sales page for those leads that have proven to be aware, interested, analytical, and intentional enough to click the ‘buy’ button.
STEP 7: KEEPING IN TOUCH (STAGE: POST-PURCHASE ENGAGEMENT)
After they buy, don’t disappear. Stay in touch and make sure they’re happy with what they got.
Show them you care about their experience.
The sales funnel process is in a never-ending feedback loop, the success of which spirals from your preparedness to continuously engage with your clients and build customer loyalty.
Use ChatGPT to develop effective post-purchase engagement strategies, such as personalized follow-up emails, product usage tips, or customer satisfaction surveys, to foster long-term customer relationships and encourage repeat purchases.
STEP 8: SUGGESTING MORE (STAGE: UPSELL AND CROSS-SELL)
Once they’ve bought something, show them what else you have that they might like.
Offer them something that complements what they already bought.
STEP 9: KEEPING THEM HAPPY (STAGE: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION)
Make sure they’re happy with what they bought.
Listen to any concerns they have and fix any issues quickly.
STEP 10: ASKING FOR HELP (STAGE: ADVOCACY)
If they’re happy, ask them to spread the word.
Encourage them to tell others about you and what you offer.
Clients you have won by successfully solving a big problem for them are your best advocates.
They can help you build additional trust and authority as an expert problem solver in your niche by providing a testimonial or a review for your products and services.
STEP 11: KEEPING THEM AROUND (STAGE: RETENTION)
Once they’re your customer, keep them that way. Offer them special deals or rewards for staying with you.
STEP 12: BRINGING THEM BACK (STAGE: REENGAGEMENT)
If they haven’t been around for a while, reach out and remind them of what they’re missing.
Offer them something special to come back.
ChatGPT can help you create re-engagement email campaigns, targeted promotions, or win-back offers that rekindle the interest of inactive customers and motivate them to re-engage with your brand.
STEP 13: LISTENING TO THEM (STAGE: FEEDBACK)
Always ask them how you can do better. Listen to their feedback and use it to make things even better for them.
STEP 14: LEARNING AND GROWING (STAGE: IMPROVEMENT)
Keep an eye on what’s working and what’s not. Use what you learn to make things better for everyone.
To improve in any stage of the sales funnel process, you need to have clear goals and KPIs to track as metrics for the sales funnel performance.
Otherwise, your sales funnel is built on hope and trust, not efficient, and most likely losing you money because of a lack of proper funnel optimization.
STEP 15: NEVER STOP IMPROVING (STAGE: ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION)
Always look for ways to make things better.
Keep trying new things and never stop looking for ways to grow and improve.
By following these steps, you can guide your team to understand and excel at each stage of the sales funnel. This will help you build strong relationships with your customers and keep your business growing strong.
Click below to get FREE access to our in-depth AI-based sales funnel training that will help you discover, set up, and track the right KPIs for maximum ROI!