Understanding what a sales funnel is and how it differs from the marketing funnel is fundamental when creating the most effective customer journey plan for a business organization. Each funnel is crucial in business expansion; however, their aims and approaches differ. In this blog, you will learn about sales vs. marketing funnels, 12 key differences, and practical tips on adjusting them for your business.
What is a Marketing Funnel?
A marketing funnel illustrates a customer’s process before becoming interested in your products and services. Its goals are to create awareness, educate leads, and cultivate them before passing them on to the sales team.
Basics of the Marketing Funnel
- It targets a broad audience.
- It creates brand awareness through several touch points such as blogs, advertisements, and social media.
- Directs potential customers toward the sales team.
For instance:
A fitness brand might first advertise workout programs on Instagram to ‘entice’ prospects into its telegram or newsletter and then follow up via email with free advice as a form of awareness creation.
What are the key stages of the Marketing Funnel?
Awareness:
Open the viewers’ eyes with SEO-friendly blogs, mind-provoking social posts & appealing videos.
Example:
A beauty brand posts tutorials so that viewers searching for makeup tips are more likely to come across them.
Consideration:
Help the audience through webinars and newsletters or by providing them with a free trial.
Example:
Linking to a free e-book about skincare routines will be possible, thus creating trust in the target market.
Decision:
They help to urge leads to act with irresistible options or word of mouth.
Example:
A clothing brand aims to give $20 OFF to customers who have never bought anything in this store.
How do you define the AIDA Model?
Attention:
Getting the attention of a consumer with attractive graphics or headlines.
Interest:
The primary areas of attention are benefit and distinctiveness.
Desire:
Claiming the hearts through the use of testimonials or one-of-a-kind attributes.
Action:
This leads to engagement with powerful call-to-action statements such as ‘Buy Now.’
How do you understand the Concept of Sales Funnel?
A sales funnel takes the marketing funnel leads down to a qualified buyer and guides them through the decision-making process until they purchase. This is more about interaction and contacts; the main deals here are conversions.
Basics of the Sales Funnel
- It can be applied immediately after the lead has demonstrated an interest in the product.
- Never use email or other forms of communication to handle objections. Follow up instead with a call.
- Decide on creating more sales and maintaining customer relations.
What are the stages of the Sales Funnel?
Marketers categorize consumers according to their buying process and thus differentiate the marketing funnel from the sales funnel.
Awareness
Promote your product or your service to the public.
Example:
A SaaS company pays for ads for businesses struggling with manual work.
Interest
Attention must, therefore, be devoted to responding to needs.
Example:
Explain how to use your solution in detail with the help of an entertaining demo video focusing on the significant issues that can be addressed with your product.
Desire
Create desire by proving how acquiring your product will enhance the customer’s life or business.
Example:
Use examples and provide appropriate success stories of people with lessons from the real world.
Evaluation
Highlight the reasons why customers should leverage any option with clear value propositions.
Example:
Having an equal plan or first-time test basis minimizes consumers’ difficulty in deciding.
Sale
Make the purchase conclusive with the alert that a sale is soon to close or an extra offer is about to end.
Example:
Divide your product into consumable parts, offer the first one for a lower price, or include an extra feature for a limited time.
Retention
Emphasis on the ability to retain and be able to sell to the same customer again and again.
Example:
This means a consumer loyalty program equally redeems points for every purchasing activity.
Sales Funnels vs. Marketing Funnels: 12 Key Differences
Comparison Table: Marketing Funnel and Sales Funnel:
Example:
Software as a service business often employs a marketing funnel to attract small business people through blogs and free product shifts to a sales funnel for demonstrations, signing, and sealing.
Integrated Funnels: Alternatives and Complements
Deciding on different sales and marketing funnels can reduce confusion in some settings.
Why Should Sales and Marketing Funnel Be Different?
Specialization of Teams:
Sales and marketing teams do not need to be confused with each other so that each part can do its work correctly.
Example:
Marketing aims at the brand’s visibility, and selling, on the other hand, concentrates on conversion.
Clearer Metrics:
All the funnels have their metric base and standard metrics like the number of marketing leads or sales conversions.
Fewer Conflicts:
Different funnels eliminate conflict on who does what between various teams.
When do you need Separate Funnels?
Large Organizations:
Companies with formalizing the sales and marketing departments realize the advantages of the division of work.
Highly Complex Processes:
Companies that have implemented detailed customer journey maps may need to use specific funnels to attain each stage.
Advantages of having Separate Funnels
- Higher correspondence with departmental objectives.
- There is a greater chance of defining critical activities within these funnels.
- Specific approaches for each of the steps within the customer funnel.
Single Funnel for a Prioritized Activity
For small businesses or startups, for instance, conducting a single activity through a single funnel can be revolutionary.
How do you define a Single Funnel?
The integrated process of marketing and sales forces into a single organizational unit.
They are usually specific and customer-oriented, with an increased emphasis on only one goal, for instance, generating leads or making direct sales.
Pros of a Single Funnel
Simplicity:
Since it contains fewer parts that move, it can be easily handled.
Example:
One application is used by a local bakery to handle orders and encourage customers to participate in loyalty programs.
Cost-Effectiveness:
It cuts out using other tools or resources, leading to efficiency.
Unified Approach:
Integrates the cooperation efforts to increase effectiveness.
How to Build a Single Funnel?
Identify the Priority Goal:
Investigate your goal; is it to increase awareness, collect leads, or make a sale?
Streamline Messaging:
For improved communication, create an endearing message to both the potential client and the existing one.
Use Versatile Tools:
Engage the commonly used software with the ability to do several processes simultaneously, such as Hubspot or Clickfunnels.
When is it Appropriate to Use a Single Funnel Only?
Startups:
Owing to the scarcity of resources, a single faucet can incorporate essential operations.
Small Teams:
Corporations that experience overlapping responsibilities turn into earning this strategy.
What are the Differences between FlyWheel & Marketing Funnel?
Some industries, such as Magento B2B businesses, consistently implement the flywheel model instead of funnels.
How do you define the FlyWheel Model?
- A circular business model that focuses on continuity of business and customers.
- It has three stages that continuously cycle that are:
- Attract
- Engage
- Delight
How do you compare FlyWheel & Funnel?
Structure:
Funnel:
By the nature of the ‘take-one-get-one-free’ promotion, it is a linear model characterized by leads dropping out after conversion.
Flywheel:
It is circular, although its central theme is aimed at ensuring that customer satisfaction is achieved.
Focus:
Funnel:
It comes with obtaining new customers as its primary goal.
Flywheel:
Stresses on customer acquisition and customer loyalty.
Why Choose the Flywheel Model?
Customer-Centric Approach:
Satisfied consumers become your brand promoters, contributing to expansion.
Example:
Subscription box service depends on the customers’ word of mouth to get them more clientele.
Sustainable Growth:
The retention strategies are usually cheaper than strategies on sourcing for new customers.
Minimizes Drop-Offs:
Provides customers with value throughout the consumption process.
When do you use the Flywheel?
E-commerce Brands:
This is ideal for businesses that continuously call for some patronage from their clients.
SaaS Companies:
The re-registration of subscribers is the basis for a subscription business and retaining the customers’ satisfaction.
How to get into that flywheel?
Invest in Customer Success:
Exercise good post-purchase benefits.
Leverage Referrals:
Make your buyers advocates through referral programs.
Focus on Feedback:
Surveys and reviews should be used to make necessary improvements.
How to Build a Funnel Without Data?
- Towards identifying the macro environment, learn about the pain points of your target audience.
- Don’t go ahead with fresh hypotheses on big campaigns or experiments.
- Early results should be feedback into each stage to make the subsequent ones more effective.
How to Optimize Your Funnels?
Track Metrics:
Key performance indicators, such as Google Analytics and HubSpot, should be used with web analytics as tools for measurement.
Test CTAs:
Try a few different call-to-action phrases to determine which people like the most.
Streamline Content:
Cut out anything non-essential or a request to the team.
Example:
A retail brand enhanced its funnel by removing some of the stages involved in an internet sale.
What is the meaning of a sales funnel?
The sales funnel represents steps that need to be taken to turn the visitors into buyers and take their needs into account, doing so at every stage.
How are the marketing funnels related to the sales funnels?
Marketing funnels call for brand exposure and lead management, while sales funnels seek to make sales.
Can small businesses use both funnels?
These two are essential because they help maintain harmony throughout marketing and sales.
Which tools are applicable for managing funnels?
Hubspot, Mailchimp, and Salesforce are widely used tools to map customer’s journeys.
How Rozi Academy Helps with Sales Funnels vs. Marketing Funnels: 12 Key Differences
We are a sales and marketing funnel development company at Rozi Academy that helps businesses.
Custom strategies:
Solutions are specifically adapted to cater to the particular objectives of any organization.
Expert guidance:
Evidence-based outcomes to help you optimize your ROI.
Integrated tools:
The purported backing for the implementation of CRM and marketing automation.
It’s a resourceful place for a new startup company or even a large-scale enterprise to seek help.
Conclusion
The Sales Funnels vs. Marketing Funnels: 12 Key Differences is essential knowledge in honing your business plans. They are all involved in marketing customer acquisition, engagement, and conversion. These funnels must be synchronized to create a smooth flow for your prospects.
Rozi Academy simplifies it for you. We are also ready to build new funnels or refine the existing ones if your business needs them. Come to Rozi Academy for more insights on increasing your funnels and experiencing growth!
