In the current online business landscape, turning prospects into buyers is the essential target for any online business. This is where customer journey software demonstrates importance, and ClickFunnels remains one of the most popular names in this space.
Started by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has changed the way companies and business owners handle online sales, offering to streamline the customer journey from first contact to final purchase.
But is ClickFunnels worth pursuing? Does it live up to its promises? Whether you’re a experienced business owner or new to online business, this complete review will provide you with all the insights you need to make an well-informed choice about ClickFunnels.
All About ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an all-in-one marketing platform created to help businesses design optimized sales funnels without the need for technical expertise or a team of developers. At its essence, ClickFunnels allows users to create landing pages, establish email sequences, manage payments, and manage customer relationships-all within a unified platform.
The Theory of Sales Funnels
Prior to diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s important to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel depicts the journey customers go through from initially discovering your product or service to making a purchase.
It typically includes phases like recognition, curiosity, evaluation, and commitment.
Regular sites are often developed without a structured journey for visitors to trace. This can produce high bounce rates and lost potential customers. Sales funnels, conversely, are purposefully created to navigate visitors through a predetermined path, improving the likelihood of sales at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Approach
ClickFunnels has streamlined the process of creating these funnels with its drag-and-drop editor and ready-made templates. The platform’s approach centers around not just developing web pages but creating powerful conversion paths that transform visitors into customers and customers into repeat buyers.
Essential Components of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Creator
The foundation of ClickFunnels is its straightforward funnel builder. Users can choose from a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Developed to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For promoting products or services
- Webinar funnels: To publicize and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For continuity products
The intuitive interface makes it simple to add items like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without writing a single line of code.
2. Prepared Templates
ClickFunnels delivers over a hundred professionally created templates for various industries and purposes. These templates, produced by professional marketers, are created for sales and can be customized to match your brand.
3. A/B Testing
Determining what appeals to your audience is crucial for optimizing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing tool allows you to develop multiple versions of your pages and examine different elements to see which works best.
4. Email Marketing
ClickFunnels combines email marketing capabilities, allowing you to create automated email sequences initiated by specific actions. This feature helps nurture leads and direct them further down the sales funnel.
5. Payment Integration
The platform flawlessly integrates with payment processors like multiple payment options, empowering you to accept payments immediately through your funnels without moving customers to external sites.
6. Protected Content
For experts selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels delivers the ability to create protected membership areas where customers can access exclusive content.
7. Results Monitoring
ClickFunnels provides comprehensive analytics on funnel results, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These insights help users improve their funnels for greater results.
8. Referral System
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it uncomplicated to administer your affiliates, analyze their performance, and manage 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 revamp of the platform with advanced features and capabilities.
New Features in 2.0?
- Enhanced Website Builder: A more sophisticated website builder that allows for complete website creation, not just funnels
- Enhanced E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to establish and manage a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Improved Customization: More adaptability in design and functionality
- Upgraded User Interface: A more streamlined dashboard and editor
- Loading Time Upgrades: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Enhanced CRM Features: More capable customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 tackles many of the shortcomings users experienced with the original version, making it a more robust marketing solution.
Cost Options
ClickFunnels features different pricing tiers to accommodate businesses of various sizes:
Basic 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 delivers:
- Unlimited funnels
- Unlimited pages
- 9 payment gateways
- 9 domains
- 3 admin users
- Advanced automation
- Enhanced analytics
Ultimate Plan
For $997 per month, the Funnel Hacker plan contains:
- 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 evaluate the platform before subscribing financially.
The Positives of Using ClickFunnels
1. All-In-One Solution
Perhaps the largest advantage of ClickFunnels is that it unifies multiple tools into one platform. Instead of juggling different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can operate all these aspects in one place.
2. No Technical Background Required
The platform’s drag-and-drop interface removes the need for coding or design skills. This streamlines the funnel-building process, making it available to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Time Efficiency
With ready-made templates and a streamlined workflow, ClickFunnels significantly cuts the time needed to deploy a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be done in days or even hours.
4. Network and Assistance
ClickFunnels has established a vibrant community of users who provide 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. Established Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are created 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 multitude of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide beneficial marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer formal learning opportunities.
Weaknesses and Drawbacks
Despite its many positives, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Price Point
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a noteworthy investment, especially for freelancers or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more inexpensive entry-level options.
2. Learning Process
While designed to be intuitive, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy demands time and dedication. New users might feel confused by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Limited Design Flexibility
Though the visual editor is robust, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it inflexible. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes emphasizes the former.
4. Page Performance
Prior to 2.0, some users reported challenges 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 Constraints
While ClickFunnels features email marketing features, they’re not as advanced 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 extensive marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More capable 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 cost-effective entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Limitations:
- 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 user-friendly for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Benefits:
- Significantly more economical (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 advanced 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
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 appropriate for:
1. Online Course Creators 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. 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. Client Service Businesses
Specialists, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to create leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Partnership Marketers
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it appropriate for affiliate marketers looking to improve their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Authors and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors sell books while capturing reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Technically Challenged Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will benefit from ClickFunnels’ accessible interface and pre-built templates.
Who Should Explore Other Options Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the best fit for:
1. Startups 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. Design Experts Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require flawless 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.
Getting Started with ClickFunnels: Tips for Success
If you decide to try ClickFunnels, here are some tips to optimize 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. Focus on One Funnel at a Time
Rather than trying to build multiple funnels simultaneously, focus on creating and optimizing one successful funnel before moving on to the next.
3. Use the Training Resources
Take advantage of the thorough training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Connect with the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides useful 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 consistently 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.
Conclusion: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a substantial investment, but for many businesses, the return 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 grow leads and convert customers.
The decision ultimately rests on your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re serious about optimizing your online sales process and value an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a attractive package-especially with the expanded 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 succeed in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform consistently evolve, resolving previous limitations and increasing its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling information products, physical goods, or expertise, ClickFunnels offers a direct path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is deserving of the investment.