In today’s internet-driven economy, transforming browsers into purchasers is the key focus for any web-based business. This is where customer journey software comes into play, and ClickFunnels exists as one of the most popular names in this industry.
Started by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has reshaped the way businesses and digital marketers approach online sales, promising to enhance the conversion path from discovery to conversion.
But is ClickFunnels worth pursuing? Does it deliver on its potential? Whether you’re a experienced business owner or launching your first venture, this thorough review will provide you with everything you need to make an informed decision about ClickFunnels.
What Is ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an all-in-one marketing platform designed to help businesses create optimized sales funnels without requiring technical expertise or a team of developers. At its heart, ClickFunnels allows users to develop landing pages, make email sequences, facilitate payments, and manage customer relationships-all within a one platform.
The Fundamentals of Sales Funnels
Ahead of diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s necessary to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel illustrates the journey customers go through from initially discovering your product or service to converting.
It typically includes stages like awareness, engagement, assessment, and transaction.
Conventional sites are often developed without a structured journey for visitors to take. This can produce high bounce rates and missed potential customers. Sales funnels, on the other hand, are deliberately structured to guide visitors through a defined path, enhancing the likelihood of positive outcomes at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Philosophy
ClickFunnels has made easier the process of creating these funnels with its intuitive editor and prepared templates. The platform’s methodology centers around not just creating web pages but creating effective conversion paths that change visitors into customers and customers into repeat buyers.
Primary Elements of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Designer
The core of ClickFunnels is its user-friendly funnel builder. Users can select a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Developed to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For selling products or services
- Webinar funnels: To publicize and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For ongoing products
The visual interface makes it easy to add items like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without producing a single line of code.
2. Ready-made Templates
ClickFunnels provides over numerous ready-made templates for numerous industries and purposes. These templates, designed by industry professionals, are structured for conversions and can be tailored to match your brand.
3. Split Testing
Determining what resonates with your audience is key for improving conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing feature allows you to develop multiple versions of your pages and test different elements to see which delivers better results.
4. Automated Emails
ClickFunnels includes email marketing capabilities, allowing you to design automated email sequences activated by specific actions. This feature helps nurture leads and direct them further down the sales funnel.
5. Transaction Handling
The platform seamlessly integrates with payment processors like multiple payment options, empowering you to accept payments right through your funnels without redirecting customers to external sites.
6. Protected Content
For creators selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels includes the ability to create protected membership areas where clients can access protected content.
7. Results Monitoring
ClickFunnels furnishes detailed analytics on funnel metrics, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These data help users refine their funnels for greater results.
8. Referral System
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it effortless to administer your affiliates, track their performance, and manage commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Upgrade
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most substantial update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version signifies a complete overhaul of the platform with enhanced features and capabilities.
New Features in 2.0?
- Advanced Website Builder: A more robust website builder that allows for complete website creation, not just funnels
- Advanced E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to create and maintain a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Enhanced Customization: More versatility in design and functionality
- Upgraded User Interface: A more intuitive dashboard and editor
- Performance Improvements: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Upgraded CRM Features: More sophisticated customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 resolves many of the limitations users experienced with the original version, making it a more robust marketing solution.
Subscription Plans
ClickFunnels presents different pricing tiers to support businesses of various sizes:
Standard 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
Premium 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
Elite Plan
For $997 per month, the Funnel Hacker plan includes:
- 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 provide a 14-day free trial, allowing users to try the platform before committing financially.
The Perks of Using ClickFunnels
1. All-In-One Solution
Perhaps the primary advantage of ClickFunnels is that it integrates 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 Programming Expertise Required
The platform’s drag-and-drop interface eliminates the need for coding or design skills. This opens up the funnel-building process, making it usable to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Fast Implementation
With prepared templates and a streamlined workflow, ClickFunnels significantly reduces 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 built a vibrant community of users who share strategies, successes, and advice. The official ClickFunnels Facebook group has over 250,000 members, creating a important resource for marketers at all levels. Additionally, the platform offers comprehensive 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 employ established best practices rather than beginning anew.
6. Educational Resources
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a variety of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide insightful marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer organized learning opportunities.
Weaknesses and Drawbacks
Despite its many advantages, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Pricing
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a major investment, especially for solopreneurs or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more inexpensive entry-level options.
2. Adoption Challenge
While designed to be user-friendly, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy calls for time and dedication. New users might feel daunted by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Restricted Design Flexibility
Though the intuitive editor is powerful, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it limiting. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes tilts toward 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 needs attention.
5. Email Marketing Shortcomings
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 Contenders: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly saturated. Here’s how ClickFunnels stacks up 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 capable email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Weaknesses:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Strong points:
- More cost-effective entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Shortcomings:
- Less complete than ClickFunnels (primarily focuses on landing pages)
- Limited checkout and payment processing options
- No built-in email marketing
3. Unbounce
Strong points:
- 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 simple for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Strong points:
- 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 robust 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
Weaknesses:
- 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)
Benefits:
- Most cost-effective 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 Will Love ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly well-suited for:
1. Digital Educators 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 effortless to deliver content to paying customers.
2. Internet Retail Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s improved e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that boost average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. B2B Service Businesses
Advisors, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to acquire leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Affiliate Marketers
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it suitable for affiliate marketers looking to enhance their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Publishers and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors distribute books while capturing reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Non-Technical Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will value ClickFunnels’ user-friendly interface and pre-built templates.
Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the optimal solution for:
1. Solo Entrepreneurs with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be too high for businesses just starting out or with tight marketing budgets.
2. Editorial 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. Professional Designers Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require pixel-perfect designs and extensive customization might prefer platforms with more design flexibility.
4. Major Businesses with Complex Requirements
Very large organizations with complex integration needs and custom requirements might need more customized solutions.
First Steps 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 fits your specific goal, whether it’s lead generation, product sales, or webinar registration.
2. Emphasize 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 extensive training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Join the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides valuable insights and support from fellow users who can help solve issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Analyze and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to continuously refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Available 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 important investment, but for many businesses, the reward on that investment can be significant. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to facilitate the complex process of creating effective sales funnels while providing the tools needed to cultivate 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 appreciate an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a attractive package-especially with the upgraded capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can manage the monthly subscription and are serious about implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to prosper in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform regularly evolve, addressing 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 direct path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is worth the investment.