In the current online business landscape, turning prospects into buyers is the ultimate goal for all internet companies. This is where customer journey software proves valuable, and ClickFunnels is recognized as one of the most established names in this niche.
Started by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has revolutionized the way entrepreneurs and businesses execute online sales, striving to improve the purchase process from initial interest to conversion.
But is ClickFunnels a good value? Does it match its hype? Whether you’re a established entrepreneur or launching your first venture, this detailed review will provide you with all the details you need to make an smart choice about ClickFunnels.
Understanding ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an comprehensive marketing platform built to help businesses create optimized sales funnels without calling for technical expertise or a team of developers. At its center, ClickFunnels allows users to develop landing pages, produce email sequences, process payments, and manage customer relationships-all within a unified platform.
The Principle of Sales Funnels
Before diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s necessary to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel symbolizes the path customers go through from initially discovering your product or service to completing a transaction.
It typically includes parts like exposure, interest, decision, and transaction.
Conventional sites are often designed without a logical progression for visitors to navigate. This can create high bounce rates and forfeited potential customers. Sales funnels, by contrast, are intentionally built to navigate visitors through a defined path, increasing the likelihood of success at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Approach
ClickFunnels has reduced complexity in the process of creating these funnels with its drag-and-drop editor and prepared templates. The platform’s philosophy centers around not just building web pages but creating effective conversion paths that transform visitors into customers and customers into advocates.
Core Functions of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Construction Kit
The core of ClickFunnels is its user-friendly funnel builder. Users can pick a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Built to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For promoting products or services
- Webinar funnels: To publicize and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For continuity products
The visual interface makes it easy to add features like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without coding a single line of code.
2. Ready-made Templates
ClickFunnels includes over numerous pre-designed templates for numerous industries and purposes. These templates, crafted by industry professionals, are optimized for performance and can be modified to match your brand.
3. Split Testing
Identifying what works for your audience is crucial for enhancing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing feature allows you to produce multiple versions of your pages and compare different elements to see which works best.
4. Email Sequences
ClickFunnels combines email marketing capabilities, allowing you to create automated email sequences activated by specific actions. This feature helps foster leads and transition them further down the sales funnel.
5. Billing Integration
The platform effortlessly integrates with payment processors like multiple payment options, facilitating you to accept payments directly through your funnels without transferring customers to external sites.
6. Protected Content
For creators selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels delivers the ability to create restricted membership areas where members can access premium content.
7. Performance Tracking
ClickFunnels offers comprehensive analytics on funnel metrics, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These insights help users improve their funnels for higher results.
8. Affiliate Tracking
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it simple to manage your affiliates, measure their performance, and distribute commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Evolution
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most important update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version marks a complete reconstruction of the platform with advanced features and capabilities.
What’s New in 2.0?
- Enhanced Website Builder: A more sophisticated website builder that allows for total website creation, not just funnels
- Expanded E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to build and maintain a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Enhanced Customization: More versatility in design and functionality
- Enhanced User Interface: A more intuitive dashboard and editor
- Performance Improvements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Advanced CRM Features: More sophisticated customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 addresses many of the shortcomings users experienced with the original version, making it a more complete marketing solution.
Membership Levels
ClickFunnels includes different pricing tiers to serve businesses of various sizes:
Entry-Level Plan
The Basic plan (now called the “Standard” plan in ClickFunnels 2.0) runs $147 per month and includes:
- Up to 20 funnels
- Up to 100 pages
- 3 payment gateways
- 3 domains
- 1 admin user
- Email automation
- Basic analytics
Advanced Plan
At $197 per month, the Pro plan provides:
- Unlimited funnels
- Unlimited pages
- 9 payment gateways
- 9 domains
- 3 admin users
- Advanced automation
- Enhanced analytics
Funnel Hacker Plan
For $997 per month, the Funnel Hacker plan contains:
- All Pro features
- Unlimited funnels and pages
- 27 payment gateways
- 27 domains
- 15 admin users
- Priority support
- Advanced API access
- Advanced training
All plans typically feature a 14-day free trial, allowing users to assess the platform before subscribing financially.
The Positives of Using ClickFunnels
1. All-In-One Solution
Perhaps the main advantage of ClickFunnels is that it merges multiple tools into one platform. Instead of handling different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can handle all these aspects in one place.
2. No Coding Knowledge Required
The platform’s intuitive interface negates the need for coding or design skills. This democratizes the funnel-building process, making it available to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Rapid Deployment
With existing templates and a simplified workflow, ClickFunnels significantly lowers the time needed to launch a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be accomplished in days or even hours.
4. Support Network
ClickFunnels has created a thriving community of users who exchange strategies, successes, and advice. The official ClickFunnels Facebook group has over 250,000 members, creating a valuable resource for marketers at all levels. Additionally, the platform offers comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support.
5. Established Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are built upon proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users employ established best practices rather than working from nothing.
6. Training Content
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a abundance of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide helpful marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer methodical learning opportunities.
Limitations and Drawbacks
Despite its many benefits, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Investment
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a significant investment, especially for one-person operations or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more inexpensive entry-level options.
2. Training Requirement
While designed to be easy to use, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy calls for time and dedication. New users might feel intimidated by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Limited Design Flexibility
Though the builder editor is robust, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it restrictive. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes prioritizes the former.
4. Page Load Time
Prior to 2.0, some users reported challenges with page loading speed, which can negatively impact SEO and user experience. While ClickFunnels 2.0 has improved performance, optimizing for speed demands attention.
5. Email Marketing Boundaries
While ClickFunnels includes email marketing features, they’re not as sophisticated as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for high-level email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Alternatives: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly contested. Here’s how ClickFunnels stacks up against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Positives relative to ClickFunnels:
- More extensive marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More capable email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Limitations:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Strengths:
- More cost-effective entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Limitations:
- Less comprehensive than ClickFunnels (primarily focuses on landing pages)
- Limited checkout and payment processing options
- No built-in email marketing
3. Unbounce
Positives:
- Advanced A/B testing capabilities
- Highly versatile design options
- Strong analytics and conversion intelligence
- More affordable starting point
Weaknesses:
- Primarily focused on landing pages rather than complete funnels
- No built-in payment processing
- Less easy for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Strong points:
- Significantly more affordable (starting at $27/month, with a free plan available)
- All-in-one solution similar to ClickFunnels
- Simple, intuitive interface
Limitations:
- Fewer templates and design options
- Less advanced feature set
- Smaller community and fewer educational resources
5. Instapage
Benefits:
- Superior design flexibility and customization
- Advanced collaboration features
- Excellent analytics and heatmaps
- Strong AdWords and Facebook Ads integration
Shortcomings:
- Higher price point (starting at $149/month)
- Focus on landing pages rather than complete funnels
- No built-in payment processing
6. WordPress + Plugins (DIY Approach)
Advantages:
- Most budget-friendly option if you already have WordPress
- Ultimate flexibility and customization
- Complete ownership and control
- One-time purchases versus subscription model
Drawbacks:
- Requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain
- Multiple plugins may cause compatibility issues
- No unified support system
- Time-intensive to implement and manage
Who Should Use ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly ideal for:
1. Course Developers and Coaches
The platform is optimized for creating sales funnels for digital products like courses, coaching programs, and membership sites. The built-in membership functionality makes it easy to deliver content to paying customers.
2. Web Store Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s enhanced e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that increase average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Professional Services Businesses
Advisors, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to generate leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Digital Affiliates
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it perfect for affiliate marketers looking to enhance their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Book Publishers and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors promote books while gathering reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Design-Inexperienced Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will benefit from ClickFunnels’ intuitive interface and pre-built templates.
Who May Not Be Ideal Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the best fit for:
1. New Ventures with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be prohibitive for businesses just starting out or with tight marketing budgets.
2. Media-Rich Websites
Businesses that rely heavily on blog content and SEO might find traditional CMS platforms like WordPress more appropriate, though ClickFunnels 2.0 has made improvements in this area.
3. Design Specialists Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require pixel-perfect designs and extensive customization might prefer platforms with more design flexibility.
4. Large Scale Businesses with Complex Requirements
Very large organizations with complex integration needs and custom requirements might need more tailored solutions.
Launching with ClickFunnels: Tips for Success
If you decide to try ClickFunnels, here are some tips to maximize your experience:
1. Start with the Right Funnel Type
Pick a funnel template that corresponds to your specific goal, whether it’s lead generation, product sales, or webinar registration.
2. Concentrate on One Funnel at a Time
Rather than trying to build multiple funnels simultaneously, focus on creating and optimizing one converting funnel before moving on to the next.
3. Employ the Training Resources
Take advantage of the extensive training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Engage with the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides beneficial insights and support from fellow users who can help troubleshoot issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Analyze and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to consistently refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Available Templates
Rather than building from scratch, modify existing high-converting templates to match your brand and offering.
The Bottom Line: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a significant investment, but for many businesses, the yield on that investment can be significant. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to uncomplicate the complex process of creating effective sales funnels while providing the tools needed to develop leads and convert customers.
The decision ultimately comes down to your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re dedicated to optimizing your online sales process and value an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a persuasive package-especially with the advanced capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can support the monthly subscription and are dedicated to implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to succeed in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform is always evolve, fixing previous limitations and expanding its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling downloadable items, retail products, or expertise, ClickFunnels offers a simplified path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is well worth the investment.