{"id":6467,"date":"2020-12-10T14:19:08","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T20:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kmbrian.com\/blog\/?p=6467"},"modified":"2020-12-18T14:19:55","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T20:19:55","slug":"sales-funnel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/kmbrian.com\/blog\/sales-funnel\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need To Know About a Sales Funnel"},"content":{"rendered":"

A recent survey found that 50% of sales reps avoid being pushy when approaching buyers, while 84% of buyers felt this wasn\u2019t the case<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So, where\u2019s the disconnect?<\/p>\n

We\u2019d wager that a lot of sales organizations aren\u2019t utilizing a sales funnel. With a sales funnel, you\u2019re avoiding the pushiness by making sure your conversations are highly relevant at all times.<\/p>\n

You ask questions in certain parts of the funnel and push for the sale in others. Get your wires crossed, and they\u2019ll sprint to the nearest competitor. The hard truth is that your prospective customers have a lot of options.<\/p>\n

To make a sale, you\u2019ve got to set the perfect conditions. That\u2019s where an optimized sales funnel makes all the difference. Without one, you might as well be guessing. With one, you\u2019re on the path to record sales.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s everything you need to know about sales funnels:<\/p>\n

What Is a Sales Funnel?<\/h2>\n

A sales funnel maps the journey a prospective customer goes through when purchasing products or services.<\/p>\n

Creating a sales funnel helps identify possible holes in the process where prospects are losing interest. Sometimes it\u2019s as easy as changing your sales copy or reworking your pricing structure. Other times it requires a complete overhaul of your sales funnel.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, you\u2019ll never know where you stand until you create one.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also worth noting that sales funnels are not static \u2013 they\u2019re constantly changing and evolving to meet your customer\u2019s needs. Each stage of your funnel requires finesse. Say the wrong thing at the wrong time, and you could scare them away.<\/p>\n

What Are the Stages of a Sales Funnel?<\/h2>\n

\"\"Most sales funnels are divided into multiple steps, which vary based on industry and other factors. The most common sales funnel has four key steps that you can easily remember with the acronym AIDA. That\u2019s A<\/strong>ttention, I<\/strong>nterest, D<\/strong>ecision, A<\/strong>ction.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s break down what each means:<\/p>\n

Awareness<\/h3>\n

At this stage, a prospect becomes aware of your company and has a vague understanding of what you offer. Typically, a prospect is either actively seeking answers to a specific problem or happens to stumble upon a challenge that directs them to you through one or many channels.<\/p>\n

The best way to get on a prospect\u2019s radar is by putting yourself out there with content. Here are a few examples of awareness generating content:<\/p>\n