In today’s digital marketplace, changing visitors to customers is the primary objective for all internet companies. This is where customer journey software comes into play, and ClickFunnels is recognized as one of the most recognized names in this industry.
Founded by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has transformed the way companies and business owners handle online sales, striving to optimize the customer journey from first contact to checkout.
But is ClickFunnels worth your money? Does it deliver on its expectations? Whether you’re a established entrepreneur or building your business from scratch, this detailed review will provide you with all the information you need to make an smart choice about ClickFunnels.
Introducing ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an unified marketing platform designed to help businesses build optimized sales funnels without calling for technical expertise or a team of developers. At its heart, ClickFunnels allows users to design landing pages, generate email sequences, manage payments, and supervise customer relationships-all within a single platform.
The Theory of Sales Funnels
Before diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s essential to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel symbolizes the path customers go through from first encountering your product or service to buying.
It typically includes parts like recognition, appeal, deliberation, and commitment.
Conventional sites are often built without a defined route for visitors to navigate. This can produce high bounce rates and wasted potential customers. Sales funnels, alternatively, are strategically designed to lead visitors through a structured path, raising the likelihood of sales at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Philosophy
ClickFunnels has made easier the process of creating these funnels with its drag-and-drop editor and ready-to-use templates. The platform’s methodology centers around not just constructing web pages but creating effective conversion paths that change visitors into customers and customers into loyal fans.
Essential Components of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Development Tool
The essence of ClickFunnels is its user-friendly funnel builder. Users can select a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Created to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For selling products or services
- Webinar funnels: To promote and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For ongoing products
The point-and-click interface makes it straightforward to add parts like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without creating a single line of code.
2. Prepared Templates
ClickFunnels offers over a hundred professionally created templates for various industries and purposes. These templates, crafted by professional marketers, are engineered for conversions and can be customized to match your brand.
3. Variant Testing
Determining what connects with your audience is essential for increasing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing tool allows you to develop multiple versions of your pages and test different elements to see which performs better.
4. Email Marketing
ClickFunnels integrates email marketing capabilities, allowing you to build automated email sequences initiated by specific actions. This feature helps grow leads and transition them further down the sales funnel.
5. Payment Processing
The platform effortlessly integrates with payment processors like various payment gateways, enabling you to accept payments instantly through your funnels without redirecting customers to external sites.
6. Member Portals
For experts selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels features the ability to create restricted membership areas where users can access restricted content.
7. Statistics and Metrics
ClickFunnels furnishes detailed analytics on funnel effectiveness, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These data help users improve their funnels for stronger results.
8. Affiliate Tracking
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it uncomplicated to administer your affiliates, measure their performance, and process commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Evolution
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most noteworthy update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version represents a complete revamp of the platform with advanced features and capabilities.
New Features in 2.0?
- Advanced Website Builder: A more robust website builder that allows for entire website creation, not just funnels
- Upgraded E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to establish and handle a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Enhanced Customization: More versatility in design and functionality
- Better User Interface: A more elegant dashboard and editor
- Technical Improvements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Enhanced CRM Features: More capable customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 fixes many of the constraints users experienced with the original version, making it a more thorough marketing solution.
Pricing Structure
ClickFunnels provides different pricing tiers to match businesses of various sizes:
Fundamental Plan
The Basic plan (now called the “Standard” plan in ClickFunnels 2.0) runs $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 come with a 14-day free trial, allowing users to experience the platform before investing financially.
The Positives of Using ClickFunnels
1. Comprehensive Solution
Perhaps the main advantage of ClickFunnels is that it consolidates multiple tools into one platform. Instead of switching between different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can control all these aspects in one place.
2. No Programming Expertise Required
The platform’s drag-and-drop interface eliminates the need for coding or design skills. This streamlines the funnel-building process, making it accessible to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Quick Setup
With template templates and a streamlined workflow, ClickFunnels significantly lowers the time needed to launch a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be done in days or even hours.
4. User Community
ClickFunnels has developed a dynamic community of users who contribute strategies, successes, and advice. The official ClickFunnels Facebook group has over 250,000 members, creating a beneficial resource for marketers at all levels. Additionally, the platform offers extensive 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 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 organized learning opportunities.
Limitations and Drawbacks
Despite its many benefits, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Investment
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a noteworthy investment, especially for one-person operations or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more budget-friendly entry-level options.
2. Adoption Challenge
While designed to be intuitive, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy demands time and dedication. New users might feel overwhelmed by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Modest Design Flexibility
Though the intuitive editor is strong, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it constraining. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes emphasizes the former.
4. Page Performance
Prior to 2.0, some users reported issues with page loading speed, which can hurt SEO and user experience. While ClickFunnels 2.0 has improved performance, optimizing for speed demands attention.
5. Email Marketing Shortcomings
While ClickFunnels features email marketing features, they’re not as powerful as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for advanced email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Competition: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly populated. Here’s how ClickFunnels measures against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Benefits 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
Shortcomings:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Benefits:
- More economical entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Drawbacks:
- 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 customizable 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 simple 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 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
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)
Strong points:
- Most budget-friendly option if you already have WordPress
- Ultimate flexibility and customization
- Complete ownership and control
- One-time purchases versus subscription model
Limitations:
- 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 appropriate for:
1. E-learning Providers and Coaches
The platform is perfect 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. Internet Retail Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s upgraded e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that grow average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Consulting Businesses
Advisors, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to acquire leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Digital Affiliates
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it appropriate for affiliate marketers looking to enhance their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Writers and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors market books while capturing reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Non-Technical Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will benefit from ClickFunnels’ straightforward interface and pre-built templates.
Who Should Explore Other Options Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the optimal solution for:
1. Small Businesses with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be excessive for businesses just starting out or with tight marketing budgets.
2. Blog-Focused 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 exact 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.
Beginning Your Journey 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 matches 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 performing funnel before moving on to the next.
3. Utilize the Training Resources
Take advantage of the comprehensive 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 continuously refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Existing Templates
Rather than building from scratch, adjust existing high-converting templates to match your brand and offering.
Final Thoughts: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a significant investment, but for many businesses, the return 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 prioritize an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a compelling package-especially with the upgraded capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can handle the monthly subscription and are serious about 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 information products, physical goods, or coaching, ClickFunnels offers a efficient path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is warranted for the investment.