In the current online business landscape, converting visitors into customers is the essential target for any web-based business. This is where customer journey software shows its worth, and ClickFunnels exists as one of the most prominent names in this niche.
Started by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has reshaped the way businesses and digital marketers handle online sales, offering to enhance the customer journey from initial interest to completed sale.
But is ClickFunnels a good value? Does it fulfill its expectations? Whether you’re a established entrepreneur or launching your first venture, this thorough review will provide you with all the details you need to make an well-informed choice about ClickFunnels.
What Is ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an unified marketing platform designed to help businesses design optimized sales funnels without demanding technical expertise or a team of developers. At its foundation, ClickFunnels allows users to design landing pages, create email sequences, facilitate payments, and oversee customer relationships-all within a single platform.
The Concept of Sales Funnels
Preceding diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s necessary to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel depicts the journey customers go through from first learning about your product or service to making a purchase.
It typically includes stages like recognition, engagement, deliberation, and action.
Regular sites are often developed without a clear path for visitors to take. This can lead to high bounce rates and missed potential customers. Sales funnels, in comparison, are purposefully created to lead visitors through a established path, raising the likelihood of sales at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Approach
ClickFunnels has made easier the process of creating these funnels with its drag-and-drop editor and pre-built templates. The platform’s approach centers around not just creating web pages but creating high-converting conversion paths that convert visitors into customers and customers into repeat buyers.
Core Functions of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Builder
The core of ClickFunnels is its intuitive funnel builder. Users can opt for a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Created to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For selling products or services
- Webinar funnels: To advertise and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For recurring products
The drag-and-drop interface makes it effortless to add components like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without creating a single line of code.
2. Ready-made Templates
ClickFunnels delivers over numerous ready-made templates for different industries and purposes. These templates, produced by marketing specialists, are engineered for success and can be modified to match your brand.
3. Comparative Testing
Knowing what engages your audience is critical for enhancing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing function allows you to create multiple versions of your pages and compare different elements to see which delivers better results.
4. Email Automation
ClickFunnels integrates email marketing capabilities, allowing you to create automated email sequences initiated by specific actions. This feature helps grow leads and push them further down the sales funnel.
5. Checkout System
The platform effortlessly 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 experts selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels includes the ability to create protected membership areas where clients can access restricted content.
7. Analytics and Reporting
ClickFunnels supplies in-depth analytics on funnel performance, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These information help users perfect their funnels for higher results.
8. Affiliate Tracking
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it uncomplicated to manage your affiliates, analyze their performance, and manage commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Advancement
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most significant update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version embodies a complete rebuild of the platform with advanced features and capabilities.
Enhancements in 2.0?
- Enhanced Website Builder: A more sophisticated website builder that allows for comprehensive website creation, not just funnels
- Enhanced E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to produce and run a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Sophisticated Customization: More versatility in design and functionality
- Refined User Interface: A simpler dashboard and editor
- Speed Enhancements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Improved CRM Features: More advanced customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 fixes many of the shortcomings users experienced with the original version, making it a more robust marketing solution.
Pricing Structure
ClickFunnels features different pricing tiers to accommodate businesses of various sizes:
Standard 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
Advanced 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
Elite 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 include a 14-day free trial, allowing users to test the platform before deciding financially.
The Perks of Using ClickFunnels
1. Unified Solution
Perhaps the main 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 administer all these aspects in one place.
2. No Development Experience Required
The platform’s point-and-click interface removes the need for coding or design skills. This makes accessible the funnel-building process, making it attainable to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Quick Setup
With ready-made templates and a simplified workflow, ClickFunnels significantly lowers the time needed to initiate a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be finished in days or even hours.
4. User Community
ClickFunnels has established a dynamic community of users who contribute 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 detailed documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support.
5. Validated 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 starting from scratch.
6. Training Content
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a multitude of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide beneficial marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer methodical learning opportunities.
Downsides and Drawbacks
Despite its many merits, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Investment
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a major investment, especially for solopreneurs or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more affordable entry-level options.
2. Adjustment Period
While designed to be accessible, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy requires time and dedication. New users might feel intimidated by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Limited Design Flexibility
Though the builder editor is robust, 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 issues with page loading speed, which can diminish SEO and user experience. While ClickFunnels 2.0 has improved performance, optimizing for speed requires attention.
5. Email Marketing Shortcomings
While ClickFunnels provides email marketing features, they’re not as sophisticated as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for advanced email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Rivals: 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
Benefits relative to ClickFunnels:
- More comprehensive marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More sophisticated email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Shortcomings:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Strengths:
- More inexpensive entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Weaknesses:
- Less comprehensive than ClickFunnels (primarily focuses on landing pages)
- Limited checkout and payment processing options
- No built-in email marketing
3. Unbounce
Strengths:
- Advanced A/B testing capabilities
- Highly versatile 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 economical (starting at $27/month, with a free plan available)
- All-in-one solution similar to ClickFunnels
- Simple, intuitive interface
Disadvantages:
- Fewer templates and design options
- Less robust 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
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)
Positives:
- Most budget-friendly option if you already have WordPress
- Ultimate flexibility and customization
- Complete ownership and control
- One-time purchases versus subscription model
Disadvantages:
- 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 perfect for:
1. Digital Educators 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 easy to deliver content to paying customers.
2. E-commerce Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s expanded e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that boost average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Professional Services Businesses
Specialists, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to generate leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Commission Marketers
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it perfect for affiliate marketers looking to improve their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Book Publishers and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors market books while obtaining reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Non-Technical Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will value ClickFunnels’ user-friendly interface and pre-built templates.
Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the optimal solution for:
1. New Ventures with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be excessive for businesses just starting out or with tight marketing budgets.
2. Content-Heavy 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. Advanced Designers Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require flawless 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 bespoke solutions.
First Steps 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
Pick a funnel template that aligns with 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 effective funnel before moving on to the next.
3. Employ the Training Resources
Take advantage of the detailed training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Participate in the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides beneficial insights and support from fellow users who can help resolve issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Test and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to continuously 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.
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 cultivate leads and convert customers.
The decision ultimately revolves around your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re committed to optimizing your online sales process and value 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 focused on implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to thrive in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform is always evolve, solving previous limitations and enhancing its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling digital products, retail products, or consulting, ClickFunnels offers a direct path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is deserving of the investment.