In today’s digital marketplace, moving leads to sales is the essential target for any web-based business. This is where sales funnel software proves valuable, and ClickFunnels remains one of the most well-known names in this niche.
Started by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has transformed the way businesses and digital marketers manage online sales, promising to simplify the customer journey from discovery to final purchase.
But is ClickFunnels worth your money? Does it match its hype? Whether you’re a experienced business owner or building your business from scratch, this thorough review will provide you with all the insights you need to make an informed decision about ClickFunnels.
Understanding ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is an complete marketing platform engineered to help businesses create optimized sales funnels without demanding technical expertise or a team of developers. At its core, ClickFunnels allows users to design landing pages, make email sequences, handle payments, and administer customer relationships-all within a one platform.
The Principle of Sales Funnels
In advance of diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s essential to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel represents the progression customers go through from becoming aware of your product or service to making a purchase.
It typically includes parts like discovery, appeal, deliberation, and conversion.
Traditional websites are often built without a defined route for visitors to trace. This can produce high bounce rates and wasted potential customers. Sales funnels, alternatively, are intentionally built to direct visitors through a defined path, improving the likelihood of conversion at each step.
ClickFunnels’ System
ClickFunnels has streamlined the process of creating these funnels with its drag-and-drop editor and pre-built templates. The platform’s philosophy centers around not just constructing web pages but creating high-converting conversion paths that convert visitors into customers and customers into loyal fans.
Primary Elements of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Designer
The heart of ClickFunnels is its straightforward funnel builder. Users can select a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Designed to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For retailing products or services
- Webinar funnels: To publicize and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For ongoing products
The user-friendly interface makes it easy to add elements like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without writing a single line of code.
2. Prepared Templates
ClickFunnels delivers over 100 ready-made templates for numerous industries and purposes. These templates, developed by marketing specialists, are structured for performance and can be adjusted to match your brand.
3. A/B Testing
Determining what works for your audience is critical for increasing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing capability allows you to build multiple versions of your pages and examine different elements to see which works best.
4. Automated Emails
ClickFunnels integrates email marketing capabilities, allowing you to build automated email sequences triggered by specific actions. This feature helps foster leads and guide them further down the sales funnel.
5. Transaction Handling
The platform easily integrates with payment processors like PayPal, Stripe, and more, facilitating you to accept payments right through your funnels without sending customers to external sites.
6. Subscription Areas
For marketers selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels includes the ability to create secure membership areas where members can access premium content.
7. Performance Tracking
ClickFunnels offers comprehensive analytics on funnel metrics, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These information help users optimize their funnels for better results.
8. Partner Program Tools
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it simple to handle your affiliates, monitor their performance, and distribute commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Improvement
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most noteworthy update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version embodies a complete redesign of the platform with enhanced features and capabilities.
New Features in 2.0?
- Advanced Website Builder: A more robust website builder that allows for total website creation, not just funnels
- Advanced E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to create and run a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Enhanced Customization: More freedom in design and functionality
- Refined User Interface: A cleaner dashboard and editor
- Loading Time Upgrades: Faster page loading times and better mobile responsiveness
- Upgraded CRM Features: More comprehensive customer relationship management tools
The upgrade to 2.0 addresses many of the restrictions users experienced with the original version, making it a more comprehensive marketing solution.
Subscription Plans
ClickFunnels features different pricing tiers to accommodate 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
Pro 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
Elite 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 try the platform before subscribing financially.
The Advantages of Using ClickFunnels
1. Complete Solution
Perhaps the greatest advantage of ClickFunnels is that it combines multiple tools into one platform. Instead of juggling different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can administer all these aspects in one place.
2. No Technical Background Required
The platform’s user-friendly interface removes 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 simplified workflow, ClickFunnels significantly decreases the time needed to initiate a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be completed in days or even hours.
4. Support Network
ClickFunnels has established a dynamic community of users who contribute 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 comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support.
5. Proven Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are created from proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users benefit from established best practices rather than beginning anew.
6. Learning Materials
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a multitude of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide insightful marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer systematic learning opportunities.
Downsides and Drawbacks
Despite its many strengths, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Cost
Starting at $147 per month, ClickFunnels represents a significant investment, especially for one-person operations or startups with limited budgets. Many competitors offer more economical entry-level options.
2. Learning Curve
While designed to be user-friendly, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy needs time and dedication. New users might feel daunted by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Finite Design Flexibility
Though the drag-and-drop editor is strong, 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 issues with page loading speed, which can diminish SEO and user experience. While ClickFunnels 2.0 has improved performance, optimizing for speed needs attention.
5. Email Marketing Restrictions
While ClickFunnels contains email marketing features, they’re not as sophisticated as dedicated email marketing platforms. Power users might still need additional tools for advanced email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Contenders: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly contested. Here’s how ClickFunnels stacks up against its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Positives relative to ClickFunnels:
- More complete marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More robust email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Drawbacks:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Strong points:
- More inexpensive entry point ($37/month)
- Strong focus on lead generation
- Excellent mobile-responsive designs
- Solid WordPress integration
Limitations:
- Less full-featured 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 customizable design options
- Strong analytics and conversion intelligence
- More affordable starting point
Weaknesses:
- Primarily focused on landing pages rather than complete funnels
- No built-in payment processing
- Less straightforward for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Benefits:
- Significantly more budget-friendly (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 advanced 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
Disadvantages:
- 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)
Strengths:
- Most inexpensive option if you already have WordPress
- Ultimate flexibility and customization
- Complete ownership and control
- One-time purchases versus subscription model
Shortcomings:
- 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 Ideal For ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly well-suited for:
1. E-learning Providers and Coaches
The platform is optimized for creating sales funnels for digital products like courses, coaching programs, and membership sites. The built-in membership functionality makes it simple to deliver content to paying customers.
2. E-commerce Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s advanced e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that boost average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Professional Services Businesses
Advisors, 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. Authors and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors promote books while securing reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Non-Technical Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will benefit from ClickFunnels’ simple interface and pre-built templates.
Who May Not Be Ideal Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the best fit for:
1. Solo Entrepreneurs with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be prohibitive 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 ideal, though ClickFunnels 2.0 has made improvements in this area.
3. Creative Professionals 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 specialized solutions.
First Steps 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
Decide on a funnel template that corresponds to 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 profitable 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. Engage with the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides valuable insights and support from fellow users who can help troubleshoot 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 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 considerable investment, but for many businesses, the payoff on that investment can be remarkable. 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 revolves around your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re serious about optimizing your online sales process and appreciate an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require technical expertise, ClickFunnels offers a compelling package-especially with the advanced capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can budget for the monthly subscription and are dedicated to 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, solving previous limitations and growing its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling information products, merchandise, or coaching, ClickFunnels offers a efficient path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is worth the investment.