If you’re trying to sell anything online services, products, a personal brand you need a sales funnel. It’s not optional anymore. A sales funnel is your automated path to turn casual visitors into paying, raving customers. And the best part? Once it’s built, it keeps working while you sleep.
So if you’re just getting started, here’s exactly how to set up your first sales funnel, step by step.
Step 1: Know Your Offer
Before you create pages, emails, or ads, you need total clarity on your offer. What are you selling, and why should anyone care? Your funnel’s success depends on how compelling that offer is. So refine your product or service and make sure it solves a clear, urgent problem.
Ask yourself:
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What’s the transformation you’re promising?
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Why now?
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Why YOU?
Step 2: Build Your Landing Page
This is the first page your prospect sees and it must be laser-focused. No menus. No distractions. Just a headline, subhead, a few benefits, and a strong call to action.
Your landing page should include:
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A clear hook or headline
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Short, persuasive copy
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Social proof (testimonials, logos, results)
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A lead form or buy button
Tool tip: Use platforms like Systeme.io, ClickFunnels, or Leadpages to get started fast even with no tech skills.
Step 3: Set Up a Lead Magnet (Optional, but Powerful)
If your goal is to collect leads before selling, create a lead magnet a freebie in exchange for email addresses. This could be a PDF guide, checklist, webinar, or mini-course.
Once they opt in, they enter your funnel and that’s when automation kicks in.
Step 4: Connect an Email Sequence
This is the engine that nurtures leads and moves them toward the sale. Your email sequence should do three things:
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Deliver the lead magnet (if you used one)
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Build trust through storytelling, education, and social proof
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Pitch the offer clearly and confidently
Use tools like ConvertKit, MailerLite, or ActiveCampaign to automate this process. Set it and forget it, but make sure your emails actually sound human.
Step 5: Create Your Sales Page
Once warmed up, your leads should be sent to a dedicated sales page. This is different from your landing page it’s more detailed, focused on closing the sale.
Include:
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Problem-agitate-solve copy structure
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Full breakdown of the offer
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Pricing and guarantee
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FAQs to kill objections
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Strong final CTA
If you’re using a one-page funnel, this could replace the landing page altogether. But in most funnels, it’s a separate final step.
Step 6: Drive Traffic
Now that your funnel exists, it’s time to pump it with traffic. This can be from:
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Paid ads (Google, Meta, TikTok)
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Organic traffic (blogs, YouTube, SEO)
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Social media promotion
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Affiliate or referral campaigns
Even the best funnel won’t convert if no one sees it. So budget time and money for traffic strategy it’s not optional.
Final Thoughts
Setting up your first sales funnel doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start simple. Focus on the essentials. As you grow, you can add split tests, upsells, retargeting, and fancy automations. But in the beginning, clarity and flow matter more than complexity.
Need a free funnel template that’s plug-and-play? Grab our Beginner Sales Funnel Toolkit and launch with confidence.