If you are looking to sell your services online through an application funnel, this article is exactly what you need to read!
According to statistics, the most important issue that online sellers face is that of converting traffic into sales. While a lot of online sellers succeed in gaining traffic and visitors to their platforms, these massive audiences don’t convert to become actual customers. These sellers start to realize that their marketing strategies are going down a rabbit hole. And this can be very disappointing!
Listen, if you are one of those disappointed sellers, what you need is a software called ClickFunnels!
What is ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels is an all-in-one marketing tool that allows users to create high- converting sales funnels and marketing funnels, and so much more! It is one of the fastest growing online marketing tools available today, and has proven to be profitable for tens of thousands of businesses.
While you can build 22 different types of funnels in ClickFunnels, this article will focus mainly on the “Application Funnel”, which is a sales funnel widely used by service-based businesses, i.e. companies selling their “services” online, rather than products.
But before we begin discussing what an “application funnel” is and how to build one in ClickFunnels, you must be familiar with the concept of the “Sales Funnel”.
What is a Sales Funnel?
A sales funnel, to put it very simply, is a marketing strategy that allows users to convert ‘cold prospects’ into long- term customers and clients! A typical sales funnel comprises of 5 stages. The main goal of these funnels is not to generate just a one time sale or a few sales. These funnels aim to gain long-term customers that will stay with you in the long run.
The name ‘funnel’ is pretty self-explanatory too if you pay close attention. Just as a physical funnel, the sales funnel takes the visitors from someone not knowing about the business or brand, making them a warm lead first and then converting them to a buyer and then to a repeat long term customer or client.
Now that you have an idea of how a sales funnel works, let’s talk specifically about the “Application Funnel” now!
What is an Application Funnel?
An Application Funnel is a sales funnel that does not focus mainly on the quantity of leads you generate, rather the quality of the leads! A typical Application Funnel consists of the following three pages:
- The Reverse Squeeze Page: This page will allow users to learn about you and input their email address. A click pop up will guide them automatically to the next page.
- The Application Page: This page allows users to fill in their information and details. This will help you understand their requirements and determine if they are the perfect clients for you!
- The Thank You Page: This page will thank the user for their time and information. By the time they reach this page, you will have an application lead and the possibility of gaining a very profitable customer.
Let’s look at what an Application Funnel looks like with a real-life example…
John is a professional career counsellor and wishes to sell his services online. For his specific funnel, the first page would display his success story. On this first page, there will be a button saying “Click here to Apply”. This button is called the CTA (i.e. Call to Action). The visitor clicks on the CTA which takes them to the 2nd page, which is the “Application Page”.
On this second page, the interested customers are presented with an application form. They would be asked to apply and fill in their information on the form and click the “Submit” button. Once they submit the form, they would be directed to a “Thank you” page while at the same time the visitor is converted to a lead and their data sent to a CRM such as ActiveCampaign. This is how John is able to generate high-quality leads for his counselling business.
Does all of this sound very technical?
Well, it’s not…
How to Create Your Own Application Funnel (Step-by-Step)!
Here’s a step by step guide on how to create your own application funnel in ClickFunnels:
The Reverse Squeeze Page:
Keep in mind that the main purpose of the reverse squeeze page is to attract potential customers with your success stories, testimonials and case studies that help to convince them and give them all the reasons why they should choose you or work with you.
You should present your services in a way that talks to directly to your prospects, so they know that you offer something that can help them precisely.
The page should have a clear and visible CTA (Call to Action) button that takes them to the next page, i.e. the Application Page.
The Application Page:
This page has an application form which allows them to ‘Apply’ to receive your services.
The main aim of this page is to get the users to fill in the form so that you can contact them later on and sell your service or product to them.
ClickFunnels allows you to create professional and attractive application forms. It allows you to add the regular form elements such as “Name”, “Email” and “Message”. You can also add modern form elements such as SMS, Survey, Checkbox, etc.
Once the visitor fills in the form, they will need to click the “Submit” button which submits the form. This takes the lead and stores it into the ClickFunnels contacts list. You can also integrate a 3rd party CRM such as ActiveCampaign to the form, which will take the lead and store it into a list inside ActiveCampaign as well. This completes the process of lead generation and you can then follow up the lead to be able to convert them into loyal customers/clients.
The submission of the form saves the lead information and at the same time also takes the visitor to the last page which is the “Thank You” page.
The Thank You Page:
The Thank You page is the last page of the “Application funnel”. This page allows you to build a connection with the audience.
Some tips would be to add a reinforcement message to assure them that they made the right decision, add a video, let them know when you would contact them, etc. This marks the completion of the visitor journey.
Conclusion
So here it is, i.e. your very own Application Funnel.
I hope this article helped you get to know what an Application Funnel is, how can it help you define your ideal customers, identify your target audience, uncover in- depth information about potential customers, and make it super easy for you to convert them into leads!
Do you need help in building your own Application Funnel?
At Sleek Funnels, we help business owners like you create various types of funnels to help them generate more leads and sales. We have helped many clients of ours achieve their dreams through an “Application Funnel”.
If you need help in building your own Application funnel that can help you advance your business and generate more customer and clients for your business, you contact us through our contact form.