The key to consistent customers is a simple marketing funnel—and yet many founders ignore it, and end up going bankrupt.
After working with over 50 startups and some of the biggest names in business, I know exactly how this funnel works, and I’m here to show it to you.
I'll break down what a marketing funnel is, how you can use it to get customers, and the mistakes you need to avoid to maximize your success—all in a simple, actionable way.
So, what marketing funnel strategy do billion-dollar companies use that you can copy?
Let’s find out!
After working with over 50 startups and some of the biggest names in business, I know exactly how this funnel works, and I’m here to show it to you.
I'll break down what a marketing funnel is, how you can use it to get customers, and the mistakes you need to avoid to maximize your success—all in a simple, actionable way.
So, what marketing funnel strategy do billion-dollar companies use that you can copy?
Let’s find out!
You will learn:
→ How to build a marketing funnel that attracts and converts customers.
→ Practical steps to guide leads smoothly through each stage of the funnel.
→ Common funnel mistakes that could cost you customers.
→ Practical steps to guide leads smoothly through each stage of the funnel.
→ Common funnel mistakes that could cost you customers.
What is a marketing funnel, and what’s its goal?
A marketing funnel is a step-by-step process designed to convert leads into paying customers. Think of it like a roadmap, taking users by the hand and leading them to buy your product.
A simple marketing funnel has 4 phases:
• Awareness
• Interest
• Desire
• Action
It's‚ called the AIDA model and the idea is to move people further down the funnel, from simply knowing about your business to becoming paying customers.
A simple marketing funnel has 4 phases:
• Awareness
• Interest
• Desire
• Action
It's‚ called the AIDA model and the idea is to move people further down the funnel, from simply knowing about your business to becoming paying customers.
When you do it right, this process doesn’t feel forced but naturally leads people to your product. Now that you know the end goal, let me show you how you can build a marketing funnel for your business with these 4 steps.
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Step 1: Awareness
The first stage is awareness—where people first discover your business. This could be through social media, your website, YouTube, word of mouth, or other channels.
At this stage, your goal is simple: you want to get as many eyeballs as possible on your brand.
Now, when it comes to getting attention, you have options—lots of them! There are 19 different marketing channels you could use, like organic social media, SEO, content marketing or ads.
The important thing is this: don’t just choose all of them—think about where your audience hangs out and focus on those channels.
At this stage, your goal is simple: you want to get as many eyeballs as possible on your brand.
Now, when it comes to getting attention, you have options—lots of them! There are 19 different marketing channels you could use, like organic social media, SEO, content marketing or ads.
The important thing is this: don’t just choose all of them—think about where your audience hangs out and focus on those channels.
For example, if your audience is mainly on LinkedIn, you could start by posting weekly articles or business updates to attract attention. A great framework for finding the best marketing channels is the Bullseye Framework.
So think about it:
• What marketing channels are you currently using?
• Are they effective?
• Are you getting the results you want or could you explore new ones to get more eyeballs?
If you found a great channel, start posting content and get some eyeballs on your product. Ok, so once you’ve captured people’s attention, the next step is to build interest.
So think about it:
• What marketing channels are you currently using?
• Are they effective?
• Are you getting the results you want or could you explore new ones to get more eyeballs?
If you found a great channel, start posting content and get some eyeballs on your product. Ok, so once you’ve captured people’s attention, the next step is to build interest.
Step 2: Interest
The Interest stage is about turning that attention into curiosity. You want people to think, ‘Hmm—this looks interesting.’
And here’s how you do it: with a landing page and a lead magnet.
A landing page is a page on your website that shows one specific offer. And the lead magnet is the star of this stage—it’s something valuable you offer for free, like a worksheet, checklist, or free demo. In exchange, people provide their email address.
So on your landing page, make it super clear why people should download this lead magnet.
And here’s how you do it: with a landing page and a lead magnet.
A landing page is a page on your website that shows one specific offer. And the lead magnet is the star of this stage—it’s something valuable you offer for free, like a worksheet, checklist, or free demo. In exchange, people provide their email address.
So on your landing page, make it super clear why people should download this lead magnet.
And this step is super important – you want to collect email addresses – i will tell you in a second why this is crucial.
So, think about it: what kind of lead magnet could you create that would provide real value to your audience? Take a moment to jot down a few ideas. And then, create a simple checklist or cheat sheet related to your product’s value, and offer it for free on your website in exchange for people's email addresses.
Ok, so far, we’ve identified marketing channels and set up a landing page with a lead magnet. Now it’s time to turn those leads into customers.
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So, think about it: what kind of lead magnet could you create that would provide real value to your audience? Take a moment to jot down a few ideas. And then, create a simple checklist or cheat sheet related to your product’s value, and offer it for free on your website in exchange for people's email addresses.
Ok, so far, we’ve identified marketing channels and set up a landing page with a lead magnet. Now it’s time to turn those leads into customers.
Step 3: Desire
The desire stage is where you need two things: a solid sales page and a sequence of nurturing emails. Your sales page is where people can buy your product. You highlight the benefits, show some testimonials, and address any last questions people may have.
But here’s the thing:
1. Most people won’t visit your sales page on their own.
2. Even fewer will buy on their first visit.
But here’s the thing:
1. Most people won’t visit your sales page on their own.
2. Even fewer will buy on their first visit.
That's why we captured their email addresses in the beginning with a lead magnet. In marketing there is a saying that you need 7 touchpoints with leads that they buy from you.
This is where the emails come in. By capturing their email address with the lead magnet, we can now nurture these leads. So we send regular, valuable emails—like tips, resources, and worksheets.
This is where the emails come in. By capturing their email address with the lead magnet, we can now nurture these leads. So we send regular, valuable emails—like tips, resources, and worksheets.
The goal is to build trust and keep people engaged. And every once in a while, we will subtly remind them of our product.
For example, here is how I do it and it works great:
I send one valuable email per week to my audience, and every quarter, I introduce a new product. In addition, in every email, I add a gentle hint about my resources.
For example, here is how I do it and it works great:
I send one valuable email per week to my audience, and every quarter, I introduce a new product. In addition, in every email, I add a gentle hint about my resources.
It’s a powerful way to remind people of what you offer without being too salesy.
So here is what I want you to do:
1. Sketch out a simple sales page with a headline, beneftis and a testimonial.
2. Ask yourself how you can add value and build trust with emails. Plan it out like how many emails will you send? What content will you send?
3. Get a pen and paper and write down the next 5 emails you are going to send and make sure they are all super valuable.
4. Set up an email sequence to share a tip each week and gently link back to your product.
Ok, we’ve set up our marketing channels, captured leads with a lead magnet, and engaged them with valuable emails. But if you don't take the next step, everything you've done will be for nothing.
You obviously want leads to buy your product.
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So here is what I want you to do:
1. Sketch out a simple sales page with a headline, beneftis and a testimonial.
2. Ask yourself how you can add value and build trust with emails. Plan it out like how many emails will you send? What content will you send?
3. Get a pen and paper and write down the next 5 emails you are going to send and make sure they are all super valuable.
4. Set up an email sequence to share a tip each week and gently link back to your product.
Ok, we’ve set up our marketing channels, captured leads with a lead magnet, and engaged them with valuable emails. But if you don't take the next step, everything you've done will be for nothing.
You obviously want leads to buy your product.
Step 4: Action
And this is where your sales emails come in. Sales emails are all about pitching your product with clear calls to action, like ‘Buy Now’ or ‘Sign Up Today.’
The goal is to remind leads of the great product you have and in the end – make them buy. So it's about nudging your leads gently but firmly toward the finish line.
And here’s a pro tip:
Add urgency to your sales emails with a limited-time offer or a bonus for immediate action. This way you can give that final nudge people need.
The goal is to remind leads of the great product you have and in the end – make them buy. So it's about nudging your leads gently but firmly toward the finish line.
And here’s a pro tip:
Add urgency to your sales emails with a limited-time offer or a bonus for immediate action. This way you can give that final nudge people need.
So, take a moment to brainstorm a few sales emails. How will you encourage leads to buy? Write down some ideas and makes sure you add urgency.
Let's summarize the marketing funnel with an example. Imagine you’re a fitness app founder:
You’d start by posting fitness tips on Instagram (Awareness), offer a free 7-day fitness challenge as a lead magnet (Interest), nurture people with weekly health tips (Desire), and then you invite leads to try your app with a 7-day discount (Action).
Let's summarize the marketing funnel with an example. Imagine you’re a fitness app founder:
You’d start by posting fitness tips on Instagram (Awareness), offer a free 7-day fitness challenge as a lead magnet (Interest), nurture people with weekly health tips (Desire), and then you invite leads to try your app with a 7-day discount (Action).
What's next
So, these are the four key parts of a successful marketing funnel. This funnel has worked for countless startups and billion-dollar companies—and now you have the blueprint to make it work for your business too.
But here’s the thing: knowing the stages of the funnel is great, but none of that matters if you don't know the next steps.
Check out my Startup Success Bunde.
It's my answer to founders getting stuck in the process or making critical mistakes that cost their business.
Learn how to turn your startup idea into the successful, thriving business of your dreams!
But here’s the thing: knowing the stages of the funnel is great, but none of that matters if you don't know the next steps.
Check out my Startup Success Bunde.
It's my answer to founders getting stuck in the process or making critical mistakes that cost their business.
Learn how to turn your startup idea into the successful, thriving business of your dreams!
