In the current online business landscape, changing visitors to customers is the essential target for any web-based business. This is where sales funnel software demonstrates importance, and ClickFunnels stands as one of the most prominent names in this niche.
Founded by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has reshaped the way entrepreneurs and online sellers handle online sales, offering to streamline the user experience from first contact to conversion.
But is ClickFunnels a good value? Does it match its potential? Whether you’re a marketing professional or a beginner in digital marketing, this comprehensive review will provide you with the complete picture you need to make an smart choice about ClickFunnels.
Introducing ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an comprehensive marketing platform created to help businesses develop optimized sales funnels without calling for technical expertise or a team of developers. At its essence, ClickFunnels allows users to design landing pages, establish email sequences, handle payments, and manage customer relationships-all within a one platform.
The Theory of Sales Funnels
Ahead of diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s essential to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel illustrates the journey customers go through from first encountering your product or service to making a purchase.
It typically includes levels like recognition, engagement, decision, and conversion.
Typical web pages are often designed without a structured journey for visitors to take. This can create high bounce rates and wasted potential customers. Sales funnels, in comparison, are methodically developed to direct visitors through a defined path, increasing the likelihood of conversion at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Philosophy
ClickFunnels has uncomplicated the process of creating these funnels with its user-friendly editor and ready-to-use templates. The platform’s strategy centers around not just creating web pages but creating effective conversion paths that change visitors into customers and customers into advocates.
Primary Elements of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Designer
The heart of ClickFunnels is its easy-to-use funnel builder. Users can select a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Designed to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For marketing products or services
- Webinar funnels: To boost and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For subscription-based products
The point-and-click interface makes it effortless to add elements like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without typing a single line of code.
2. Pre-built Templates
ClickFunnels features over a hundred professionally created templates for various industries and purposes. These templates, created by marketing experts, are engineered for performance and can be adjusted to match your brand.
3. A/B Testing
Determining what engages your audience is crucial for improving conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing option allows you to produce multiple versions of your pages and evaluate different elements to see which delivers better results.
4. Email Marketing
ClickFunnels features email marketing capabilities, allowing you to build automated email sequences initiated by specific actions. This feature helps foster leads and guide them further down the sales funnel.
5. Transaction Handling
The platform effortlessly integrates with payment processors like Stripe, PayPal, and others, enabling you to accept payments immediately through your funnels without sending customers to external sites.
6. Member Sections
For marketers selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels provides the ability to create restricted membership areas where customers can access protected content.
7. Performance Tracking
ClickFunnels supplies comprehensive analytics on funnel performance, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These information help users perfect their funnels for greater results.
8. Affiliate Tracking
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it effortless to administer your affiliates, measure their performance, and administer commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Evolution
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most substantial update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version embodies a complete redesign of the platform with expanded features and capabilities.
Improvements in 2.0?
- Improved 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 build and handle a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Improved Customization: More versatility in design and functionality
- Upgraded User Interface: A more streamlined dashboard and editor
- Performance Improvements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Improved CRM Features: More comprehensive customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 tackles many of the restrictions users experienced with the original version, making it a more robust marketing solution.
Subscription Plans
ClickFunnels includes different pricing tiers to accommodate businesses of various sizes:
Standard 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 includes:
- Unlimited funnels
- Unlimited pages
- 9 payment gateways
- 9 domains
- 3 admin users
- Advanced automation
- Enhanced analytics
Elite 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 offer a 14-day free trial, allowing users to test the platform before subscribing financially.
The Perks of Using ClickFunnels
1. Unified Solution
Perhaps the biggest advantage of ClickFunnels is that it consolidates multiple tools into one platform. Instead of juggling different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can handle all these aspects in one place.
2. No Programming Expertise Required
The platform’s point-and-click interface takes away the need for coding or design skills. This opens up the funnel-building process, making it manageable to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Quick Setup
With prepared templates and a optimized workflow, ClickFunnels significantly decreases the time needed to launch a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be accomplished in days or even hours.
4. Network and Assistance
ClickFunnels has established a vibrant community of users who offer strategies, successes, and advice. The official ClickFunnels Facebook group has over 250,000 members, creating a helpful 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 leverage established best practices rather than beginning anew.
6. Instructional Assets
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a collection of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide valuable marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer systematic learning opportunities.
Weaknesses and Drawbacks
Despite its many strengths, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Pricing
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a substantial investment, especially for small businesses or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more budget-friendly entry-level options.
2. Training Requirement
While designed to be intuitive, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy calls for time and dedication. New users might feel overwhelmed by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Constrained Design Flexibility
Though the intuitive editor is effective, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it constraining. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes emphasizes the former.
4. Page Loading Speed
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 needs attention.
5. Email Marketing Restrictions
While ClickFunnels features email marketing features, they’re not as robust as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for high-level email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Competitors: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly competitive. Here’s how ClickFunnels fares against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Benefits relative to ClickFunnels:
- More comprehensive marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More capable email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Disadvantages:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Strengths:
- More budget-friendly 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
Strong points:
- Advanced A/B testing capabilities
- Highly versatile design options
- Strong analytics and conversion intelligence
- More affordable starting point
Drawbacks:
- Primarily focused on landing pages rather than complete funnels
- No built-in payment processing
- Less user-friendly for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Strengths:
- Significantly more inexpensive (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
Advantages:
- 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)
Strong points:
- Most affordable 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 Will Love ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly beneficial for:
1. Digital Educators 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 easy to deliver content to paying customers.
2. Online Retail Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s upgraded e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that boost average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Service-Based Businesses
Professionals, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to generate leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Referral Marketers
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it excellent for affiliate marketers looking to maximize their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Writers and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors distribute books while capturing reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Code-Averse Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will appreciate ClickFunnels’ straightforward interface and pre-built templates.
Who Should Consider Alternatives Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the best fit for:
1. Micro Businesses with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be prohibitive 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 ideal, though ClickFunnels 2.0 has made improvements in this area.
3. Design Specialists Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require meticulous 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.
Starting Out 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
Select a funnel template that fits 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. Use the Training Resources
Take advantage of the extensive training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Join the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides valuable insights and support from fellow users who can help address issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Test 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, adapt existing high-converting templates to match your brand and offering.
Final Thoughts: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a major investment, but for many businesses, the benefit on that investment can be impressive. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to ease the complex process of creating effective sales funnels while providing the tools needed to nurture 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 desire an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a convincing package-especially with the expanded capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can support the monthly subscription and are invested in implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to prosper in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform continues to evolve, fixing previous limitations and extending its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling information products, physical goods, or professional assistance, ClickFunnels offers a streamlined path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is worth the investment.