In today’s digital marketplace, changing visitors to customers is the essential target for any web-based business. This is where customer journey software comes into play, and ClickFunnels is recognized as one of the most well-known names in this niche.
Created by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has transformed the way marketers and organizations manage online sales, promising to improve the conversion path from first contact to completed sale.
But is ClickFunnels worth the investment? Does it deliver on its expectations? Whether you’re a digital marketing veteran or new to online business, this thorough review will provide you with all the information you need to make an smart choice about ClickFunnels.
Understanding ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an unified marketing platform engineered to help businesses develop optimized sales funnels without requiring technical expertise or a team of developers. At its core, ClickFunnels allows users to develop landing pages, create email sequences, process payments, and administer customer relationships-all within a single platform.
The Concept of Sales Funnels
Prior to diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s essential to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel represents the journey customers go through from being introduced to your product or service to completing a transaction.
It typically includes levels like awareness, interest, evaluation, and commitment.
Regular sites are often designed without a clear path for visitors to take. This can produce high bounce rates and forfeited potential customers. Sales funnels, conversely, are purposefully created to steer visitors through a planned path, increasing the likelihood of success at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Philosophy
ClickFunnels has streamlined the process of creating these funnels with its point-and-click editor and ready-to-use templates. The platform’s approach centers around not just designing web pages but creating high-converting conversion paths that transition visitors into customers and customers into advocates.
Main Capabilities of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Creator
The essence of ClickFunnels is its easy-to-use funnel builder. Users can choose from a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Created to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For retailing products or services
- Webinar funnels: To advertise and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For membership products
The point-and-click interface makes it effortless to add elements like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without coding a single line of code.
2. Prepared Templates
ClickFunnels delivers over 100 prepared templates for different industries and purposes. These templates, designed by experienced designers, are structured for success and can be customized to match your brand.
3. Experimental Testing
Recognizing what appeals to your audience is critical for improving conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing capability allows you to create multiple versions of your pages and test different elements to see which works best.
4. Email Sequences
ClickFunnels features email marketing capabilities, allowing you to create automated email sequences started by specific actions. This feature helps cultivate leads and direct them further down the sales funnel.
5. Transaction Handling
The platform seamlessly integrates with payment processors like multiple payment options, facilitating you to accept payments instantly through your funnels without shifting customers to external sites.
6. Member Portals
For experts selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels offers the ability to create exclusive membership areas where clients can access premium content.
7. Statistics and Metrics
ClickFunnels delivers thorough analytics on funnel success, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These statistics help users enhance their funnels for higher results.
8. Partner Program Tools
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it easy to administer your affiliates, observe their performance, and distribute commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Next Generation
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most important update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version marks a complete rebuild of the platform with improved features and capabilities.
Improvements in 2.0?
- Advanced Website Builder: A more sophisticated website builder that allows for complete website creation, not just funnels
- Upgraded E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to produce and maintain a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Improved Customization: More adaptability in design and functionality
- Refined User Interface: A more streamlined dashboard and editor
- Performance Improvements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Improved CRM Features: More advanced customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 resolves many of the constraints users experienced with the original version, making it a more robust marketing solution.
Membership Levels
ClickFunnels features different pricing tiers to suit businesses of various sizes:
Entry-Level Plan
The Basic plan (now called the “Standard” plan in ClickFunnels 2.0) is priced 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
Advanced Plan
At $197 per month, the Pro plan offers:
- Unlimited funnels
- Unlimited pages
- 9 payment gateways
- 9 domains
- 3 admin users
- Advanced automation
- Enhanced analytics
Top-tier 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 experience the platform before deciding financially.
The Benefits of Using ClickFunnels
1. Complete Solution
Perhaps the primary 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 control all these aspects in one place.
2. No Development Experience Required
The platform’s drag-and-drop interface takes away the need for coding or design skills. This makes accessible the funnel-building process, making it manageable to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Quick Setup
With template templates and a streamlined workflow, ClickFunnels significantly reduces the time needed to deploy a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be finished in days or even hours.
4. Network and Assistance
ClickFunnels has built a engaged community of users who provide strategies, successes, and advice. The official ClickFunnels Facebook group has over 250,000 members, creating a useful resource for marketers at all levels. Additionally, the platform offers detailed documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support.
5. Established Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are based on proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users utilize established best practices rather than starting from scratch.
6. Learning Materials
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a wealth of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide valuable marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer systematic learning opportunities.
Limitations and Drawbacks
Despite its many advantages, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Cost
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a noteworthy investment, especially for small businesses or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more inexpensive 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 daunted by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Modest Design Flexibility
Though the visual editor is effective, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it confining. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes favors the former.
4. Page Performance
Prior to 2.0, some users reported problems with page loading speed, which can hurt SEO and user experience. While ClickFunnels 2.0 has improved performance, optimizing for speed takes attention.
5. Email Marketing Boundaries
While ClickFunnels features email marketing features, they’re not as robust as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for sophisticated email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Competitors: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly competitive. Here’s how ClickFunnels fares against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Strong points relative to ClickFunnels:
- More comprehensive marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More powerful email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Disadvantages:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Advantages:
- More budget-friendly entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Shortcomings:
- Less robust 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 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 intuitive for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Advantages:
- 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
Strengths:
- Superior design flexibility and customization
- Advanced collaboration features
- Excellent analytics and heatmaps
- Strong AdWords and Facebook Ads integration
Shortcomings:
- 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
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 beneficial for:
1. Online Course Creators and Coaches
The platform excels at 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. Internet Retail Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s advanced e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that enhance average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. B2B Service Businesses
Specialists, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to acquire leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Referral Marketers
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it appropriate 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 promote books while gathering reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Technically Challenged Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will enjoy ClickFunnels’ simple interface and pre-built templates.
Who Should Consider Alternatives Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the best fit for:
1. Micro Businesses 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. Professional Designers Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require flawless designs and extensive customization might prefer platforms with more design flexibility.
4. Corporate Businesses with Complex Requirements
Very large organizations with complex integration needs and custom requirements might need more customized 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. 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. Employ the Training Resources
Take advantage of the abundant training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Connect with the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides valuable insights and support from fellow users who can help solve issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Test and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to regularly refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Available 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 major investment, but for many businesses, the benefit on that investment can be impressive. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to ease the complex process of creating effective sales funnels while providing the tools needed to grow leads and convert customers.
The decision ultimately depends on your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re serious about optimizing your online sales process and prefer an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a appealing package-especially with the upgraded capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can manage the monthly subscription and are invested in implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to thrive in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform keeps evolve, resolving previous limitations and expanding its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling e-products, items, or services, ClickFunnels offers a efficient path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is warranted for the investment.