In today’s internet-driven economy, transforming browsers into purchasers is the main aim for any web-based business. This is where customer journey software comes into play, and ClickFunnels stands as one of the most popular names in this industry.
Created by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has reimagined the way marketers and organizations approach online sales, promising to enhance the user experience from discovery to buying decision.
But is ClickFunnels a good value? Does it fulfill its potential? Whether you’re a marketing professional or a beginner in digital marketing, this complete review will provide you with all the information you need to make an smart choice about ClickFunnels.
What Is ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an all-in-one marketing platform engineered to help businesses design optimized sales funnels without calling for technical expertise or a team of developers. At its core, ClickFunnels allows users to create landing pages, make email sequences, execute payments, and administer customer relationships-all within a single platform.
The Concept of Sales Funnels
Preceding diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s important to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel symbolizes the progression customers go through from becoming aware of your product or service to converting.
It typically includes levels like exposure, curiosity, evaluation, and action.
Regular sites are often designed without a logical progression for visitors to pursue. This can lead to high bounce rates and squandered potential customers. Sales funnels, by contrast, are methodically developed to steer visitors through a established path, boosting the likelihood of sales at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Philosophy
ClickFunnels has uncomplicated the process of creating these funnels with its intuitive editor and pre-built templates. The platform’s concept centers around not just designing web pages but creating impactful conversion paths that transition visitors into customers and customers into advocates.
Primary Elements of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Creator
The foundation of ClickFunnels is its user-friendly 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 promote and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For membership products
The drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to add features like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without typing a single line of code.
2. Template Templates
ClickFunnels includes over 100 ready-made templates for numerous industries and purposes. These templates, crafted by experienced designers, are optimized for success and can be customized to match your brand.
3. Split Testing
Determining what resonates with your audience is essential for maximizing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing capability allows you to produce multiple versions of your pages and test different elements to see which delivers better results.
4. Automated Emails
ClickFunnels integrates email marketing capabilities, allowing you to create automated email sequences activated 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 PayPal, Stripe, and more, enabling you to accept payments straight through your funnels without shifting customers to external sites.
6. Subscription Areas
For experts selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels features the ability to create secure membership areas where subscribers can access protected content.
7. Performance Tracking
ClickFunnels furnishes comprehensive analytics on funnel metrics, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These statistics help users perfect their funnels for greater results.
8. Partner Program Tools
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it effortless to manage your affiliates, monitor their performance, and manage commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Improvement
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most noteworthy update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version represents a complete reconstruction of the platform with improved features and capabilities.
What’s New in 2.0?
- Upgraded Website Builder: A more powerful website builder that allows for comprehensive website creation, not just funnels
- Improved E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to develop and run a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Sophisticated Customization: More flexibility in design and functionality
- Better User Interface: A more streamlined dashboard and editor
- Efficiency Gains: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Expanded CRM Features: More comprehensive customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 tackles many of the shortcomings users experienced with the original version, making it a more robust marketing solution.
Cost Options
ClickFunnels presents different pricing tiers to match businesses of various sizes:
Standard 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
Professional Plan
At $197 per month, the Pro plan provides:
- 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 delivers:
- 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 try the platform before investing financially.
The Positives of Using ClickFunnels
1. Complete Solution
Perhaps the primary advantage of ClickFunnels is that it unifies 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 drag-and-drop interface does away with the need for coding or design skills. This simplifies the funnel-building process, making it available to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Time Efficiency
With ready-made templates and a smooth workflow, ClickFunnels significantly cuts the time needed to launch a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be finished in days or even hours.
4. User Community
ClickFunnels has developed a dynamic community of users who exchange strategies, successes, and advice. The official ClickFunnels Facebook group has over 250,000 members, creating a valuable 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 derived from proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users utilize established best practices rather than starting from scratch.
6. Instructional Assets
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a wealth of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide useful marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer formal learning opportunities.
Downsides and Drawbacks
Despite its many positives, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Cost
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a substantial investment, especially for small businesses or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more inexpensive entry-level options.
2. Training Requirement
While designed to be straightforward, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy demands time and dedication. New users might feel confused by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Modest Design Flexibility
Though the point-and-click editor is robust, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it limiting. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes leans toward the former.
4. Page Loading Speed
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 Shortcomings
While ClickFunnels offers email marketing features, they’re not as sophisticated as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for elaborate email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Competitors: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly crowded. Here’s how ClickFunnels stacks up against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Strengths 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
Limitations:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Positives:
- More inexpensive entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Shortcomings:
- Less full-featured 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 flexible 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 simple for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Advantages:
- Significantly more affordable (starting at $27/month, with a free plan available)
- All-in-one solution similar to ClickFunnels
- Simple, intuitive interface
Weaknesses:
- Fewer templates and design options
- Less powerful feature set
- Smaller community and fewer educational resources
5. Instapage
Strong points:
- Superior design flexibility and customization
- Advanced collaboration features
- Excellent analytics and heatmaps
- Strong AdWords and Facebook Ads integration
Disadvantages:
- 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 economical option if you already have WordPress
- Ultimate flexibility and customization
- Complete ownership and control
- One-time purchases versus subscription model
Drawbacks:
- 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 well-suited for:
1. Online Course Creators 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 straightforward to deliver content to paying customers.
2. Online Retail 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. Client Service Businesses
Professionals, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to create 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. Content Creators and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors offer books while gathering reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Design-Inexperienced Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will enjoy ClickFunnels’ user-friendly interface and pre-built templates.
Who Should Explore Other Options Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the perfect match for:
1. New Ventures with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be costly for businesses just starting out or with tight marketing budgets.
2. Media-Rich 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. 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 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
Opt for a funnel template that matches your specific goal, whether it’s lead generation, product sales, or webinar registration.
2. Focus on 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. Leverage the Training Resources
Take advantage of the extensive training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Become part of the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides valuable insights and support from fellow users who can help troubleshoot issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Try 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.
Wrapping Up: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a important investment, but for many businesses, the reward on that investment can be substantial. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to facilitate 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 intent on optimizing your online sales process and appreciate an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a persuasive package-especially with the improved capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can manage the monthly subscription and are dedicated to 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, tackling previous limitations and increasing its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling e-products, tangible products, or expertise, ClickFunnels offers a efficient path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is justified for the investment.