In the modern e-commerce world, turning prospects into buyers is the ultimate goal for every e-commerce venture. This is where customer journey software shows its worth, and ClickFunnels is recognized as one of the most established names in this space.
Established by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has reshaped the way entrepreneurs and online sellers execute online sales, promising to simplify the conversion path from discovery to completed sale.
But is ClickFunnels worth your money? Does it fulfill its claims? Whether you’re a marketing professional or just starting your entrepreneurial journey, this in-depth review will provide you with the complete picture you need to make an educated judgment about ClickFunnels.
Defining ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an complete marketing platform designed to help businesses develop optimized sales funnels without requiring technical expertise or a team of developers. At its center, ClickFunnels allows users to develop landing pages, make email sequences, facilitate payments, and administer customer relationships-all within a unified platform.
The Concept of Sales Funnels
Preceding diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s important to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel depicts the route customers go through from initially discovering your product or service to converting.
It typically includes levels like awareness, curiosity, assessment, and purchase.
Regular sites are often created without a logical progression for visitors to trace. This can result in high bounce rates and lost potential customers. Sales funnels, in comparison, are strategically designed to direct visitors through a planned path, enhancing the likelihood of success at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Approach
ClickFunnels has streamlined the process of creating these funnels with its drag-and-drop editor and ready-made templates. The platform’s philosophy centers around not just building web pages but creating powerful conversion paths that transform visitors into customers and customers into brand ambassadors.
Primary Elements of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Builder
The essence of ClickFunnels is its user-friendly funnel builder. Users can decide between a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Made to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For retailing products or services
- Webinar funnels: To publicize and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For membership products
The intuitive interface makes it straightforward to add elements like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without producing a single line of code.
2. Pre-designed Templates
ClickFunnels delivers over numerous pre-designed templates for various industries and purposes. These templates, created by marketing experts, are designed for results and can be tailored to match your brand.
3. Comparative Testing
Knowing what works for your audience is crucial for maximizing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing option allows you to build multiple versions of your pages and test different elements to see which performs better.
4. Email Campaigns
ClickFunnels includes email marketing capabilities, allowing you to establish automated email sequences started by specific actions. This feature helps nurture leads and guide them further down the sales funnel.
5. Checkout System
The platform easily integrates with payment processors like PayPal, Stripe, and more, allowing you to accept payments straight through your funnels without sending customers to external sites.
6. Protected Content
For marketers selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels provides the ability to create restricted membership areas where members can access restricted content.
7. Statistics and Metrics
ClickFunnels offers detailed analytics on funnel metrics, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These information help users perfect their funnels for greater results.
8. Referral System
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it straightforward to manage your affiliates, monitor their performance, and administer commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Improvement
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most substantial update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version constitutes a complete rebuild of the platform with advanced features and capabilities.
Upgrades in 2.0?
- Improved Website Builder: A more powerful website builder that allows for full website creation, not just funnels
- Advanced E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to produce and manage a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Superior Customization: More versatility in design and functionality
- Improved User Interface: A simpler dashboard and editor
- Technical Improvements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Expanded CRM Features: More powerful customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 fixes many of the limitations users experienced with the original version, making it a more complete marketing solution.
Membership Levels
ClickFunnels offers different pricing tiers to serve businesses of various sizes:
Basic Plan
The Basic plan (now called the “Standard” plan in ClickFunnels 2.0) costs $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
Pro Plan
At $197 per month, the Pro plan features:
- Unlimited funnels
- Unlimited pages
- 9 payment gateways
- 9 domains
- 3 admin users
- Advanced automation
- Enhanced analytics
Top-tier Plan
For $997 per month, the Funnel Hacker plan provides:
- 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 come with a 14-day free trial, allowing users to test the platform before subscribing financially.
The Strengths of Using ClickFunnels
1. Unified Solution
Perhaps the largest advantage of ClickFunnels is that it merges multiple tools into one platform. Instead of juggling different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can control all these aspects in one place.
2. No Programming Expertise Required
The platform’s point-and-click interface removes the need for coding or design skills. This simplifies the funnel-building process, making it usable to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Time Savings
With existing templates and a simplified workflow, ClickFunnels significantly reduces the time needed to initiate a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be finished in days or even hours.
4. Support Network
ClickFunnels has developed a vibrant community of users who exchange strategies, successes, and advice. The official ClickFunnels Facebook group has over 250,000 members, creating a useful resource for marketers at all levels. Additionally, the platform offers extensive documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support.
5. Verified Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are founded on proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users leverage established best practices rather than creating from nothing.
6. Educational Resources
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a multitude of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide insightful marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer formal learning opportunities.
Disadvantages and Drawbacks
Despite its many merits, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Price Point
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a major investment, especially for individual entrepreneurs or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more affordable entry-level options.
2. Adjustment Period
While designed to be easy to use, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy needs time and dedication. New users might feel daunted by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Limited Design Flexibility
Though the builder editor is robust, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it limiting. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes prioritizes the former.
4. Page Response Time
Prior to 2.0, some users reported problems with page loading speed, which can reduce SEO and user experience. While ClickFunnels 2.0 has improved performance, optimizing for speed takes attention.
5. Email Marketing Shortcomings
While ClickFunnels offers email marketing features, they’re not as sophisticated as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for sophisticated email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Alternatives: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly populated. Here’s how ClickFunnels compares to its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Advantages relative to ClickFunnels:
- More extensive marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More powerful email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Weaknesses:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Positives:
- More economical entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Disadvantages:
- Less robust than ClickFunnels (primarily focuses on landing pages)
- Limited checkout and payment processing options
- No built-in email marketing
3. Unbounce
Benefits:
- Advanced A/B testing capabilities
- Highly customizable design options
- Strong analytics and conversion intelligence
- More affordable starting point
Limitations:
- Primarily focused on landing pages rather than complete funnels
- No built-in payment processing
- Less easy for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Benefits:
- Significantly more cost-effective (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 powerful feature set
- Smaller community and fewer educational resources
5. Instapage
Strong points:
- Superior design flexibility and customization
- Advanced collaboration features
- Excellent analytics and heatmaps
- Strong AdWords and Facebook Ads integration
Weaknesses:
- 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)
Strong points:
- Most inexpensive option if you already have WordPress
- Ultimate flexibility and customization
- Complete ownership and control
- One-time purchases versus subscription model
Weaknesses:
- 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 Is Right For ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly ideal for:
1. Course Developers and Coaches
The platform works great for creating sales funnels for digital products like courses, coaching programs, and membership sites. The built-in membership functionality makes it effortless to deliver content to paying customers.
2. E-commerce Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s improved e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that boost average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. B2B Service Businesses
Consultants, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to obtain leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Referral Marketers
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it ideal for affiliate marketers looking to optimize their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Authors and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors promote books while capturing reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Non-Technical Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will appreciate ClickFunnels’ simple interface and pre-built templates.
Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the perfect match for:
1. Small Businesses with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be too high for businesses just starting out or with tight marketing budgets.
2. Publishing-Oriented 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. Creative Professionals Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require exact designs and extensive customization might prefer platforms with more design flexibility.
4. Enterprise-Level Businesses with Complex Requirements
Very large organizations with complex integration needs and custom requirements might need more customized solutions.
Launching with ClickFunnels: Tips for Success
If you decide to try ClickFunnels, here are some tips to improve your experience:
1. Start with the Right Funnel Type
Opt for a funnel template that aligns with your specific goal, whether it’s lead generation, product sales, or webinar registration.
2. Emphasize One Funnel at a Time
Rather than trying to build multiple funnels simultaneously, focus on creating and optimizing one performing funnel before moving on to the next.
3. Utilize the Training Resources
Take advantage of the thorough training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Engage with the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides helpful insights and support from fellow users who can help solve issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Try and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to constantly refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Prepared Templates
Rather than building from scratch, customize existing high-converting templates to match your brand and offering.
Summary: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a important investment, but for many businesses, the reward on that investment can be considerable. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to ease the complex process of creating effective sales funnels while providing the tools needed to grow leads and convert customers.
The decision ultimately depends on your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re intent on optimizing your online sales process and appreciate an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a compelling package-especially with the improved capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can handle the monthly subscription and are serious about implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to succeed in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform continues to evolve, addressing previous limitations and growing its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling information products, retail products, or services, ClickFunnels offers a direct path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is warranted for the investment.