In the current online business landscape, changing visitors to customers is the ultimate goal for any online business. This is where customer journey software comes into play, and ClickFunnels positions itself as one of the most popular names in this space.
Launched by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has changed the way entrepreneurs and businesses approach online sales, offering to optimize the customer journey from awareness to buying decision.
But is ClickFunnels a good value? Does it meet its expectations? Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or building your business from scratch, this thorough review will provide you with everything you need to make an informed decision about ClickFunnels.
Defining ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an integrated marketing platform developed to help businesses construct optimized sales funnels without the need for technical expertise or a team of developers. At its foundation, ClickFunnels allows users to construct landing pages, produce email sequences, execute payments, and oversee customer relationships-all within a single platform.
The Concept of Sales Funnels
Ahead of diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s crucial to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel symbolizes the progression customers go through from initially discovering your product or service to making a purchase.
It typically includes steps like visibility, engagement, evaluation, and conversion.
Regular sites are often constructed without a clear path for visitors to take. This can produce high bounce rates and missed potential customers. Sales funnels, conversely, are purposefully created to navigate visitors through a established path, increasing the likelihood of success at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Methodology
ClickFunnels has uncomplicated the process of creating these funnels with its intuitive editor and template templates. The platform’s philosophy centers around not just creating web pages but creating powerful conversion paths that change visitors into customers and customers into loyal fans.
Primary Elements of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Designer
The essence of ClickFunnels is its intuitive funnel builder. Users can select a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Created to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For marketing products or services
- Webinar funnels: To publicize and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For ongoing products
The point-and-click interface makes it effortless to add features like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without producing a single line of code.
2. Pre-designed Templates
ClickFunnels delivers over one hundred pre-built templates for multiple industries and purposes. These templates, created by marketing experts, are designed for success and can be modified to match your brand.
3. Split Testing
Recognizing what works for your audience is key for enhancing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing function allows you to design multiple versions of your pages and examine different elements to see which performs better.
4. Email Marketing
ClickFunnels features email marketing capabilities, allowing you to develop automated email sequences started by specific actions. This feature helps cultivate leads and move them further down the sales funnel.
5. Payment Integration
The platform flawlessly integrates with payment processors like various payment gateways, empowering you to accept payments right through your funnels without moving customers to external sites.
6. Membership Areas
For experts selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels includes the ability to create private membership areas where users can access protected content.
7. Data Analysis
ClickFunnels delivers extensive analytics on funnel metrics, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These data help users improve their funnels for improved results.
8. Commission Management
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it straightforward to administer your affiliates, observe their performance, and distribute commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Advancement
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most noteworthy update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version represents a complete redesign of the platform with upgraded features and capabilities.
Upgrades in 2.0?
- Upgraded Website Builder: A more sophisticated website builder that allows for full website creation, not just funnels
- Expanded E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to develop and manage a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Sophisticated Customization: More flexibility in design and functionality
- Upgraded User Interface: A more intuitive dashboard and editor
- Technical Improvements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Expanded CRM Features: More capable customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 solves many of the weaknesses users experienced with the original version, making it a more thorough marketing solution.
Subscription Plans
ClickFunnels provides different pricing tiers to serve businesses of various sizes:
Starter 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
Advanced Plan
At $197 per month, the Pro plan includes:
- Unlimited funnels
- Unlimited pages
- 9 payment gateways
- 9 domains
- 3 admin users
- Advanced automation
- Enhanced analytics
Funnel Hacker 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 offer a 14-day free trial, allowing users to try the platform before committing financially.
The Strengths of Using ClickFunnels
1. Integrated Solution
Perhaps the main advantage of ClickFunnels is that it unifies multiple tools into one platform. Instead of handling different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can manage all these aspects in one place.
2. No Technical Background Required
The platform’s user-friendly interface takes away the need for coding or design skills. This makes accessible the funnel-building process, making it attainable to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Time Savings
With prepared templates and a streamlined workflow, ClickFunnels significantly lowers the time needed to initiate a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be done in days or even hours.
4. Network and Assistance
ClickFunnels has fostered a engaged community of users who contribute 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 detailed documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support.
5. Tested 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 working from nothing.
6. Educational Resources
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 methodical learning opportunities.
Limitations and Drawbacks
Despite its many advantages, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Expense
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a major investment, especially for solopreneurs or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more cost-effective entry-level options.
2. Training Requirement
While designed to be easy to use, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy needs time and dedication. New users might feel overwhelmed by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Modest Design Flexibility
Though the drag-and-drop editor is strong, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it constraining. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes prioritizes the former.
4. Page Load Time
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 Boundaries
While ClickFunnels includes email marketing features, they’re not as powerful 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 contested. Here’s how ClickFunnels measures against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Strong points relative to ClickFunnels:
- More all-encompassing marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More sophisticated email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Disadvantages:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Positives:
- More economical entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Disadvantages:
- Less extensive 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
Limitations:
- Primarily focused on landing pages rather than complete funnels
- No built-in payment processing
- Less easy for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Strong points:
- Significantly more cost-effective (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 advanced 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
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
Weaknesses:
- 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 ideal for:
1. Information Product Creators 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 convenient 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 enhance average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Consulting Businesses
Experts, 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 appropriate for affiliate marketers looking to increase their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Writers and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors sell books while collecting reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Code-Averse Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will benefit from ClickFunnels’ user-friendly interface and pre-built templates.
Who May Want to Consider Other Solutions Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the best fit for:
1. Solo Entrepreneurs with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be costly 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 appropriate, though ClickFunnels 2.0 has made improvements in this area.
3. Advanced Designers Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require pixel-perfect 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 dedicated solutions.
Getting Started with ClickFunnels: Tips for Success
If you decide to try ClickFunnels, here are some tips to maximize your experience:
1. Start with the Right Funnel Type
Decide on a funnel template that fits 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 effective funnel before moving on to the next.
3. Leverage the Training Resources
Take advantage of the detailed 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 address issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Try and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to consistently refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Prepared Templates
Rather than building from scratch, modify existing high-converting templates to match your brand and offering.
Wrapping Up: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a considerable investment, but for many businesses, the benefit on that investment can be significant. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to simplify 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 prefer an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a convincing package-especially with the expanded capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can afford the monthly subscription and are focused on 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, addressing previous limitations and enhancing its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling downloadable items, physical goods, or coaching, ClickFunnels offers a simplified path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is warranted for the investment.