What is a marketing funnel?

Conducting digital marketing without a strategy is like embarking on a road trip without a map. You most likely will get lost, waste time and money. That is why our marketing agency Omaha experts recommend you create a marketing funnel. 

The concept of a marketing funnel has been around since 1898, but it was first known as a sale funnel. Throughout the years, it has evolved to fit today’s digital marketing needs. Here’s a breakdown of what a marketing funnel is and some of the digital marketing strategies to successfully implement it. 

What is a marketing funnel?

A marketing funnel is a visual representation of a customer’s journey to buying your product or service. It demonstrates everything from customer learning about your product or service to conversion and beyond. 

Companies should take the time to understand a marketing funnel so they can build brand awareness and drive greater sales. That is why our marketing agency Omaha team wants to walk you through what a marketing funnel is and how you can start planning one.

The stages of a marketing funnel

A marketing funnel consists of many aspects working together as a whole. Every step of the funnel is critical for the customer journey to be successful. The five stages of a marketing funnel are awareness, consideration, conversion, loyalty and advocacy.

Awareness 

The first stage of a marketing funnel is the awareness stage. This stage is where customers first become aware of your product or service. People cannot buy your product or service if they do not know what it is you sell. 

Some digital marketing strategies that companies can use to create awareness include:

Search engine optimization 

Social media posts

Pay-per-click advertising 

Consideration

The second stage is consideration. In this stage, customers know about your product or service, but they will not make a purchase yet. They are comparing your product or service with other competition or waiting for a special offer. 

Building trust is an important factor in this stage. Some ways you can build your company’s trust are through

Getting reviews

Writing blogs 

Influencer marketing

Conversion

Conversion is the step where customers actually make a purchase. In this stage, you want to highlight why your product or service is better than your competitors. Companies should focus on the benefits of their product or service. 

Some digital marketing tactics you can use to drive conversion are:

Invite subscribers to a webinar

Create an email campaign highlighting the benefits of your product or service

Offer free trials or samples 

Send subscribers an email that offers a sale or discount 

Loyalty

Once a customer has bought your product or service, you want them to keep returning. That is where the loyalty stage comes into play. In this stage, companies can create a loyalty program that helps support future purchases. 

You can build loyalty for your brand by

Creating a rewards program

Sending regular emails

Communicating product updates

Text messaging system

Advocacy

Advocacy is all about getting your fans to talk about your company and recommend your product or service to their friends and family. During this stage, you want to delight customers with valuable content and great service. This step will help get your most referrals. 

Some ways you can help build advocacy are by

Sending out email surveys

Starting an affiliate program 

Sharing reviews on social media 

Get the help of a marketing agency Omaha team! 

If you need help creating a digital marketing strategy that follows a marketing funnel, contact us. Our team of digital marketing experts can not only help you map out a marketing funnel but also bring it to life. Contact us to learn about our digital marketing services.