Ask most marketers about how sales funnels work, and they\u2019ll draw a diagram: prospects to into the top of the funnel, and some of them come out the bottom as customers.<\/p>\n

But ask them for more details and you\u2019ll get a blank look.<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s how they work, and simple steps you can take to use them successfully.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Funnels aren\u2019t new, and they\u2019re not rocket science.\u00a0 But you do<\/u> have to think about them if they going to work.\u00a0 Properly executed, they\u2019re the journey that a customer takes starting when they first recognize a need, or a problem, or a desire, through when they make their purchase.<\/p>\n

How Sales Funnels work in successful businesses<\/h2>\n

You\u2019re not Apple, selling iPhones.\u00a0 So it\u2019s safe to say that consumers don\u2019t start out wanting to buy from you.\u00a0 They have a thought that gets them interested in finding something that they want or need.\u00a0 Like a bicycle.\u00a0 They could want it for basic transportation, or because there\u2019s not enough parking at the train station, or for exercise.\u00a0 Whatever the reason, the consumer has begun a journey that could eventually lead to making a purchase.\u00a0 And they might just buy from you if you understand marketing.<\/p>\n

The first step<\/h3>\n

The first step in the process is simply catching the consumer\u2019s attention.\u00a0 But it\u2019s not simple: in fact, according to bicycleretailer.com there are 143 brands competing for that consumer in the US alone.\u00a0 And there are 7,000+ bicycle retailers (defined as any retailer who does 50 percent or more of their sales volume in bicycles and bike products, so that excludes stores like Walmart, REI, etc).\u00a0 So you\u2019re facing a lot of competition for the consumer\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n

How do you get their attention?\u00a0 You do it with marketing tactics like<\/p>\n

\n
• Advertising (in all it\u2019s forms)<\/li>\n
• Social Media<\/li>\n
• Content marketing<\/li>\n
• SEO<\/li>\n
• Google Reviews<\/a><\/li>\n
• Trade Shows<\/li>\n
• Events<\/li>\n
• and more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  They all have the same immediate goal: to attract the customer\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n

  The second step<\/h4>\n

  Next comes the hard work: the middle of the funnel<\/a>. \u00a0Consumers want to know what they\u2019re looking at, and the trend is towards \u201cdoing the research\u201d yourself, mainly online. This trend is currently so strong that it\u2019s diminished the role of the salesperson as the source of information, and shifted power from selling to marketing.<\/p>\n

  How do you educate the consumer?\u00a0 You do it with marketing tactics like<\/p>\n

  \n
  • White papers<\/li>\n
  • Product Videos<\/li>\n
  • Demonstrations<\/li>\n
  • Case Studies<\/li>\n
  • Blog Posts<\/li>\n
  • Social Media and Interest Groups<\/li>\n
  • Product comparisons<\/li>\n
  • Messages on hold<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Finally, the third step: the payoff<\/h5>\n

    If your mid funnel marketing is powerful enough you still have consumers at the bottom of the funnel.\u00a0 This is the time to \u201cseal the deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

    How do you win the sale?\u00a0 You do it with marketing tactics like:<\/p>\n

    \n
    • Testimonials<\/li>\n
    • Product Tutorials<\/li>\n
    • Customer generated content<\/li>\n
    • FAQ\u2019s<\/li>\n
    • Success Stories<\/li>\n
    • CRM<\/li>\n
    • Drip Campaigns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Have you thought about Sales Funnels in your business, and how they can help your potential customers take their journey\u2026and finally buy from you?\u00a0 Success doesn\u2019t just happen: it\u2019s the result of a step-by-step, well thought out process.<\/p>\n

      For more ideas, call us at (800) 862-8896.<\/p>\n

      <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Ask most marketers about how sales funnels work, and they\u2019ll draw a diagram: prospects to into the top of the funnel, and some of them come out the bottom as customers. But ask them for … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":100279,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sales"],"yoast_head":"\n