In the modern e-commerce world, converting visitors into customers is the key focus for any online business. This is where customer journey software demonstrates importance, and ClickFunnels exists as one of the most prominent names in this industry.
Started by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has changed the way marketers and organizations execute online sales, aiming to optimize the user experience from initial interest to completed sale.
But is ClickFunnels worth your money? Does it meet its hype? Whether you’re a experienced business owner or new to online business, this complete review will provide you with all the information you need to make an smart choice about ClickFunnels.
Understanding ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an complete marketing platform created to help businesses construct optimized sales funnels without demanding technical expertise or a team of developers. At its center, ClickFunnels allows users to develop landing pages, establish email sequences, process payments, and handle customer relationships-all within a unified platform.
The Principle of Sales Funnels
Ahead of diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s necessary to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel symbolizes the process customers go through from becoming aware of your product or service to buying.
It typically includes steps like exposure, engagement, consideration, and conversion.
Standard websites are often designed without a structured journey for visitors to take. This can result in high bounce rates and wasted potential customers. Sales funnels, conversely, are strategically designed to steer visitors through a planned path, increasing the likelihood of success at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Approach
ClickFunnels has streamlined the process of creating these funnels with its point-and-click editor and template templates. The platform’s approach centers around not just building web pages but creating powerful conversion paths that transform visitors into customers and customers into dedicated followers.
Essential Components of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Designer
The center of ClickFunnels is its straightforward funnel builder. Users can opt for a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Built to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For marketing products or services
- Webinar funnels: To market and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For recurring products
The intuitive interface makes it uncomplicated to add features like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without coding a single line of code.
2. Template Templates
ClickFunnels offers over a hundred professionally created templates for various industries and purposes. These templates, created by marketing experts, are structured for conversions and can be tailored to match your brand.
3. Variant Testing
Recognizing what engages your audience is critical for increasing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing tool allows you to produce multiple versions of your pages and analyze different elements to see which performs better.
4. Automated Emails
ClickFunnels incorporates email marketing capabilities, allowing you to establish automated email sequences initiated by specific actions. This feature helps cultivate leads and transition them further down the sales funnel.
5. Checkout System
The platform seamlessly integrates with payment processors like various payment gateways, enabling you to accept payments right through your funnels without shifting customers to external sites.
6. Member Sections
For marketers selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels features the ability to create private membership areas where clients can access exclusive content.
7. Results Monitoring
ClickFunnels delivers detailed analytics on funnel performance, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These insights help users perfect their funnels for improved results.
8. Affiliate Management
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it straightforward to run your affiliates, analyze their performance, and administer commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Upgrade
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most significant update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version embodies a complete reconstruction of the platform with enhanced features and capabilities.
Enhancements in 2.0?
- Improved Website Builder: A more comprehensive website builder that allows for full website creation, not just funnels
- Upgraded E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to develop and run a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Superior Customization: More options in design and functionality
- Refined User Interface: A more elegant dashboard and editor
- Speed Enhancements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Advanced CRM Features: More powerful customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 addresses many of the constraints users experienced with the original version, making it a more robust marketing solution.
Price Plans
ClickFunnels includes different pricing tiers to serve businesses of various sizes:
Basic Plan
The Basic plan (now called the “Standard” plan in ClickFunnels 2.0) comes in at $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
Plus 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
Funnel Hacker 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 provide a 14-day free trial, allowing users to test the platform before subscribing financially.
The Benefits of Using ClickFunnels
1. Complete Solution
Perhaps the biggest advantage of ClickFunnels is that it integrates 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 Development Experience Required
The platform’s visual interface takes away the need for coding or design skills. This simplifies the funnel-building process, making it accessible to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Time Efficiency
With pre-built templates and a optimized workflow, ClickFunnels significantly cuts the time needed to start a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be completed in days or even hours.
4. Community and Support
ClickFunnels has developed a vibrant community of users who provide 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 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 take advantage of established best practices rather than beginning anew.
6. Learning Materials
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a abundance of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide insightful marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer methodical learning opportunities.
Weaknesses and Drawbacks
Despite its many benefits, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Investment
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a noteworthy investment, especially for freelancers or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more cost-effective entry-level options.
2. Training Requirement
While designed to be intuitive, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy takes time and dedication. New users might feel overwhelmed by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Restricted Design Flexibility
Though the builder editor is robust, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it confining. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes leans toward the former.
4. Page Performance
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 requires attention.
5. Email Marketing Constraints
While ClickFunnels offers email marketing features, they’re not as advanced as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for sophisticated email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Competitors: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly competitive. Here’s how ClickFunnels stacks up against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Positives relative to ClickFunnels:
- More all-encompassing marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More robust email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Drawbacks:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Benefits:
- More economical entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Drawbacks:
- Less full-featured than ClickFunnels (primarily focuses on landing pages)
- Limited checkout and payment processing options
- No built-in email marketing
3. Unbounce
Advantages:
- 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 straightforward for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Positives:
- Significantly more budget-friendly (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 robust feature set
- Smaller community and fewer educational resources
5. Instapage
Strengths:
- 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)
Strengths:
- 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 beneficial for:
1. Online Course Creators 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 effortless to deliver content to paying customers.
2. Digital Sales Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s advanced 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 obtain leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Digital Affiliates
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it suitable for affiliate marketers looking to improve their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Content Creators and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors promote books while gathering reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Code-Averse Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will appreciate ClickFunnels’ user-friendly interface and pre-built templates.
Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the perfect match for:
1. Solo Entrepreneurs with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be too high 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 suitable, though ClickFunnels 2.0 has made improvements in this area.
3. Design Experts Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require exact designs and extensive customization might prefer platforms with more design flexibility.
4. Multinational Businesses with Complex Requirements
Very large organizations with complex integration needs and custom requirements might need more tailored solutions.
Starting Out with ClickFunnels: Tips for Success
If you decide to try ClickFunnels, here are some tips to enhance 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. Target One Funnel at a Time
Rather than trying to build multiple funnels simultaneously, focus on creating and optimizing one successful funnel before moving on to the next.
3. Utilize the Training Resources
Take advantage of the comprehensive 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. Analyze and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to regularly refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Existing Templates
Rather than building from scratch, modify existing high-converting templates to match your brand and offering.
Wrapping Up: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a substantial investment, but for many businesses, the return on that investment can be impressive. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to streamline the complex process of creating effective sales funnels while providing the tools needed to grow leads and convert customers.
The decision ultimately comes down to your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re focused on optimizing your online sales process and value an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a convincing package-especially with the advanced capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can budget for the monthly subscription and are dedicated to implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to flourish in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform regularly evolve, tackling previous limitations and extending its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling online courses, retail products, or professional assistance, ClickFunnels offers a simplified path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is warranted for the investment.