In the current online business landscape, transforming browsers into purchasers is the ultimate goal for every e-commerce venture. This is where customer journey software comes into play, and ClickFunnels positions itself as one of the most established names in this sector.
Started by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has changed the way marketers and organizations approach online sales, offering to enhance the conversion path from first contact to buying decision.
But is ClickFunnels worth the investment? Does it live up to its promises? Whether you’re a marketing professional or just starting your entrepreneurial journey, this detailed review will provide you with all the information you need to make an smart choice about ClickFunnels.
Defining ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an all-in-one marketing platform developed to help businesses develop optimized sales funnels without demanding technical expertise or a team of developers. At its foundation, ClickFunnels allows users to develop landing pages, make email sequences, manage payments, and oversee customer relationships-all within a one platform.
The Principle of Sales Funnels
In advance of diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s essential to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel illustrates the progression customers go through from first learning about your product or service to finalizing a sale.
It typically includes phases like awareness, curiosity, evaluation, and transaction.
Standard websites are often constructed without a defined route for visitors to pursue. This can create high bounce rates and lost potential customers. Sales funnels, in comparison, are methodically developed to guide visitors through a planned path, enhancing the likelihood of sales at each step.
ClickFunnels’ System
ClickFunnels has simplified the process of creating these funnels with its drag-and-drop editor and pre-built templates. The platform’s strategy centers around not just constructing web pages but creating effective conversion paths that transition visitors into customers and customers into advocates.
Core Functions of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Construction Kit
The foundation of ClickFunnels is its easy-to-use funnel builder. Users can decide between a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Built to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For offering products or services
- Webinar funnels: To boost and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For continuity products
The drag-and-drop interface makes it effortless to add items like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without writing a single line of code.
2. Template Templates
ClickFunnels offers over a hundred ready-made templates for multiple industries and purposes. These templates, produced by marketing experts, are designed for performance and can be tailored to match your brand.
3. Variant Testing
Identifying what resonates with your audience is critical for enhancing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing function allows you to produce multiple versions of your pages and examine different elements to see which performs better.
4. Email Campaigns
ClickFunnels includes email marketing capabilities, allowing you to establish automated email sequences started by specific actions. This feature helps nurture leads and guide them further down the sales funnel.
5. Transaction Handling
The platform easily integrates with payment processors like various payment gateways, enabling you to accept payments instantly through your funnels without transferring customers to external sites.
6. Protected Content
For professionals selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels features the ability to create secure membership areas where subscribers can access premium content.
7. Statistics and Metrics
ClickFunnels provides detailed analytics on funnel performance, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These information help users optimize their funnels for better results.
8. Referral System
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it straightforward to run your affiliates, monitor their performance, and manage commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Improvement
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most significant update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version signifies a complete overhaul of the platform with expanded features and capabilities.
Upgrades in 2.0?
- Enhanced Website Builder: A more comprehensive website builder that allows for entire website creation, not just funnels
- Expanded E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to establish and administer a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Superior Customization: More freedom in design and functionality
- Better User Interface: A cleaner dashboard and editor
- Technical Improvements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Advanced CRM Features: More sophisticated customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 addresses many of the limitations users experienced with the original version, making it a more robust marketing solution.
Pricing Structure
ClickFunnels provides different pricing tiers to accommodate 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 features:
- 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 provides:
- 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 test the platform before deciding financially.
The Perks of Using ClickFunnels
1. Complete Solution
Perhaps the primary advantage of ClickFunnels is that it merges multiple tools into one platform. Instead of handling 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 drag-and-drop interface takes away the need for coding or design skills. This simplifies the funnel-building process, making it attainable to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Quick Setup
With prepared templates and a efficient 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. Network and Assistance
ClickFunnels has built a vibrant community of users who provide 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. Verified Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are created from proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users utilize established best practices rather than starting from scratch.
6. Knowledge Base
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a abundance of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide valuable marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer structured learning opportunities.
Disadvantages and Drawbacks
Despite its many positives, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Price Point
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a major investment, especially for one-person operations or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more economical entry-level options.
2. Learning Curve
While designed to be user-friendly, 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. Finite Design Flexibility
Though the drag-and-drop editor is capable, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it inflexible. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes prioritizes the former.
4. Page Performance
Prior to 2.0, some users reported difficulties with page loading speed, which can diminish SEO and user experience. While ClickFunnels 2.0 has improved performance, optimizing for speed demands attention.
5. Email Marketing Restrictions
While ClickFunnels offers email marketing features, they’re not as comprehensive as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for sophisticated email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Alternatives: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly crowded. Here’s how ClickFunnels measures against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Strong points relative to ClickFunnels:
- More complete marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More sophisticated email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Limitations:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Strong points:
- More affordable entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Limitations:
- 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 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 intuitive for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Benefits:
- 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 extensive feature set
- Smaller community and fewer educational resources
5. Instapage
Benefits:
- Superior design flexibility and customization
- Advanced collaboration features
- Excellent analytics and heatmaps
- Strong AdWords and Facebook Ads integration
Limitations:
- 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 inexpensive 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 Should Use ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly appropriate for:
1. Course Developers and Coaches
The platform specializes in 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. Web Store Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s upgraded e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that raise average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Service-Based Businesses
Consultants, 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 perfect for affiliate marketers looking to increase their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Content Creators and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors distribute books while collecting 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 May Want to Consider Other Solutions Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the right option for:
1. Micro Businesses with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be unaffordable 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 ideal, though ClickFunnels 2.0 has made improvements in this area.
3. Creative Professionals Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require precise designs and extensive customization might prefer platforms with more design flexibility.
4. Enterprise-Level Businesses with Complex Requirements
Very large organizations with complex integration needs and custom requirements might need more tailored solutions.
Beginning Your Journey 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
Opt for a funnel template that suits your specific goal, whether it’s lead generation, product sales, or webinar registration.
2. Prioritize 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. Leverage the Training Resources
Take advantage of the abundant training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Become part of the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides helpful insights and support from fellow users who can help troubleshoot issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Test and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to consistently refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Pre-built Templates
Rather than building from scratch, customize existing high-converting templates to match your brand and offering.
The Bottom Line: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a major investment, but for many businesses, the benefit on that investment can be significant. 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 hinges on your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re focused on optimizing your online sales process and prefer an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a persuasive package-especially with the enhanced capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can afford the monthly subscription and are invested in implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to excel in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform regularly evolve, resolving previous limitations and increasing its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling online courses, items, or professional assistance, ClickFunnels offers a efficient path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is deserving of the investment.