Sales funnels are one of the most overused and least understood phrases in online marketing. It’s no wonder so many business owners feel overwhelmed by them. Most explanations come from marketers who make funnels sound technical and complicated, when in reality, a simple sales funnel can be very straightforward.
At its core, a sales funnel is just a process. It takes someone from discovering your content for the first time to eventually becoming a customer. That’s it. You don’t need complex software, endless emails, or pushy tactics to get started.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to create a simple, realistic sales funnel that works quietly in the background and grows with your business.
Start With A High-Value Read Magnet
Many people believe a sales funnel starts with a lead magnet, but the step before that matters just as much. Before someone gives you their email address, they need to trust you. That trust usually comes from content they can read, watch, or listen to without signing up for anything.
A high-value read magnet could be a blog post, guide, or video that genuinely helps someone solve a problem.
Example:
If you run a blogging site, this could be a post like How To Start A WordPress Blog Step By Step or How Bloggers Make Their First £100 Online. The content should stand on its own and be useful even if the reader never buys from you.
At the end of that content, you naturally introduce the next step.
Create A High-Value Lead Magnet
Your lead magnet should be a natural extension of your content, not a random freebie. People are far more likely to sign up if it helps them take action on what they’ve just read.
Example:
If your blog post explains how to start a blog, your lead magnet could be a printable checklist, a short PDF, or a simple workbook that walks them through the setup step by step.
This filters out people who are just collecting freebies and attracts readers who actually want to move forward.
Follow Up With A Simple Email Series
Once someone signs up, the relationship doesn’t end. This is where your email series comes in. You don’t need daily emails or long essays. A short sequence of four to six emails is enough to build trust and provide direction. This can be done using Mailerlite (free for up to 500 subscribers!), or another email marketing provider.
Each email should either:
- Help them implement what they downloaded
- Answer common questions
- Share a small win or example
- Gently explain what you offer next
Example:
If your lead magnet is a blogging checklist, your emails could include:
- How to choose a blog niche
- Common mistakes beginners make
- How blogs actually make money
- What to focus on first without overwhelm
These emails can be automated and sent out over several days.
Make A No-Brainer Offer
Once someone has had value from your free content, it makes sense to offer them a next step. This doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. It just needs to feel like a logical continuation.
Example:
If you’ve been helping them start a blog, your offer could be:
- A beginner blogging course
- A setup service
- A paid guide with more detail
Not everyone will buy, and that’s fine. A simple sales funnel isn’t about pressure. It’s about giving the right people the option to go further when they’re ready.
Keep It Simple And Build From There
A simple sales funnel doesn’t need fancy software or constant tweaking. One good blog post, one helpful freebie, a short email sequence, and a clear offer is enough to get started.
You can always improve and expand it later. What matters is that it works quietly in the background, turning helpful content into sustainable income over time.
