In today’s digital marketplace, turning prospects into buyers is the main aim for every e-commerce venture. This is where customer journey software proves valuable, and ClickFunnels stands as one of the most popular names in this industry.
Launched by Russell Brunson in 2014, ClickFunnels has revolutionized the way businesses and digital marketers manage online sales, working to improve the customer journey from first contact to checkout.
But is ClickFunnels a good value? Does it match its promises? Whether you’re a marketing professional or launching your first venture, this in-depth review will provide you with all the details you need to make an informed decision about ClickFunnels.
Defining 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 foundation, ClickFunnels allows users to construct landing pages, generate email sequences, facilitate payments, and handle customer relationships-all within a integrated platform.
The Idea of Sales Funnels
Ahead of diving deeper into ClickFunnels, it’s crucial to understand what a sales funnel is. A sales funnel symbolizes the progression customers go through from initially discovering your product or service to completing a transaction.
It typically includes steps like discovery, appeal, consideration, and transaction.
Conventional sites are often created without a structured journey for visitors to pursue. This can lead to high bounce rates and forfeited potential customers. Sales funnels, by contrast, are deliberately structured to direct visitors through a predetermined path, boosting the likelihood of success at each step.
ClickFunnels’ Philosophy
ClickFunnels has uncomplicated the process of creating these funnels with its visual editor and pre-built templates. The platform’s approach centers around not just constructing web pages but creating successful conversion paths that transform visitors into customers and customers into brand ambassadors.
Key Features of ClickFunnels
1. Funnel Designer
The foundation of ClickFunnels is its user-friendly funnel builder. Users can choose from a variety of funnel types, including:
- Opt-in funnels: Created to collect email addresses
- Sales funnels: For selling products or services
- Webinar funnels: To market and register users for webinars
- Membership funnels: For membership products
The intuitive interface makes it easy to add elements like text, images, videos, forms, and buttons without writing a single line of code.
2. Ready-made Templates
ClickFunnels offers over 100 pre-designed templates for diverse industries and purposes. These templates, created by marketing experts, are designed for success and can be personalized to match your brand.
3. Split Testing
Determining what works for your audience is crucial for maximizing conversions. ClickFunnels’ A/B testing option allows you to create multiple versions of your pages and analyze different elements to see which works best.
4. Email Campaigns
ClickFunnels combines email marketing capabilities, allowing you to create automated email sequences initiated by specific actions. This feature helps develop leads and direct them further down the sales funnel.
5. Payment Processing
The platform effortlessly integrates with payment processors like multiple payment options, permitting you to accept payments instantly through your funnels without redirecting customers to external sites.
6. Membership Areas
For marketers selling courses or subscription content, ClickFunnels includes the ability to create exclusive membership areas where members can access premium content.
7. Analytics and Reporting
ClickFunnels provides extensive analytics on funnel results, including page views, conversions, and earnings. These metrics help users refine their funnels for higher results.
8. Referral System
If you have an affiliate program, ClickFunnels makes it simple to handle your affiliates, observe their performance, and manage commission payments.
ClickFunnels 2.0: The Evolution
In 2022, ClickFunnels released its most noteworthy update: ClickFunnels 2.0. This new version marks a complete overhaul of the platform with upgraded features and capabilities.
Upgrades in 2.0?
- Upgraded Website Builder: A more sophisticated website builder that allows for total website creation, not just funnels
- Improved E-commerce Capabilities: Better product management, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment
- Blog Creation: The ability to build and administer a blog directly within ClickFunnels
- Improved Customization: More flexibility in design and functionality
- Enhanced User Interface: A more intuitive dashboard and editor
- Performance Improvements: 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 limitations users experienced with the original version, making it a more all-encompassing marketing solution.
Pricing Structure
ClickFunnels features different pricing tiers to support businesses of various sizes:
Standard Plan
The Basic plan (now called the “Standard” plan in ClickFunnels 2.0) is available for $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 offers:
- Unlimited funnels
- Unlimited pages
- 9 payment gateways
- 9 domains
- 3 admin users
- Advanced automation
- Enhanced analytics
Enterprise Plan
For $997 per month, the Funnel Hacker plan delivers:
- 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 include a 14-day free trial, allowing users to try the platform before subscribing financially.
The Positives of Using ClickFunnels
1. Unified Solution
Perhaps the greatest advantage of ClickFunnels is that it unifies multiple tools into one platform. Instead of handling different services for landing pages, email marketing, payment processing, and membership sites, users can operate all these aspects in one place.
2. No Development Experience Required
The platform’s user-friendly interface eliminates the need for coding or design skills. This simplifies the funnel-building process, making it available to entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.
3. Quick Setup
With existing templates and a simplified workflow, ClickFunnels significantly lowers the time needed to launch a marketing campaign. What might take weeks with custom development can be achieved in days or even hours.
4. Help Resources
ClickFunnels has developed a dynamic community of users who contribute 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. Validated Conversion Frameworks
The templates and funnel structures within ClickFunnels are created from proven marketing principles and tested conversion strategies. This means users take advantage of established best practices rather than beginning anew.
6. Educational Resources
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels offers a multitude of educational resources. Russell Brunson’s books, such as “DotCom Secrets” and “Expert Secrets,” provide useful marketing insights, while the ClickFunnels training programs offer formal learning opportunities.
Limitations and Drawbacks
Despite its many merits, ClickFunnels isn’t without limitations:
1. Expense
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 Curve
While designed to be easy to use, mastering all of ClickFunnels’ features and understanding funnel strategy calls for time and dedication. New users might feel confused by the platform’s capabilities.
3. Finite Design Flexibility
Though the builder editor is strong, designers accustomed to more advanced tools might find it confining. The balance between simplicity and flexibility sometimes emphasizes the former.
4. Page Loading Speed
Prior to 2.0, some users reported difficulties 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 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 advanced email campaigns.
ClickFunnels Competitors: How They Compare
The sales funnel and landing page builder market has become increasingly populated. Here’s how ClickFunnels stands up to its main competitors:
1. Kartra
Advantages relative to ClickFunnels:
- More extensive marketing automation
- Built-in video hosting and advanced video marketing features
- More advanced email marketing capabilities
- Helpdesk and ticket system included
Limitations:
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer templates specifically optimized for sales funnels
- Less active community
2. Leadpages
Positives:
- 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
Benefits:
- Advanced A/B testing capabilities
- Highly adaptable 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 simple for non-technical users
4. Systeme.io
Positives:
- 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 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
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)
Advantages:
- Most budget-friendly 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 Will Love ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is particularly well-suited for:
1. Course Developers 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 straightforward to deliver content to paying customers.
2. Online Retail Businesses
With ClickFunnels 2.0’s advanced e-commerce features, online retailers can create effective product funnels that grow average order value through upsells, downsells, and order bumps.
3. Service-Based 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 suitable for affiliate marketers looking to optimize their commissions from promotional campaigns.
5. Book Publishers and Content Creators
ClickFunnels provides effective book funnel templates that help authors sell books while collecting reader information for long-term relationship building.
6. Non-Technical Entrepreneurs
Those without coding or design skills will benefit from ClickFunnels’ user-friendly interface and pre-built templates.
Who Should Consider Alternatives Elsewhere?
ClickFunnels may not be the optimal solution for:
1. Small Businesses with Limited Budgets
The monthly investment might be unaffordable 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 appropriate, though ClickFunnels 2.0 has made improvements in this area.
3. Professional Designers Seeking Complete Creative Control
Those who require precise designs and extensive customization might prefer platforms with more design flexibility.
4. Multinational Businesses with Complex Requirements
Very large organizations with complex integration needs and custom requirements might need more tailored solutions.
Launching 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
Select a funnel template that suits your specific goal, whether it’s lead generation, product sales, or webinar registration.
2. Concentrate on 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. Employ the Training Resources
Take advantage of the thorough training materials, including ClickFunnels’ onboarding sequence and the FunnelFlix training library.
4. Become part of the Community
The ClickFunnels Facebook group provides helpful insights and support from fellow users who can help solve issues or suggest optimization strategies.
5. Experiment and Optimize
Use the A/B testing features to constantly refine your funnels based on actual user behavior and conversion data.
6. Start with Available Templates
Rather than building from scratch, alter 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 benefit on that investment can be impressive. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to facilitate the complex process of creating effective sales funnels while providing the tools needed to foster leads and convert customers.
The decision ultimately comes down to your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. If you’re dedicated to 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 enhanced capabilities of ClickFunnels 2.0.
For businesses that can manage the monthly subscription and are focused on implementing effective sales funnels, ClickFunnels provides both the tools and the strategic framework to excel in today’s competitive digital landscape. The platform is always evolve, addressing previous limitations and expanding its capabilities to serve a broader range of marketing needs.
Whether you’re selling e-products, physical goods, or coaching, ClickFunnels offers a direct path from stranger to customer-and that, for many businesses, is deserving of the investment.