In the modern e-commerce world, converting visitors into customers is the essential target for all internet companies. This is where customer journey software comes into play, and ClickFunnels remains one of the most well-known names in this field.
Established by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has revolutionized the way entrepreneurs and businesses approach online sales, working to enhance the customer journey from initial interest to checkout.
But is ClickFunnels a good value? Does it meet its promises? Whether you’re a digital marketing veteran or launching your first venture, this in-depth review will provide you with all the information you need to make an educated judgment about ClickFunnels.
All About ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an comprehensive marketing platform created to help businesses build optimized sales funnels without demanding technical expertise or a team of developers. At its heart, ClickFunnels allows users to construct landing pages, create email sequences, execute payments, and supervise customer relationships-all within a integrated platform.
The Concept of Sales Funnels
Prior to diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s important to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel represents the path customers go through from initially discovering your product or service to completing a transaction.
It typically includes phases like awareness, attention, evaluation, and action.
Standard websites are often constructed without a defined route for visitors to follow. This can cause high bounce rates and forfeited potential customers. Sales funnels, alternatively, are strategically designed to guide visitors through a defined path, enhancing the likelihood of sales at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Strategy
ClickFunnels has reduced complexity in the process of creating these funnels with its user-friendly editor and pre-built templates. The platform’s strategy centers around not just creating web pages but creating effective conversion paths that transform visitors into customers and customers into dedicated followers.
Main Capabilities of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Builder
The center of ClickFunnels is its easy-to-use funnel builder. Users can select a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Developed to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For marketing products or services
- Webinar funnels: To market and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For membership products
The intuitive interface makes it simple to add elements like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without typing a single line of code.
2. Prepared Templates
ClickFunnels provides over many pre-built templates for numerous industries and purposes. These templates, designed by marketing experts, are engineered for sales and can be customized to match your brand.
3. Split Testing
Knowing what connects with your audience is essential for improving conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing feature allows you to build multiple versions of your pages and examine different elements to see which converts higher.
4. Email Marketing
ClickFunnels integrates email marketing capabilities, allowing you to design automated email sequences initiated by specific actions. This feature helps grow leads and push them further down the sales funnel.
5. Payment Integration
The platform flawlessly integrates with payment processors like various payment gateways, permitting you to accept payments straight through your funnels without sending customers to external sites.
6. Member Sections
For experts selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels offers the ability to create secure membership areas where members can access premium content.
7. Statistics and Metrics
ClickFunnels delivers comprehensive analytics on funnel performance, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These insights help users perfect their funnels for greater results.
8. Affiliate Management
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it uncomplicated to manage your affiliates, monitor their performance, and administer commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Advancement
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most noteworthy update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version constitutes a complete overhaul of the platform with advanced features and capabilities.
Improvements in 2.0?
- Upgraded Website Builder: A more comprehensive website builder that allows for comprehensive website creation, not just funnels
- Enhanced E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to establish and administer a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Improved Customization: More adaptability in design and functionality
- Upgraded User Interface: A more intuitive dashboard and editor
- Loading Time Upgrades: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Upgraded CRM Features: More powerful customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 tackles many of the weaknesses users experienced with the original version, making it a more all-encompassing marketing solution.
Price Plans
ClickFunnels presents different pricing tiers to match businesses of various sizes:
Entry-Level 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
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 feature a 14-day free trial, allowing users to try the platform before deciding financially.
The Positives of Using ClickFunnels
1. Unified Solution
Perhaps the greatest advantage of ClickFunnels is that it merges multiple tools into one platform. Instead of managing different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can administer all these aspects in one place.
2. No Technical Skills Required
The platform’s point-and-click interface takes away the need for coding or design skills. This streamlines the funnel-building process, making it usable to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Fast Implementation
With pre-built templates and a smooth workflow, ClickFunnels significantly decreases the time needed to start a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be achieved in days or even hours.
4. Community and Support
ClickFunnels has built a thriving community of users who offer 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 detailed documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support.
5. Established Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are founded on proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users utilize established best practices rather than working from nothing.
6. Instructional Assets
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a wealth of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide insightful marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer formal learning opportunities.
Disadvantages and Drawbacks
Despite its many merits, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Cost
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a major investment, especially for solopreneurs or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more economical entry-level options.
2. Adjustment Period
While designed to be intuitive, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy requires time and dedication. New users might feel daunted by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Limited Design Flexibility
Though the intuitive editor is strong, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it limiting. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes leans toward the former.
4. Page Load Time
Prior to 2.0, some users reported concerns 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 Boundaries
While ClickFunnels contains 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 Alternatives: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly competitive. Here’s how ClickFunnels compares to its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Benefits relative to ClickFunnels:
- More all-encompassing marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More advanced email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Drawbacks:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Benefits:
- More inexpensive entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Disadvantages:
- Less complete 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 adjustable 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 intuitive 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
Limitations:
- Fewer templates and design options
- Less powerful feature set
- Smaller community and fewer educational resources
5. Instapage
Positives:
- Superior design flexibility and customization
- Advanced collaboration features
- Excellent analytics and heatmaps
- Strong AdWords and Facebook Ads integration
Drawbacks:
- 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 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 Should Use ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly well-suited for:
1. E-learning Providers and Coaches
The platform works great 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. Internet Retail Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s upgraded e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that raise average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Service-Based Businesses
Consultants, agencies, and service providers can use ClickFunnels to produce leads, book appointments, and sell service packages without complex website development.
4. Digital Affiliates
The platform’s optimization for conversions makes it perfect for affiliate marketers looking to maximize their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Authors and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors offer books while collecting reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Technology Novice Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will benefit from ClickFunnels’ user-friendly interface and pre-built templates.
Who May Not Be Ideal Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the best fit for:
1. Small Businesses with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be too high 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 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 bespoke solutions.
Getting Started 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
Pick a funnel template that aligns with 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. Take advantage of the Training Resources
Take advantage of the detailed training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Connect with the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides helpful insights and support from fellow users who can help address 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 Pre-built Templates
Rather than building from scratch, customize existing high-converting templates to match your brand and offering.
Summary: Is ClickFunnels Worth It?
ClickFunnels represents a considerable investment, but for many businesses, the payoff on that investment can be remarkable. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to streamline 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 committed to optimizing your online sales process and appreciate an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a convincing package-especially with the improved capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can support the monthly subscription and are invested in 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, solving previous limitations and enhancing its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling online courses, retail products, or coaching, ClickFunnels offers a simplified path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is worth the investment.