When it comes to spreading brand awareness and increasing the number of customers a business has, people can use several practical tools. Funnels are wonderful ways to get people interested in your products, website, and business. Several types of funnels can be divided into two main categories: marketing and sales funnels. Knowing which to use will improve your outreach and extend your client base.
Marketing Funnels vs Sales Funnels
Anyone who runs an online business should know what a funnel is because these tools can make a significant difference in the success of a business. Simply put, a funnel is a set of steps that are created with the sole purpose of changing a viewer to a customer. A good funnel will guide the viewers through all the necessary steps to convince interested viewers that the product is worth purchasing.
There is such a close relationship between marketing and sales funnels that it is pretty challenging to tell them apart at times.
What is a marketing funnel?
A marketing funnel is a function created to increase the visibility of a business, thereby giving them a competitive edge over its competitors. A successful marketing funnel exposes viewers to your brand, luring them in to gain more information and ultimately choose your product.
Marketing funnels can be divided into two groups, each with its own benefits. These are the two types of marketing funnels.
Lead generation marketing funnels
These are focused solely on making the brand visible to people who aren’t customers yet. Effective ways to use lead generation marketing funnels are by having viral campaigns, content marketing sessions, sending emails, trade shows, and inbound marketing. This type of marketing funnel can be advantageous because it genuinely extends its reach by utilizing social media, other websites, and in-person activities.
Lead nurturing marketing funnels
Once a viewer has reacted to your brand, a nurturing marketing funnel is focused on building a trusting relationship with the viewer to have enough trust for committing to a purchase. Effective lead nurturing marketing funnels are filled with brand information, ways to communicate, and tailored services to build a thriving relationship with viewers.
Countless businesses have enjoyed incredible success by using unique marketing funnels. These funnels can boost your brand awareness and increase your outreach in unimaginable ways. Creativity and dedication are two qualities that set marketing funnels apart from the rest.
What are sales funnels?
A prospective client should be exposed to sales funnels if a marketing funnel is successful. A sales funnel should provide the final push for getting the viewer to make a purchase. Therefore, a sales funnel can be identified as a funnel that guides a viewer from the marketing stage to purchase.
What is the difference between a marketing funnel and a sales funnel?
Although these two funnels are easily distinguishable in theory, separating them, in reality, can be tricky. The main difference is the intended function of the two funnels. A marketing funnel’s main aim is to extend a business’s outreach and entice interested parties into engaging. On the other hand, a sales funnel’s primary purpose is to drive the viewer to commit to a purchase.
While it is possible to have successful marketing funnels without sales funnels and vice versa, the best approach is to have both types of funnels working in unison. This way, you not only spread brand awareness effectively but increase the odds of improved sales.
By looking at the purpose of the funnels, it is possible to determine whether one of the funnels is not working effectively. If you find an increased amount of flow on your website, it is reasonable to assume that your marketing funnel is working well. However, if there isn’t much improvement in sales, you might need to rethink your sales funnel.
The opposite is also true. If a business gets viewers to commit to sales once they have reached the sales funnel, it is safe to assume that it works. However, if there hasn’t been much traffic flow on your website, you might want to reconsider your marketing funnel.
The perfect union of marketing funnels and sales funnels can be one of the most valuable tools for a business because people are exposed to the brand and then persuaded to buy.
What are effective tools for marketing and sales funnels?
The ultimate goal of both marketing and sales funnels is to increase sales. As a result, any technological tool that can spread awareness and encourage viewers to commit to buying products can be beneficial tools for these funnels.
These are the most widely used online tools for marketing and sales funnels:
Marketing tools via email
Email is a very effective marketing and sales tool because people trust emails more than websites. In addition, a well-written email can boost the viewer’s confidence in your business.
Online sales tools
Fortunately, there are limitless options for businesses when it comes to sales tools.
Finders for adding email addresses
These finders can be extremely valuable because they allow you to broaden your email list. By setting finders where people who might be interested in your products can signup with their email addresses, you can expose them to your marketing and sales funnels.
Online outreach tools
The whole point of funnels is to increase your business outreach. As a result, outreach tools can be beautiful additions to your marketing and sales funnels.
Lead marketing and sales generation tools
As mentioned before, lead generation tools use various techniques to boost brand awareness and sales. Combining techniques can be very powerful because they allow for broader reach, increased exposure to new customers, and greater awareness.
Summary
These days businesses have several online and in-person methods to boost their customer base and increase sales. By being flexible, committed, and willing to learn, a business can rise above the rest by correctly utilizing its marketing and sales funnel. Their efforts could lead to incredible conversion numbers of interested viewers becoming reliable customers, which is the goal of a successful business.