In the modern e-commerce world, changing visitors to customers is the main aim for all internet companies. This is where customer journey software shows its worth, and ClickFunnels remains one of the most well-known names in this sector.
Created by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has reimagined the way companies and business owners handle online sales, aiming to optimize the customer journey from discovery to checkout.
But is ClickFunnels worth the investment? Does it deliver on its potential? Whether you’re a established entrepreneur or just starting your entrepreneurial journey, this in-depth review will provide you with everything you need to make an educated judgment about ClickFunnels.
Understanding ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an integrated marketing platform created to help businesses create optimized sales funnels without necessitating technical expertise or a team of developers. At its center, ClickFunnels allows users to construct landing pages, make email sequences, execute payments, and supervise customer relationships-all within a single platform.
The Principle of Sales Funnels
Ahead of diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s important to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel shows the journey customers go through from being introduced to your product or service to making a purchase.
It typically includes phases like recognition, attention, evaluation, and purchase.
Standard websites are often created without a structured journey for visitors to navigate. This can produce high bounce rates and lost potential customers. Sales funnels, on the other hand, are methodically developed to steer visitors through a planned path, improving the likelihood of results at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Approach
ClickFunnels has uncomplicated the process of creating these funnels with its intuitive editor and pre-built templates. The platform’s philosophy centers around not just developing web pages but creating successful conversion paths that transform visitors into customers and customers into dedicated followers.
Key Features of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Designer
The heart of ClickFunnels is its intuitive funnel builder. Users can pick a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Designed to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For promoting products or services
- Webinar funnels: To publicize and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For recurring products
The intuitive interface makes it simple to add features like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without coding a single line of code.
2. Prepared Templates
ClickFunnels includes over 100 pre-built templates for different industries and purposes. These templates, produced by marketing experts, are structured for results and can be tailored to match your brand.
3. Comparative Testing
Understanding what engages your audience is crucial for improving conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing feature allows you to produce multiple versions of your pages and evaluate different elements to see which performs better.
4. Automated Emails
ClickFunnels includes email marketing capabilities, allowing you to design automated email sequences started by specific actions. This feature helps foster leads and push them further down the sales funnel.
5. Transaction Handling
The platform flawlessly integrates with payment processors like multiple payment options, allowing you to accept payments immediately through your funnels without transferring customers to external sites.
6. Membership Areas
For marketers selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels offers the ability to create exclusive membership areas where users can access restricted content.
7. Statistics and Metrics
ClickFunnels offers detailed analytics on funnel metrics, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These insights help users enhance their funnels for better results.
8. Partner Program Tools
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it straightforward to manage your affiliates, track their performance, and handle commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Upgrade
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most major update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version represents a complete redesign of the platform with expanded features and capabilities.
New Features in 2.0?
- Advanced Website Builder: A more robust website builder that allows for complete website creation, not just funnels
- Advanced E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to establish and run a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Improved Customization: More flexibility in design and functionality
- Better User Interface: A simpler dashboard and editor
- Performance Improvements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Upgraded CRM Features: More advanced customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 fixes many of the constraints users experienced with the original version, making it a more complete marketing solution.
Membership Levels
ClickFunnels features different pricing tiers to suit businesses of various sizes:
Fundamental 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
Pro Plan
At $197 per month, the Pro plan delivers:
- Unlimited funnels
- Unlimited pages
- 9 payment gateways
- 9 domains
- 3 admin users
- Advanced automation
- Enhanced analytics
Ultimate Plan
For $997 per month, the Funnel Hacker plan includes:
- 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 experience the platform before investing financially.
The Positives of Using ClickFunnels
1. Unified Solution
Perhaps the primary advantage of ClickFunnels is that it consolidates multiple tools into one platform. Instead of handling different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can administer all these aspects in one place.
2. No Technical Skills Required
The platform’s intuitive interface takes away the need for coding or design skills. This opens up the funnel-building process, making it accessible to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Fast Implementation
With ready-made templates and a optimized workflow, ClickFunnels significantly cuts the time needed to launch a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be done in days or even hours.
4. Support Network
ClickFunnels has fostered a engaged community of users who contribute strategies, successes, and advice. The official ClickFunnels Facebook group has over 250,000 members, creating a important resource for marketers at all levels. Additionally, the platform offers complete documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support.
5. Validated Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are created from proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users employ established best practices rather than beginning anew.
6. Educational Resources
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a variety of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide valuable marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer formal learning opportunities.
Downsides and Drawbacks
Despite its many advantages, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Investment
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a considerable investment, especially for small businesses or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more inexpensive entry-level options.
2. Learning Curve
While designed to be accessible, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy demands time and dedication. New users might feel challenged by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Constrained Design Flexibility
Though the intuitive editor is strong, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it confining. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes favors the former.
4. Page Performance
Prior to 2.0, some users reported challenges with page loading speed, which can hurt SEO and user experience. While ClickFunnels 2.0 has improved performance, optimizing for speed takes attention.
5. Email Marketing Boundaries
While ClickFunnels includes email marketing features, they’re not as robust as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for complex email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Competitors: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly populated. Here’s how ClickFunnels fares against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Advantages relative to ClickFunnels:
- More complete marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More powerful 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 affordable entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Drawbacks:
- Less complete 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 adjustable design options
- Strong analytics and conversion intelligence
- More affordable starting point
Shortcomings:
- Primarily focused on landing pages rather than complete funnels
- No built-in payment processing
- Less user-friendly 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
Drawbacks:
- 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
Drawbacks:
- 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)
Positives:
- Most cost-effective option if you already have WordPress
- Ultimate flexibility and customization
- Complete ownership and control
- One-time purchases versus subscription model
Shortcomings:
- 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 Will Love ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly appropriate for:
1. Course Developers and Coaches
The platform excels at creating sales funnels for digital products like courses, coaching programs, and membership sites. The built-in membership functionality makes it straightforward 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 raise average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Professional Services Businesses
Consultants, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to acquire leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Commission Marketers
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it appropriate for affiliate marketers looking to optimize their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Writers and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors distribute books while obtaining reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Technically Challenged Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will benefit from ClickFunnels’ simple interface and pre-built templates.
Who May Want to Consider Other Solutions Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the perfect match for:
1. Small Businesses with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be costly for businesses just starting out or with tight marketing budgets.
2. Editorial Websites
Businesses that rely heavily on blog content and SEO might find traditional CMS platforms like WordPress more fitting, though ClickFunnels 2.0 has made improvements in this area.
3. Design Specialists Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require precise 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 specialized solutions.
Launching with ClickFunnels: Tips for Success
If you decide to try ClickFunnels, here are some tips to increase your experience:
1. Start with the Right Funnel Type
Choose a funnel template that fits your specific goal, whether it’s lead generation, product sales, or webinar registration.
2. Prioritize One Funnel at a Time
Rather than trying to build multiple funnels simultaneously, focus on creating and optimizing one profitable 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. Become part of the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides useful insights and support from fellow users who can help fix issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Analyze and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to continuously refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Ready-made 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 substantial investment, but for many businesses, the payoff on that investment can be substantial. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to ease 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 committed to optimizing your online sales process and prioritize an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a persuasive package-especially with the enhanced capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can support the monthly subscription and are committed to implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to prosper in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform keeps evolve, resolving previous limitations and increasing its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling digital products, tangible products, or services, ClickFunnels offers a streamlined path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is warranted for the investment.