In today’s internet-driven economy, converting visitors into customers is the ultimate goal for all internet companies. This is where customer journey software demonstrates importance, and ClickFunnels stands as one of the most popular names in this sector.
Established by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has reimagined the way entrepreneurs and businesses handle online sales, offering to improve the purchase process from awareness to final purchase.
But is ClickFunnels worth pursuing? Does it deliver on its potential? Whether you’re a digital marketing veteran or new to online business, this complete review will provide you with all the details you need to make an smart choice about ClickFunnels.
What Is ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an unified marketing platform developed to help businesses develop optimized sales funnels without the need for technical expertise or a team of developers. At its center, ClickFunnels allows users to construct landing pages, create email sequences, manage payments, and supervise customer relationships-all within a centralized platform.
The Fundamentals of Sales Funnels
Preceding diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s necessary to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel represents the path customers go through from first encountering your product or service to finalizing a sale.
It typically includes stages like exposure, appeal, evaluation, and action.
Conventional sites are often created without a clear path for visitors to pursue. This can create high bounce rates and missed potential customers. Sales funnels, in comparison, are methodically developed to guide visitors through a defined path, increasing the likelihood of success at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Approach
ClickFunnels has made easier the process of creating these funnels with its visual editor and ready-to-use templates. The platform’s philosophy centers around not just constructing web pages but creating high-converting conversion paths that turn visitors into customers and customers into advocates.
Essential Components of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Construction Kit
The core of ClickFunnels is its straightforward funnel builder. Users can pick a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Built to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For offering products or services
- Webinar funnels: To publicize and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For subscription-based products
The visual interface makes it simple to add elements like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without coding a single line of code.
2. Prepared Templates
ClickFunnels offers over one hundred prepared templates for diverse industries and purposes. These templates, designed by marketing specialists, are structured for success and can be customized to match your brand.
3. Comparative Testing
Determining what resonates with your audience is essential for maximizing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing tool allows you to develop multiple versions of your pages and analyze different elements to see which delivers better results.
4. Email Sequences
ClickFunnels includes email marketing capabilities, allowing you to develop automated email sequences launched by specific actions. This feature helps foster leads and move them further down the sales funnel.
5. Payment Integration
The platform seamlessly integrates with payment processors like multiple payment options, allowing you to accept payments straight through your funnels without moving customers to external sites.
6. Protected Content
For experts selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels offers the ability to create restricted membership areas where members can access exclusive content.
7. Data Analysis
ClickFunnels provides detailed analytics on funnel success, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These insights help users refine their funnels for greater results.
8. Partner Program Tools
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it straightforward to handle your affiliates, analyze 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 represents a complete rebuild of the platform with upgraded features and capabilities.
Upgrades in 2.0?
- Enhanced Website Builder: A more powerful website builder that allows for complete website creation, not just funnels
- Improved E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to develop and manage a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Superior Customization: More flexibility in design and functionality
- Improved User Interface: A cleaner dashboard and editor
- Efficiency Gains: 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 weaknesses users experienced with the original version, making it a more robust marketing solution.
Subscription Plans
ClickFunnels includes different pricing tiers to support businesses of various sizes:
Fundamental Plan
The Basic plan (now called the “Standard” plan in ClickFunnels 2.0) is available for $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
Professional 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
Enterprise Plan
For $997 per month, the Funnel Hacker plan features:
- 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 experience the platform before subscribing financially.
The Benefits of Using ClickFunnels
1. All-In-One Solution
Perhaps the primary advantage of ClickFunnels is that it integrates multiple tools into one platform. Instead of switching between 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 point-and-click interface takes away the need for coding or design skills. This democratizes the funnel-building process, making it manageable to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Time Savings
With pre-built templates and a simplified workflow, ClickFunnels significantly minimizes the time needed to launch a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be achieved in days or even hours.
4. User Community
ClickFunnels has fostered a thriving community of users who exchange 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 thorough documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support.
5. Verified Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are derived from proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users utilize established best practices rather than beginning anew.
6. Training Content
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a collection of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide helpful marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer organized learning opportunities.
Limitations and Drawbacks
Despite its many merits, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Investment
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a significant investment, especially for small businesses or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more economical entry-level options.
2. Learning Process
While designed to be easy to use, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy takes time and dedication. New users might feel confused by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Constrained Design Flexibility
Though the intuitive editor is powerful, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it constraining. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes prioritizes the former.
4. Page Performance
Prior to 2.0, some users reported problems with page loading speed, which can negatively impact SEO and user experience. While ClickFunnels 2.0 has improved performance, optimizing for speed calls for attention.
5. Email Marketing Restrictions
While ClickFunnels provides email marketing features, they’re not as robust as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for elaborate email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Competition: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly populated. Here’s how ClickFunnels stacks up against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Positives relative to ClickFunnels:
- More complete marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More advanced email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Drawbacks:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Advantages:
- More cost-effective entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Limitations:
- Less complete 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 adaptable design options
- Strong analytics and conversion intelligence
- More affordable starting point
Disadvantages:
- Primarily focused on landing pages rather than complete funnels
- No built-in payment processing
- Less easy for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Strengths:
- 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 extensive feature set
- Smaller community and fewer educational resources
5. Instapage
Positives:
- 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 budget-friendly 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 Is Ideal For ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly perfect 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 convenient to deliver content to paying customers.
2. Internet Retail Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s expanded e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that grow average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Consulting Businesses
Consultants, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to generate leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Affiliate Marketers
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it appropriate for affiliate marketers looking to enhance their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Content Creators and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors promote books while collecting reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Technically Challenged 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 ideal choice 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. Editorial 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. Advanced Designers Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require flawless 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 customized solutions.
First Steps 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
Pick a funnel template that matches 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. Engage with the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides valuable insights and support from fellow users who can help address issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Experiment and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to regularly refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Available Templates
Rather than building from scratch, customize 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 benefit on that investment can be significant. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to streamline the complex process of creating effective sales funnels while providing the tools needed to foster leads and convert customers.
The decision ultimately depends on your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re dedicated to 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 budget for the monthly subscription and are committed to implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to succeed in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform keeps evolve, solving previous limitations and extending its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling online courses, physical goods, or consulting, ClickFunnels offers a efficient path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is justified for the investment.