Marketing your business is a task that should never have an end date. You should always have a steady stream of prospects making inquiries about your products or services, opting into your email list, or purchasing from you. When you stop having that steady flow, it’s time to re-evaluate your marketing efforts.
Your sales funnel is simply the path your prospects take from the first introduction to your products and services toward your highest-priced item. The offers you make along this funnel path are completely up to you and they normally follow a gradual price increase.
FREE Checklist: Create An Effective Sales Funnel
How To Fill Your Sales Funnel
Here are 5 ways to consistently fill your sales funnel with leads and prospective customers.
1. Be Consistent With Your Marketing
Advertising doesn’t have to be expensive. It can make a huge difference in how fast you fill your sales funnel and build your audience. Social media platforms, such as Facebook ads, offer a variety of cost-effective online marketing tools. Before you post any ads, make sure that you understand how to use the platform properly so you reach your target audience.
Take advantage of real-life networking events and sponsorship opportunities. Post daily on social media. Interact with prospects on your page, your personal profile, or within common groups. Use scheduling options or third-party schedulers to post on holidays or while you’re on vacation. Consistency is what will gain you recognition.
2. Keep Your Offers Relevant and Up To Date
When was the last time you changed your opt-in freebie? When was the last time you created a new product? Keeping up to date with what your target audience needs and wants shows your dedication to helping them, which will gain you a loyal following. Even updating a current offer with new information goes a long way to earning loyalty.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Tell Your Audience What You Offer
Don’t assume people know what your business actually offers. Your most loyal fans will know because they have followed you but even they may forget your main flagship product or service unless you tell them.
You have a “for profit” business so don’t be afraid to sell. Not only on social media but with your email lists, too.
4. Consider Running an Introductory Special or One-Time Coupon
Introductory specials work well for certain products like membership groups or software, such as a 7-day trial for $1, but use these offers sparingly. If you run discounted specials too often, your followers will simply wait until the next sale before buying. Consider using a coupon discount as a reward for a limited audience, such as webinar listeners or as a gift to podcast listeners when you’re interviewed on someone’s podcast. Always remember to have an end date for any specials of this type.
5. Contact Current Clients and Customers
Did you know that the chances of selling to a current customer range from 60-70% whereas selling to a cold contact is 5-20% (Source: Marketing Metrics)? These warm contacts are already in your funnel but maybe they need a little push to that next level. That push might come from a friendly, personal phone call or email from you. Even if they say they’re not interested at this time, maybe they know someone else who needs your services right now. Don’t be afraid to ask for those referrals.
Free Checklist: How To Develop and Fill Your Sales Funnel
Be creative when it comes to your marketing efforts. Show your personal side, engage in conversation online, encourage email subscribers to send you questions, record some live video to your social media feeds. You’re only limited by your own creativity
If you want to optimize your funnels and generate more conversions, make sure you test your funnels regularly. This will help you gather a lot of actionable data, which can help you improve your conversion rates. If you’re not analyzing your funnels, you’re leaving your money on the table.
When you develop sales funnels the right way, it puts your business on autopilot and consistently turns prospects into paying customers. To discover more about how to develop and fill your sales funnel, download my free Sales Funnel Checklist and use your funnels to get your business from unsuccessful and unprofitable to profitable success.