If you've landed on this post, you're probably juggling more than one business and wondering if you can streamline your operations using a single Thrivecart account.
It's a great question — one that I’m asked a lot, and it’s a complicated one. As someone who's gaga for Thrivecart, I've dug deep into the nitty-gritty of using this powerful tool for more than one brand.
Heads up: this article is mostly geared towards those who want to create two businesses where the ideal client is totally different, like a fitness coaching business and an entrepreneurship for busy moms course business. While yes, there may be some overlap, in actuality, the probability is really low. That’s why you’re setting them up as two distinct brands in the first place, as exercise videos and hiring mindset really have no business being next to each other on a webpage or in an email. If you’re creating a new brand that is in an adjacent link, you can skip to the bottom.
Limitations of Using Thrivecart for Multiple Different Businesses
Single Subdomain:
First things first, Thrivecart gives you just one subdomain for checkouts (like damajue.thrivecart.com or go.damajue.com for a custom domain).
This means all your checkouts, regardless of the business, funnel through one URL. Not ideal if you want to maintain a distinct brand identity for each venture.
One Course Dashboard:
Got lots of courses and digital products?Thrivecart only includes a single course dashboard. While it keeps things simple, it also means every course you offer, across all brands, lives in one place, one login. This could confuse your students if they're expecting a dedicated brand experience.
ESP Integration Limit:
Here’s a potential biggie for multi-business owners. You can only hook up one email service provider (ESP) per Thrivecart account. That means you can only connect 1 ConvertKit account or 1 Drip account, for example, but not 2 different ConvertKit accounts.
So, if you’re planning to send customized emails for each brand using the same email service provider, you're stuck unless you get creative with workarounds.
One Account Workarounds and Compromises
Now that we’ve covered a few of the potential limitations of using one Thrivecart account for multiple businesses, let’s talk about ways that you can make one account work for you.
Hiding Courses:
You can set up your course dashboard so only enrolled students see their purchased courses. This helps prevent brand crossover and keeps your students from getting a peek at unrelated courses.
The downside of this is that a lot of people purchase when things they don’t have are shown in their course dashboard. Personally, in the first 17 weeks of 2024, I made an extra ~$6k from sales from people who explored courses in their dashboard that they didn’t yet have. That’s not an insignificant amount and definitely not money I’d be willing to sacrifice to avoid purchasing another Thrivecart license at a fraction of that cost.
Generic Branding on Course Dashboards:
In order to not confuse your customers, you’ll need to skip brand-specific info and design on your main course dashboard. Keep it generic to avoid brand confusion. So they know they’re in the right place, opt for a simple graphic showing both logos.
Using a Generic Subdomain or Embedded Carts:
Again to avoid confusion, which might cost you sales, you’ll need to use either a neutral subdomain that doesn’t favor one brand over another, like your name, or avoid subdomain issues altogether by embedding carts directly on your branded websites.
Course Login Page Adjustments:
Show both brands’ logo on the login page to set proper expectations for your users. Transparency is key to trust!
Financial and Technical Considerations
Single Payment Gateway:
Thrivecart lets you connect one PayPal and one Stripe account per account. This means all money earned, regardless of the brand, ends up in the same pot. If your businesses have different financials, this could get incredibly messy at tax time.
Email Service Provider Split:
To manage communications for different brands, you would potentially need separate ESPs. Think ConvertKit for Brand A and MailerLite for Brand B. This way, you can maintain distinct marketing strategies without stepping on your own toes. Yes, this means having to write and send double the emails, but that’s unavoidable when running two businesses anyway.
Pros and Cons of Multi-Brand Management with Thrivecart (aka using one Thrivecart account for two different brands)
Pros: Using one Thrivecart account means you only need to purchase it once and simplifies your overall business data: you can access total sales for both brands in one login.
Cons: You'll face challenges like brand confusion, limited customization options, difficulty accessing brand-specific data*, and potential customer service headaches when the lines between businesses blur.
*What I mean here: when you use one Thrivecart account for two brands, all your offers will be listed, comingled, in your products tab. All your sales will be comingled in your data dashboard. It is nearly impossible to see only Brand A’s sales or just Brand B’s as there’s no way in the dashboard to select multiple products and then run reports. You’ll have to run the reports for every single product, one by one, and then compile them in Airtable or Sheets or something. Super tedious.
Can I use Thrivecart for two brands if they’re similar and serve the same ideal client?
That’s different. If you’d feel comfortable emailing your list about both or either brands, then yes, you can confidently treat them as two brands run as one business and use a single Thrivecart account to handle all your checkouts and courses for both. This is basically my setup.
I am able to do this because customers who enjoy this blog, or buyThrivecart Template Shop courses, trainings, and templates are interested in Thrivecart, funnels, online courses, launching, digital marketing, and in many cases, automation. Customers of my eponymous brand DamaJue.com are interested in funnels, online courses, launching, digital marketing, automation, and email marketing.
The two brands serve essentially the same ideal client: someone who runs an online business and wants to sell courses or digital products. So I felt it was safe to have one email list, one Thrivecart account. I also knew that I absolutely would not want to send weekly emails separately, for each brand, or manage separate social media channels, separate launches, or separate financials.
So, can you use a single Thrivecart account for two brands? Yes. But should you?
Can you use Thrivecart for more than one business? Yes, but it comes with a “handle with care” warning. If your brands are closely related and you're okay with the compromises, and you’re willing to market them via the same channels, it might work like a charm.
However, if clear brand separation is crucial because they serve two different customers, consider other solutions or gear up for some creative problem-solving that frankly may not be worth it in the long run.
What if I only want to use two separate accounts temporarily? Again, this is another, “sure you can” situation, but consider the drawbacks: every product you create, every course, and every student will have to eventually be moved over to its own account when the business grows. Migrations are tedious and a huge time suck, plus you’ll lose historical data and create confusion and extra work for your customers.
At the time of the publishing of this post, a new Thrivecart account costs $495 for life — frankly that’s a small price to pay for all the benefits of having a dedicated system you can build on for years.
When choosing the right email marketing platform for your business, two leading contenders are Drip and ConvertKit. ConvertKit is an email marketing platform built specifically for creators, with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. It's designed to be powerful yet user-friendly, catering to the needs of online creators, bloggers, and content creators.
On the other hand, Drip is marketed as best suited for e-commerce and online sales, offering deep integrations with online stores and advanced behavioral tracking, I've found on a feature-by-feature analysis, it is really well suited to creators too.
While I personally use and love Drip for its advanced features like content snippets (check out my Four by Four Footers strategy), I’ve found that many creators aren’t even considering it, with ConvertKit being the go-to email platform for email marketing for creators. This guide will compare the key features, ease of use, deliverability, pricing, and customer support of Drip vs ConvertKit, helping you decide on the right email marketing platform for your business needs.
When it comes to key features, both Drip and ConvertKit offer robust email marketing capabilities, but with distinct strengths and approaches.
Here's a comparison of their core features:
1. Form and Landing Page Builders
ConvertKit: Includes a simple form builder and offers 4 built-in landing page templates. It can also do pop-ups on your website if the platform is supported, like WordPress.
Drip: Integrates with third-party landing page builders like Thrivecart, Instapage, Unbounce, and Leadpages. It also has a form builder and pop-up builder. Drip calls their popup builder Onsite campaigns, which is like having a a built-in ConvertBox, with slide-ins, spin-to-win popups, opt-in forms with dropdowns and radio buttons, countdown timers, and mystery sale popups. I’ve used the spin-to-win feature and my customers LOVED it. All paid Drip users have access to Onsite campaigns.
WINNER: The advantage goes to ConvertKit if you don’t have a pagebuilder (or website, like WordPress or ShowIt) and need them to host your landing pages. If you don't need a landing page builder for your freebie opt-ins and are happy to use your own site or a popup, then Drip’s Onsite steals the show.
2. Email Automation and Sequences
ConvertKit: Offers “Visual Automations” for automated sequences, rules, email sequences, and can send one-off emails, called broadcasts. You can do a lot with CK's automation builder, including create a “forever funnel” or endless nurture sequence.
Drip: Offers “Workflows” for automated sequences, rules, email sequences, and can also send one-off broadcasts (also called campaigns). Can send and receive webhooks that allow you to connect to other softwares without Zapier — this feature alone is what made me choose Drip over ConvertKit. I save hundreds of dollars each year by using webhooks instead of relying on Zapier to handle all my automations from one app to another. For the super techy, one more thing to note: you can also build automations/workflows in Drip that don't require a trigger; eg. there's no tag or form that add a subscriber into an automation; they're only added from another one of your workflows, something I use in my automations after the lead has gone through several steps and after I've had them go through a conditional/decision, like testing if they've been a subscriber for longer than X days, have or have not made a purchase, etc.
WINNER: While I think both are powerful and offer a lot of automation workflow options, Drip’s drag-and-drop visual automation builder and the webhook capability that ConvertKit doesn’t have makes Drip the winner here.
3. Segmentation and Tagging
ConvertKit: Can segment based on tag and also create custom segments for multiple conditions.
Drip: Can segment based on tag, custom field, lead score, and tagging features.
WINNER: they’re pretty equal
4. Testing and Reporting
Both platforms offer split testing and reporting on campaign performance.
WINNER: ConvertKit’s reporting has improved over the past few years, but Drip’s analytics still show a lot more data with easy-to-use filtering and reporting and are the winner here.
5. Integrations
ConvertKit: Integrates with a LOT of softwares natively, like WordPress, WooCommerce, and Teachable, as well as various apps like Zapier, etc. ConvertKit is often one of the first email softwares that third party companies set up as native integrations, making it super easy to connect to your tech stack.
Drip: Integrates with many third-party tools (like Thrivecart, including automatically tracking customer lifetime value which ConvertKit can’t do) and offers a few native integrations that ConvertKit doesn’t, like Facebook Custom Audiences and Facebook Lead Ads.
WINNER: Let’s call it a tie, although this one is more of a “it depends what other tech you use.”
Example: my favorite form builder software connects effortlessly with Airtable, but doesn't have a native integration with ConvertKit or Drip yet. But, because Drip can accept inbound webhooks (see the Automation section above), I can still connect FillOut with Drip, without Zapier.
5. Email builder
ConvertKit: clean, simple builder. Perfect for folks who want simple, more plain, less designed emails. They recently added some new design blocks but for the most part, there are not a ton of templates. You may need to know some code to design your own highly-designed, attractive email template, or purchase third party templates. The “snippet” or html block can be glitchy. A plus: tagging on link click (aka link triggers) happens right inside the builder and is easy to use.
Drip: The drag and drop style visual email builder makes it easy to design attractive, colorful emails and templates. Large template library. The easy to use drag and drop email builder was one of the biggest reasons I chose Drip over ConvertKit; I felt limited by ConvertKit’s builder. I love that Drip lets you create and save blocks, even for entire sections, that you can easily drop into an email.
WINNER: for me, this is hands-down Drip. These ease of use of their builder was one of the other big reasons I chose Drip
6. Advanced field and personalization features
Both ConvertKit and Drip offer custom fields that can be set by visual automations/workflows, conditional content via liquid code, global content snippets, and trigger links (eg. apply this tag when this link is clicked). Drip also offers expiring links and inbound and outbound webhooks, a feature I absolutely love for compiling subscriber data for tracking data in my funnels.
WINNER: they’re nearly equal, with expiring links and webhooks nudging Drip ahead as a clear winner
7. Ease of Use and User Experience
When it comes to ease of use and user experience, ConvertKit and Drip take distinct approaches that cater to different user groups.
ConvertKit excels in its simplicity and intuitive design, making it an excellent choice for bloggers, content creators, and small business owners who prioritize a user-friendly interface. The platform's clean and responsive email design and straightforward WordPress integration for opt-in forms and landing pages provide a seamless experience for those seeking an uncomplicated email marketing solution.
On the other hand, Drip's interface is more sophisticated and feature-rich, catering to marketing professionals and data enthusiasts. While this approach offers advanced customization capabilities and unique, brand-aligned email designs, it comes with a steeper learning curve. Drip's visual workflow builder and automation tools are powerful but may require more time and effort to make the most of, especially for those new to email marketing.
Drip vs ConvertKit: Which to Choose?
Ultimately, the choice between ConvertKit and Drip depends on your business's needs and the level of complexity you're comfortable with. If you value simplicity and a user-friendly experience, ConvertKit may be the better fit. However, if you are excited to make use of advanced automations, personalization, and customization features, Drip's robust features might be a better fit for you.
6. Deliverability and Spam Handling
When it comes to email deliverability and spam handling, both Drip and ConvertKit have robust systems in place to ensure your emails reach their intended recipients. However, there are some notable differences in their approaches.
Drip is widely recognized for its excellent email deliverability and proactive spam handling. The platform employs advanced techniques to maintain high inbox placement rates, including:
Automated List Hygiene: Drip makes it easy to remove inactive subscribers from your list, improving overall deliverability [6].
Reputation Monitoring: Drip closely monitors its sending reputation and takes immediate action to address any potential issues.
Spam Filtering: Drip's sophisticated spam filters effectively identify and prevent the delivery of potential spam emails.
ConvertKit, on the other hand, takes a more straightforward approach to deliverability. While it doesn't offer the same level of advanced features as Drip, ConvertKit still maintains a solid reputation with email service providers. Its key deliverability features include:
Double Opt-In: ConvertKit requires subscribers to confirm their email addresses, reducing the risk of spam complaints.
Spam Monitoring: ConvertKit monitors spam complaints and automatically unsubscribes addresses with excessive complaints.
Email Authentication: ConvertKit supports email authentication protocols like SPF and DKIM to improve deliverability.
As with any email marketing platform, deliverability can be influenced by various factors, including your content, list quality, and sending practices.
7. Pricing and Value for Money
When it comes to pricing and value for money, both Drip and ConvertKit offer competitive plans tailored to different business needs.
Here's a breakdown of their pricing structures:
ConvertKit is generally more cost-effective for smaller email lists, with plans starting at $29/month for up to 1,000 subscribers for the lower tier and a limited free plan available too. This makes it an attractive option for bloggers, content creators, and small businesses on a tight budget.
Drip, on the other hand, is slightly more expensive, with plans starting at $39/month for up to 2,500 subscribers. However, Drip offers more advanced features, such as drag-and-drop visual workflow builders with webhook capability, in-depth segmentation, and lead scoring, which can be invaluable for larger businesses or those with complex email marketing needs.
Plan
ConvertKit
Drip
Free Plan
Free plan (only includes 1 automation and 1 email sequence)
No free plan
Paid Plan
$29/month for up to 1,000 subscribers, but to be comparable with Drip, would need the Pro plan at $59/mo for 1,000 subcribers
$39/month for up to 2,500 subscribers
Free Trial
14-day free trial (no credit card required)
14-day free trial (no credit card required)
While ConvertKit may be more affordable for smaller lists, Drip's advanced capabilities and integrations can provide significant value for businesses willing to invest in a more robust email marketing solution that can scale with you as your business grows.
Ultimately, the choice between the two platforms will depend on your specific needs, budget, and the level of complexity you require.
8. Customer Support and Resources
When it comes to customer support and resources, both Drip and ConvertKit offer excellent options to assist users, albeit with slightly different approaches.
ConvertKit is widely praised for its personalized support and strong community of creators and bloggers. They provide a ‘concierge migration' service free of charge for users with over 5,000 subscribers, ensuring a smooth transition from other platforms.
Additionally, ConvertKit offers assistance in migrating forms, automations, and subscribers, even for smaller lists. Their customer support and success teams are dedicated to helping creators succeed and fostering a supportive environment.
ConvertKit Support Highlights
Free concierge migration service (for lists over 5,000 subscribers)
Assistance with migrating forms, automations, and subscribers (for smaller lists)
Personalized support and success teams
Strong community of creators and bloggers
On the other hand, Drip shines with its excellent technical support and extensive resources, including videos to accompany their support documentation. The platform offers a wealth of webinars and detailed guides to help users navigate its advanced features. Drip also provides a concierge service specifically focused on assisting with email copywriting, a valuable resource for businesses seeking professional guidance.
Drip Support Highlights
Excellent tech support via email and chat with native English speakers in the US Central time zone — they’ve saved my bacon a few times!
Frequent live webinars and detailed resources
Concierge service for email copywriting assistance
Quick and detailed responses to customer inquiries
While both platforms excel in customer support, their strengths align with their respective target audiences. ConvertKit's personalized approach and creator-focused community resonate well with bloggers and content creators, while Drip's extensive resources and technical support cater to the needs of marketing professionals and data-driven businesses.
Features Drip has that ConvertKit doesn't (and vice versa)
Only with Drip: Deep integration with Thrivecart
While both Drip and ConvertKit have a native (read: no Zaps required) integration with Thrivecart, Drip's robust API means that Thrivecart users get a lot more data, including:
Tracking lifetime value (total $ in purchases), per subscriber
See the revenue generated by every broadcast (campaign, one-time email), email series, and workflow (automation). How would knowing exactly how much revenue a specific email or workflow generated impact you + your business?! I'm willing to bet seeing those numbers would give you a motivational boost to write + automate more 😉
Trigger an automation to run only when a customer's lifetime value exceeds a threshold, eg. after someone has purchased more than $100 with you, start them in an automation that thanks them for their business and offers them a custom coupon, for example. See image below
Tigger automations based on events in Thrivecart. See image below
Connect your customers to the products they love with product recommendations (I'm still figuring out how to use this with Thrivecart, will update when I have more to share here!)
See some of the triggers available in Drip, specifically, the lifetime value trigger:
See some of the triggers available based on events inside Thrivecart:
NOTE: as of April 2024, these advanced triggers are not yet firing reliably due to API updates that Thrivecart needs to make on their end. As of April 12, 2024, these are planned for implementation by June or July, 2024.
Only with ConvertKit: Creator referral network
ConvertKit’s creator referral network allows its users to recommend other creators to their new subscribers, and also benefit from being recommended. For several friends of mine, this has been a really nice method for growing their list and something I wish Drip had. One more thing: while both Drip and ConvertKit can integrate with SparkLoop, ConvertKit has the integration built right into their higher tier plan.
Biggest perks and annoyances
ConvertKit:
Biggest perks: Creator referral network for list growth, Sparkloop integration for collecting data like polls, etc
Biggest annoyances: glitchiness and limitations within the email builder, no webhooks, no lifetime value tracking unless you exclusively use their Stripe integration + checkouts, not the best reporting and analytics
Drip:
Biggest perks: Lifetime value tracking for Thrivecart and Shopify, Onsite campaigns (spin-to-win popups, etc), inbound/outbound webhooks, drag-and-drop email builder and visual automation builder, deep integration with Thrivecart for customer lifetime value tracking (and also being able to see how much revenue each email or automation brought in)
Biggest annoyances: no creator referral network for list growth, no countdown timer widget that you can add to emails. I embed email countdown timers with this instead.
What's the best email marketing software for course creators, Drip or ConvertKit?
While I personally use and love Drip for its advanced features and seamless integration with content snippets (a strategy I teach called Four by Four Footers), it might be a bit robust for beginner email marketers.
Choosing the right email marketing platform can go a long way towards the success of your business and marketing efforts, as it impacts your ability to effectively communicate with your audience, nurture leads, and make sales.
Both Drip and ConvertKit offer powerful solutions, but their strengths align with different business needs and user preferences.
Ultimately, the decision between Drip and ConvertKit should be based on factors such as the size of your email list, the complexity of your marketing goals and funnels, your budget, and your willingness to invest some time to get the most of the platform's features.
Not sure which email marketing platform is right for you? Check out my Email Service Matchmaker training that covers all of the most popular options and who they are best for. Whichever platform you choose, ensure it aligns with your business goals, provides the necessary features, and enhances your overall email marketing efforts.
’ve been a funnel strategist for years and while I don’t build funnels for clients anymore, I’m still very much connected to the world of sales funnels. The one problem I see? Sometimes we are just overcomplicating the sales funnel creation process! Creating a sales funnel quickly and efficiently is essential for businesses aiming to increase their online presence and sales. Simplifying your tools can streamline this process in a major way, making it totally doaible even for beginners.
This blog post will guide you through creating a quick funnel using three powerful tools:Thrivecart, Marketing Magic App, and Drip. These tools will help you set up your offer, craft compelling copy, and automate your email sequences, ensuring a smooth journey for your potential customers from awareness to purchase.
Understanding the Basics of a Quick Sales Funnel
A sales funnel is the journey a potential customer goes through, from first learning about your business to making a purchase. It's crucial for converting leads into customers. The right tools can make this process simpler and more effective, allowing you to focus on what you do best – growing your business.
Tool 1: Setting Up Your Offer with Thrivecart
Step 1: Start by creating a $0 product in Thrivecart for your freebie.
This could be an ebook, a mini-course, or any other digital product that provides value to your potential customers. Snag some of my templates inside the Thrivecart Template Shop to make this process even faster.
Step 2: Consider adding a bump offer or an upsell in Thrivecart.
Tool 2: Crafting Your Copy with Marketing Magic App
Step 3: Use the Marketing Magic App to generate all the copy you need for your opt-in pages, thank you pages, and emails.
Struggling with the right copy for your sales funnel? This AI-powered tool can save you hours of work and ensure your copy is optimized for conversions.
Click here to see behind the scenes of how I use it and how awesome it really is! Plus, you can grab a free trial to test it out yourself.
Tool 3: Automating Email Sequences with Drip
Okay, so you don’t have to use Drip as your email marketing provider. I do and I love it, but it’s not the right choice for everyone’s needs. Click here to check out Email Service Matchmaker if you aren’t sure about the email platform you’re currently using.
Step 4: Connect Thrivecart to Drip using Thrivecart behaviors.
This integration allows you to automate the delivery of your freebie and the follow-up communications, making your funnel run smoothly without constant supervision.
Step 5: Set up your email workflow and sequence in Drip.
This should include a series of emails that nurture your leads, provide additional value, and guide them toward making a purchase.
Optimizing and Refining Your Funnel
Anytime I talk about funnels, I can’t not talk about this: they aren’t a ‘set it and forget it’ type of thing. It's important to monitor your funnel's performance and make improvements based on the data you collect. Watch your stats in both Thrivecart and Drip to see where you can optimize your funnel for better conversions.
Final Thoughts
Creating a sales funnel doesn't have to be complicated. By following these steps and leveraging the power of Thrivecart, Marketing Magic App, and Drip, you can set up a simple yet effective funnel that guides potential customers through the buying process.
Remember, the goal is to make it as easy as possible for people to learn about and purchase your products or services. With these tools, you're well on your way to achieving that goal.
Need more clients or customers? Want to grow your email list? Let’s talk growing your email list with lead funnels and how they can have a massive impact on your business. As an entrepreneur and funnel strategist myself, I know the importance of generating quality leads — growing my network of interested folks for my offers —and converting them into loyal customers. That's where lead funnels come into play!
In this ultimate guide, I will walk you through everything you need to know about lead funnels and how they can work for you.
Why Lead Funnels Are Important for Businesses
All businesses need a systematic approach to attract and nurture leads. For me personally, that means growing my email list as that’s the number one way I engage with folks in my community, share value, spotlight my offers, and make sales of my digital products. Lead funnels serve as a roadmap, guiding potential customers through the buying process. They allow you to build relationships, showcase your expertise, and ultimately turn leads into paying customers.
Without a well-designed lead funnel, your marketing efforts may be scattered, resulting in missed opportunities and lost revenue.
Understanding the Stages of a Marketing Funnel
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of creating an effective lead funnel, it's crucial to understand the stages of a marketing funnel. A marketing funnel consists of three main stages: awareness, consideration, and conversion.
Marketing Funnel Stage 1 – Awareness:
At this stage, your goal is to create brand awareness and attract the attention of your target audience. You can achieve this through various channels such as social media, content marketing, and advertising. The key is to provide valuable and relevant content that resonates with your audience.
Marketing Funnel Stage 2 – Consideration:
Once you have captured the attention of potential customers, you need to nurture them and build trust. This stage is all about educating your leads and showcasing the value your product or service offers.
Email marketing, webinars, and personalized content are effective strategies to engage with your leads during this stage.
Marketing Funnel Stage 3 – Conversion:
The final stage is where the magic happens. Now that your leads are aware of your brand, and have considered your offerings, it's time to convert them into paying customers. This is where you make your sales pitch and demonstrate why your product or service is the best solution for their needs.
Testimonials, limited-time offers, and compelling call-to-actions play a vital role in encouraging conversions.
How to Create an Effective Lead Funnel
Now that you have a solid understanding of the marketing funnel stages, let's dive into the process of creating an effective lead funnel.
Here are the fundamental steps:
1. Define Your Target Audience:
Start by clearly defining your target audience. Who are they? What are their pain points? Understanding your audience will help you tailor your messaging and offers to resonate with them.
2. Create Compelling Lead Magnets:
A lead magnet is an irresistible free offer that entices potential customers to provide their contact information. It could be an ebook, a free course, or a helpful template. Make sure your lead magnet provides significant value and addresses a specific problem your audience faces.
3. Design Landing Pages:
A landing page is where your potential customers land after clicking on your lead magnet. It should be visually appealing, have a clear call-to-action, and capture the necessary information to follow up with the lead.
4. Implement Email Marketing:
Email marketing is a powerful tool to nurture your leads and move them through the marketing funnel. Set up automated email sequences that deliver valuable content and build a relationship with your leads.
5. Optimize Your Conversion Process:
Continuously test and optimize your lead funnel to improve conversion rates. Analyze data, track key metrics, and make data-driven decisions to enhance your funnel's performance.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating an effective lead funnel that drives results for your business.
Top Lead Gen Tactics for Each Stage of the Funnel
Now that you know how to create a lead funnel, let's explore some top lead generation tactics for each stage of the funnel.
Awareness Stage Tactics: At this stage, focus on increasing brand visibility and attracting your target audience. Leverage social media advertising, collaborations like summits and bundles, and content marketing to reach a wider audience. Engage with your audience through comments, shares, and likes to build brand awareness.
Consideration Stage Tactics: In the consideration stage, your goal is to nurture leads and establish your credibility. Folks want to know that you’re knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to your niche before they trust you with their money. Offer valuable content such as webinars, case studies, and debriefs that showcase your expertise. You can use retargeting ads to stay top of mind with your leads and encourage them to take the next step if you’d like.
Conversion Stage Tactics: When it comes to the conversion stage, personalized and time-sensitive offers work wonders. Limited-time discounts, exclusive bonuses, and free trials can help push your leads toward making a purchase. Make the buying process as smooth and frictionless as possible to maximize conversions.
By tailoring your lead generation tactics to each stage of the funnel, you'll be able to attract, nurture, and convert leads effectively.
Tools and Software to Optimize Your Lead Funnels
Implementing lead funnels can be made a lot easier with the help of various tools and software. Here are some top recommendations:
1. Landing Page Builders: Tools like Thrivecart or Leadpages allow you to design stunning landing pages without the need for coding knowledge. These platforms offer loads of extra features and integrations with popular email marketing services.
2. Email Marketing Automation: Platforms such as Drip and ConvertKit offer robust email marketing automation features. They allow you to set up automated email sequences, segment your audience, and track the performance of your campaigns.
Not sure which email marketing platform to use for your business? Let Email Service Matchmaker help you make an informed decision!
3. Analytics and Tracking:Fathom Analytics or Google Analytics is a must-have tool for tracking the success of your lead funnels. They provide valuable insights into website traffic, conversion rates, and user behavior. However for privacy regions, especially in Europe, I don’t prefer Google Analytics/GA4. I am happy with Fathom Analytics. I also like that I can see all of my sites current traffic in one place, on one screen.
Additionally, tools like Hotjar offer heatmaps and user recordings to understand how visitors interact with your landing pages.
These are just a few examples of the many tools and software available to optimize your lead funnels. Explore different options and find the ones that best suit your business needs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Implementing Lead Funnels
While lead funnels can be highly effective, there are some common mistakes that businesses often make. Here are a few to avoid:
1. Lack of Personalization: Generic messaging and offers won't cut it in today's competitive landscape. Personalize your lead funnels to cater to the specific needs and pain points of your target audience. Start for sure by asking for their first name on the opt-in form when they’re signing up for their freebie, and use their name where appropriate in the follow up emails.
2. Overcomplicating the Funnel: Keep your lead funnel simple and easy to navigate. Don't overwhelm your potential customers with too many steps or information.
3. Inconsistent Follow-Up: Consistent follow-up is crucial for nurturing leads. Make sure you have a robust email marketing strategy in place to engage with your leads regularly.
If you struggle with writing emails consistently to your list, check out the amazing Email Marketing Membership!
By avoiding these mistakes, you'll ensure that your lead funnels are optimized for success.
How to Measure and Track the Success of Your Lead Funnels
Measuring and tracking the success of your lead funnels is essential to optimize your strategies and drive better results.
Here are some key metrics to monitor:
1. Conversion Rate: This metric tells you the percentage of leads that convert into paying customers. It helps you understand the effectiveness of your lead funnel in driving conversions.
2. Cost per Lead: Calculate the average cost per lead to evaluate the efficiency of your lead generation tactics. This metric allows you to allocate your marketing budget effectively.
3. Engagement Rate: Monitor the engagement rate of your emails, landing pages, and social media posts. A higher engagement rate indicates that your content is resonating with your audience.
4. Return on Investment (ROI): Calculate the ROI of your lead funnels by comparing the revenue generated with the investment made in acquiring leads. This metric helps you determine the profitability of your marketing efforts.
By regularly analyzing these metrics and making data-driven decisions, you can continuously improve the performance of your lead funnels.
Final Thoughts
Congratulations! You've now reached the end of this ultimate guide to lead funnels. Now that you are armed with the knowledge and strategies shared here, you're ready to take your business to new heights.
Remember, lead funnels are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Experiment, iterate, and tailor your lead funnels to your unique business needs. With the right tactics, tools, and a data-driven approach, lead funnels can become a powerful asset in your marketing arsenal.
If you're ready to take the next step, click the link below to learn exactly how to set up your first tripwire funnel and set up fully automated flash sales for every single new email subscriber with Freebie to Flash Sale.
Is it still worth buying ConvertBox even if your email service provider isn’t a native integration? ConvertBox is a powerful tool that allows you to create engaging popups, forms, quizzes and surveys to capture leads and make more sales of your products.
Currently, ConvertBox supports integration with 14 popular email service providers like ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, Drip, AWeber, Hubspot and more. See the full list here. But what if you use Flodesk, Birdsend, FG Funnels, GoHighLevel, System.io or some other email service provider that isn’t currently supported? Don't worry; you still have plenty of options to make the most of ConvertBox.
How to Use ConvertBox with FloDesk, BirdSend, Systeme.io, GoHighLevel, and other non-natively supported email service providers
Connecting ConvertBox via Automation Software
If your email service provider isn't directly supported by ConvertBox, you can bridge the gap by using automation software like Zapier, Pabbly, Integrately, Make, or SureTriggers. These platforms act as connectors, enabling you to transfer data seamlessly between your email service provider and ConvertBox. Heads up: ConvertBox will post a webhook, and for some automation softwares, like Zapier, webhooks require a paid plan.
If you want to use FloDesk with ConvertBox, you’ll need a paid Zapier plan.
Connecting ConvertBox via Webhooks
A webhook is sort of like throwing a ball with a message on it into the air – ConvertBox shares the data on your new lead, like their first name and email address, but your email service provider has to catch it in order to actually subscribe the person. Not all email service providers can catch webhooks, or trigger an automation with an inbound webhook, but if yours can, this is a good option and does NOT require Zapier or any other paid software.
If you want to use Systeme.io with ConvertBox, you can collect leads via ConvertBox’s webooks feature without Zapier. Read more on Systeme.io’s website here.
If you want to use GoHighLevel or FH Funnels with ConvertBox, you can easily add the base code to your website and pages, and to collect leads, you’ll need to set up an automation that has Inbound Webhooks as its trigger. Note: this is a Premium feature with GoHighLevel but is included with FG Funnels for free. Zapier is not needed. Here’s a support doc from GoHighLevel about Inbound Webooks.
Connecting via ConvertBox’s HTML form integration
This is another alternative you can use if your email service provider is not natively supported by ConvertBox. As long as your email service provider supports HTML form codes, you can use this to collect leads with ConvertBox without Zapier.
Of the three options, using webhooks and HTML form integrations are more technical, but if you want to avoid paying for Zapier or other automation software, it’s a good alternative.
How to Use ConvertBox to Make More Sales, Without Collecting Leads
Even without collecting leads directly into your email service provider, you can still make the most of ConvertBox's features:
Promote Products Directly: Drive sales by showcasing your products or services through targeted popups.
Share Sales and Promotions: Let your audience and casual web traffic know about special offers, discounts, and limited-time deals using ConvertBox. You can add a countdown timer too, to help them understand the urgency of the promo.
Recommend Affiliate Products: Monetize your platform by recommending affiliate products through ConvertBox. Use page-by-page targeting or WordPress blog categories. You can even have multiple affiliate ConvertBox campaigns that rotate automatically for you.
Share Popular Content: Have a blog post or some social content that is crushing it? Use a ConvertBox popups to share it with folks cruising your website.
Set Up Exit Intent Popups: Reduce cart abandonment with exit intent popups on your sales pages. You can add a coupon or recommend a related but lower-priced product if they’re about to navigate away from your sales page.
Collect Testimonials: Yes, you can use ConvertBox inside your course platform. Gather valuable feedback and testimonials from your customers through popup forms.
Communicate with Students: Engage with your course participants directly within your course platform using ConvertBox. I use these to let them know about upcoming live Q&As, workshops, or when I’m adding improvements to the courses they already have.
What are the Drawbacks of Using ConvertBox with Non-Supported Email Service Providers?
While using a non-supported email service provider with ConvertBox can still be very lucrative when you use the strategies listed above, there are some limitations to using ConvertBox with an email service provider that isn’t natively supported.
Here are some constraints to consider:
Inability to Target Based on Products Purchased or Tags – since ConvertBox isn’t automatically communicating with your email service provider, that means you don’t have as much data for targeting, such as showing a ConvertBox only to leads who have already purchase a specific product or have a tag in your email service provider.
Lack of Personalization with First Names in Popups or Messages – a nice feature of ConvertBox is to be able to add their name to one of your popups (with a fallback of “friend” or “there”) but when you don’t use one of the supported email service providers, this option isn’t open to you
Here’s a suggested workaround though: If you exclusively use ConvertBox forms to collect leads (via Zapier, webhook, etc), ConvertBox may not have access to your customer’s tags or past purchases, but as long as you ask for a first name on your forms, it should be able to store that data and allow name personalizations until the person clears their cookies.
Why ConvertBox Is Still Worth It
Despite some of the personalization and targeting limitations I mentioned above, ConvertBox is still a hugely valuable tool for making the most of your marketing efforts, improving student experience, and making more sales from casual website visitors. Its intuitive interface, customizable features, and ability to engage and convert visitors make it a worthwhile investment, even if your email service provider isn't natively integrated. With creative workarounds and strategic applications (I can help with this!), you can maximize ConvertBox's potential and drive results for your online business. If you don’t yet have ConvertBox, I clearly highly recommend it! In fact, it had a huge financial impact on my business to the tune of $5k in extra digital product sales in 2023 alone. Curious? Check out my free 13-minute mini training here:
Hey there, brilliant biz owners! Ready to change your lead magnet tripwire from a mere handshake to a full-on high-five that gets your audience excited and your sales revenue growing? Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of making your lead magnet tripwire not just noticeable but irresistibly clickable (and buyable!).
Lead Magnet vs Tripwire
Before we go into ways to sell more of your tripwire offers, let’s chat about the difference between a lead magnet vs tripwire.
Both are powerful in their own right, but they play very different roles in your marketing strategy. A lead magnet is designed to grab attention by offering something valuable for free, usually in exchange for their email address.
After signing up for a lead magnet, a few things might happen:
1) A simple ‘check your email’ message appears.
2) They are redirected to a thank you page without an offer on it
3) They are redirected to a thank you page with a time-sensitive offer on it (this is the tripwire offer)
A tripwire is typically an irresistible, low-cost offer, making it hard for your audience to say no. It's the small commitment that leads to bigger things.
While the lead magnet woos and wins trust, the tripwire converts that budding relationship into a sales transaction. Together, they create a dynamic duo, turning casual onlookers into invested fans, one step at a time.
10 Ways to Improve Your Lead Magnet Tripwire Conversion Rate
1. Nail Your Lead Magnet
Your lead magnet is your opening act – it's got to be engaging, valuable, and so stinkin’ relevant that your audience can't help but want more.
Think of it as your first date – you want to impress, engage, and ensure there's a second date, right? Make sure your lead magnet solves a real problem in a way that's as easy as grabbing your favorite snack (because who doesn't love a good treat?). This isn’t a place for a long, rambling free course but something actionable they can implement or use ASAP.
2. Price Your Tripwire Like It's Happy Hour
Finding the sweet spot for your tripwire pricing is like hosting a happy hour – it should be enticing and feel like a great deal. Whether it's $5 or $50, the price should make your leads think, “Wow, I’d be losing money if I didn’t grab this deal!”
It's all about making it a heck-yes, wallet-friendly choice.
3. Bridge That Lead Magnet to Tripwire Gap Smoothly
Imagine your lead magnet and tripwire are parts of a thrilling movie series. The transition should be as smooth and compelling as moving from one exciting scene to the next.
Your audience should be at the edge of their seats, popcorn in hand, eager to see what's coming. Align your messaging so that moving from the lead magnet to the tripwire feels like the natural next step in an epic saga.
Make sure they understand that 1) their new lead magnet is on the way and 2) how your tripwire offer relates to it
4. Amp Up the Value Volume
I’ll be blunt – perception is the name of the game. Are you doing your best to truly convey the value of your tripwire offer? To make your tripwire irresistible, pack it with value that screams, “This is the deal of the century!”
Think bonuses, limited-time offers, and those sweet customer testimonials. It's about giving your audience the VIP backstage pass experience.
5. Craft a Sales Page That Sells Itself
Your tripwire sales page is your stage – and you're the rockstar. Every word should sing with benefits, compelling CTAs, and the kind of persuasive charm that would make even the most reserved audience member get up and dance.
Use authentic urgency (read: do not bother using countdown timers that just start over when they expire, ick!), scarcity, and your unique voice to turn casual browsers into raving fans.
6. Make the Checkout a Breeze
Ever been in a line so long you forgot why you were there? Don't let that be your checkout process. Simplify it, break it down into baby steps, and watch as your audience goes from “just looking” to “take my money!”
7. Don't Ghost – Follow Up!
Not everyone buys on the first pitch, or time that they hear about your product, and that's okay. Set up a follow-up sequence that's like a friendly nudge, not a pushy salesperson. Remind them of the awesome deal they didn’t get take you up on and maybe throw in a special discount to sweeten the pot.
8. Test, Tweak, and Triumph
The digital world is always changing, and so should your lead magnet tripwire strategy. Test different elements of your lead magnet and tripwire.
Keep what works, toss what doesn’t, and always be ready to adapt.
9. Build Trust Through Education
Sometimes, your leads need a little warming up. Use your emails to educate, inspire, and sprinkle in a little bit of your magic. Show them you're not just selling – you're solving.
10. Social Proof It Up
Nothing speaks louder than a chorus of happy customers or clients. Let your satisfied fans do the talking with reviews, testimonials, and success stories that turn skeptics into believers. You can even just use screenshots of happy customers, with their privacy protected of course, unless they give you permission to share.
Ready to put it all together and create your tripwire funnel?
If all this sounds exciting but you’re craving a step-by-step guide to make your lead magnet tripwire truly shine, why not check out my Freebie to Flash Sale training? It’s your backstage pass to converting leads like a rockstar. Learn more here!
Remember, folks, converting leads is like hosting the ultimate party – you want everyone to have a great time and keep coming back for more. With these tips and your unique flair, you're not just hosting a party; you're creating an experience that's unforgettable. Let’s turn that lead magnet tripwire into your most happening event yet! Ready, set, convert!
Choosing the right email marketing platform can feel like navigating a maze with lots of options and features to consider. Seriously, I’ve tried ‘em all! Two notable contenders in this arena are Drip and ActiveCampaign. Both offer robust solutions but cater to different needs and preferences. In this detailed comparison of Drip vs ActiveCampaign, I’ll dig into their features, usability, and pricing to help you make an informed decision.
And for those of you seeking more information and recommendations, stay tuned for details on my Email Service Matchmaker training at the end of this post.
Drip: The E-commerce CRM Powerhouse
Drip brands itself as an e-commerce CRM, offering solutions that go beyond traditional email marketing. Its features are specifically designed to drive sales by creating personalized customer journeys.
Key Features of Drip:
E-commerce Integration: Drip provides deep integrations with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce and Thrivecart, making it easier to track customer interactions and tailor campaigns based on shopping behavior.
Automation Workflows: With Drip, you can create complex, automated workflows that trigger based on customer actions, ensuring timely and relevant communication. Not all email automation softwares are the same: Drip’s workflows are detailed and incredibly granular which can help you really zero-in on your segments
Personalization and Segmentation: Drip allows for advanced segmentation, enabling you to send highly targeted and personalized content, thereby increasing engagement and conversion rates.
Visual Email Builder: Drip’s visual builder is intuitive, making it easy to design emails that align with your brand without needing extensive technical skills.
Integrations: You can connect Facebook ads account and add subscribers to custom audiences and gather leads from Facebook lead ads without Zapier. With included webhooks, you can easily connect to other software like Airtable and ManyChat, again, without wasting precious zaps.
Drip Email Pricing as of 2024:
Drip’s pricing is based on the number of contacts in your account, starting at $39 per month for up to 2,500 contacts, making it a scalable option for growing businesses. Drip also has very easy to understand pricing: there’s only one tier
ActiveCampaign: The All-in-One Marketing Automation Tool
ActiveCampaign positions itself as more than just an email service provider. It’s a comprehensive platform for customer experience automation, combining email marketing, automation, sales automation, and CRM.
Key Features of ActiveCampaign:
Advanced Marketing Automation: ActiveCampaign offers one of the most robust automation capabilities in the market, allowing for intricate, multi-step automations based on behavior, engagement, and more.
Built-in CRM: With its built-in CRM, ActiveCampaign lets you manage leads and sales processes, aligning marketing and sales efforts seamlessly.
Dynamic Content and Personalization: ActiveCampaign excels in personalization, allowing you to deliver content tailored to individual user preferences and behaviors.
Reporting and Analytics: ActiveCampaign provides comprehensive reporting features, giving you insights into campaign performance, sales, and customer behavior.
ActiveCampaign Pricing as of 2024:
ActiveCampaign’s pricing is more complicated; it’s based on the number of contacts in your account, starting at $49 per month for up to 1,000 contacts, and also the features you choose to add, such as the CRM/pipeline, SMS marketing, and more. ActiveCampaign is not a budget choice.
Drip vs ActiveCampaign: Making the Choice
While both platforms offer excellent features, the choice between Drip and ActiveCampaign often boils down to your specific business needs.
I currently use and love Drip, but it’s not the best choice for every business.
Email Service Matchmaker: Find Your Perfect Fit
Still wondering whether Drip or ActiveCampaign is the right tool for you? My Email Service Matchmaker training can help. This comprehensive guide goes into many more email service provider options, providing you with the insights to choose the email service that best fits your business needs.
Learn more about the Email Service Matchmaker training here and take the guesswork out of selecting your email marketing platform. I also cover MailerLite, FloDesk and ConvertKit compared to Drip and ActiveCampaign as well.
Whether you’re a solopreneur, a growing business, or an established company, finding the right email marketing solution is a pivotal step in your business journey. Let Email Service Matchmaker be your guide to a decision that aligns with your business goals and drives your marketing success.
Selling digital products online doesn’t have to equal hard-selling or flash sales every single day. With the right tools and strategies, you can learn how to market digital products in a way more simple way!
Even if you’re someone who loves launching and selling, including more evergreen or passive ways to make more sales is important for sustainability, preventing burnout, launch fatigue for you and your audience, and for giving you more time freedom in your business.
How Do You Sell Digital Products?
So, how exactly do you sell digital products in a way that feels easy, effective, and in true alignment with the kind of business you’ve always wanted?
Let’s dig into four simple ways to sell more of your digital products.
1) Evergreen Email Sequences
It’s so true: the money is in the list!
Having evergreen email sequences in place that do the selling for you on autopilot means that you don’t have to sell every day. They also continue to nurture your list, even if you aren’t able to write new emails every week.
Along with the power of evergreen email sequences, you might want to incorporate my Four by For Footer email strategy, too. You’ll be able to make even more money from every email (automated or not) that you send your list, while keeping them in touch with your latest offers or affiliate recommendations. Best part: it takes less than an hour to set up and 15 minutes a week to maintain!
2) Sell More With Upsells
Another super simple way to sell more digital products is to offer upsells. Presenting a new customer with another offer is a great way to increase your average revenue per order. Plus, it helps get your digital products in front of more people (and not just any people, but paying customers!)
I don’t think of upsells as just a way to sell more (even though they are!). I look at upsells as a way to surprise and delight new customers, which is exactly what I teach inside Unleashing Upsells.
3) Targeted Organic Traffic
Want to know one thing that a lot of digital product sellers don’t consider? SEO! It might seem complicated or that it takes too long, but it really isn’t as hard as it seems.
Organic traffic from search engines is the highest quality traffic because those people are already searching for a solution (which your digital product is!).
My friend Tara has an awesome Easy SEO Mini-course that covers everything you need to know (and avoids all of the extra stuff you don’t really need to understand).
4) Using ConvertBox Strategically
Most people think of ConvertBox as a tool to increase your email subscribers and promote your freebies, or simply just to collect leads with pop-ups. But there are so many other ways to use this tool to sell your digital products! Hands down, after Thrivecart, this is one of the most powerful and revenue-impacting pieces of tech I use in my business.
You can learn all the ways I use it inside ConvertBox Jumpstart and snag all of my conversion-friendly done for you templates.
Final Thoughts
Folks can’t buy digital products they don’t see or even know about and these 4 strategies help me to make digital product sales every single day.
Diving into the world of digital product marketing doesn’t have to be like solving a complex puzzle. With the straightforward strategies we've chatted about it's all about making your digital product marketing strategy feel like a natural extension of your brand.
Selling digital products online is less about the hard sell and more about sharing solutions, sparking genuine connections, and sprinkling value like confetti at every opportunity.
As you take these next steps, think of these insights and tools as your trusty sidekicks to selling more digital products with ease!
If you’re looking to improve your online course you are in the right place. Designing an online course is a big process. We spend a lot of time mapping out our content, recording lessons, and marketing the course. But, if you feel like your online course could be improved there are some super simple things you can do.
Why the Solution Isn’t Adding More Content
Most of the time when we ask ourselves, ‘How could the course be improved?’, we always immediately go to: add more content!Create more lessons!
But that is usually the wrong way to go.
Your students don’t want more content to wade through. They want shortcuts and things that will make implementing the course easier.
Who wants to watch hours and hours of content? Not me! Just give me the goods so I can take quick action.
Your students are looking for efficiency and effectiveness in their learning journey, not just more material to sift through. They crave shortcuts, practical tips, and strategies that facilitate easy implementation of what they learn.
Simple Ways to Improve Your Online Course
There are a lot of super simple ways to improve your online course. Today we will be digging into the top 4 ways to add more value to your course without creating a ton of new content or lessons.
1) Improve Your Onboarding Process
The first way to improve your online course isn’t even the course itself – it’s your onboarding process for new buyers and students. If you want to make it easier for students to have a great experience, they need to actually go through the course.
The way to get more people to go through the course? A solid onboarding process that gives new students all the info they need. This can be as simple as where to log in and where to find extra resources or support, like in your online community. Simple.
And if it’s a self-study course, don’t forget about the follow-up! Adding a few extra emails to your post-purchase email sequence is a simple way to create a better impression.
You can also use this opportunity to:
Remind your new students about the course and how to get started
No one is going to remember how/where to log into your course platform, so how easy are you making it for folks to find the link to login?
Here are my top suggestionsstrong recommendations for places to add a link to your course dashboard login:
At the bottom of every single email you send – just add it to your email footer, right before the unsubscribe button
On the header bar / main menu of your website
In the footer of every page on your website (its ok to exclude sales pages, but every other page should have it!)
2) Improve Your Course Accessibility
Instead of adding new content, maybe you need to add different ways for your students to consume your course content. We all learn differently and having options for all types of learners allows you to help more students get the results you promised.
Here are some simple ways to improve your online course accessibility:
Use Descript to chop up a long video into smaller chunks
Add closed captioning to all videos (I also use Otter for this!)
Have a private podcast feed for your online course so folks can listen to the content on the go
Allow students to download a PDF copy of slide deck presentations
3) Improve Your Course Design
When we talk about improving your online course we can’t forget about the design! There are so many ways to make your design more user-friendly.
Yes, you want to use design to keep things on-brand, but design is also important for the user experience.
Here are a few examples:
Talk about specific lessons, tools, or resources in a video? Add a resources section under the video with links so they are easily accessible to students.
Add timestamps to longer videos so they can skip to the specific part they need
Add important info, links, and outline what to expect in the welcome lesson or course dashboard
Create a community for your students (I personally love Heartbeat for off-Facebook private community options! Slack is a decent free alternative, but heads up: content disappears after 90 days when on the free plan)
4) Add Valuable Course Assets
Instead of adding even more modules and lessons, why not make the most of what you’ve already created? You can do this by adding valuable course assets that will help your students take action.
Example 1: A lesson about mapping out your content pillars could have a fillable workbook to help them work through the lesson and end up with an action-inspiring plan at the end.
Example 2: A lesson about mapping out your expenses could include an Airtable base template or a spreadsheet to help them do this.
Remember that the key is not in quantity but in quality. It's about refining and enriching the learning journey for your students, not overwhelming them with more content.
Think of your course as a finely crafted story where every element has its purpose and adds to the overall experience. By focusing on aspects like onboarding, accessibility, design, and valuable assets, you're not just adding to the course; you're deepening its impact and making it more meaningful for your students.
In the end, the most powerful improvements are often the simplest.
As you implement these changes, keep your ears open to feedback from your students. Their insights can guide you in continually refining your course.
Remember, a great online course is an evolving journey, both for you and your students. Here’s to creating educational experiences that are as rewarding as they are enlightening!
When you’re known as the ‘go-to Thrivecart person’ you get asked a lot of questions! In this blog post, I decided to round up the 7 most common questions I get about Thrivecart and keep them in one handy place for you.
Whether you are already using Thrivecart or are considering switching and migrating to Thrivecart, this post is for you.
7 Biggest Thrivecart Questions:
1) Should I switch to Thrivecart?
By far, the Thrivecart question I get the most is, ‘Should I switch to Thrivecart?’
This question actually inspired the creation of my Move to Thrivecart group program.
And the answer, to be completely honest, is: it depends, but probably yes.
While I loveeee Thrivecart and typically recommend it to everyone who is selling courses or digital products – there are a few questions you should ask yourself first:
What are you using right now that Thrivecart would replace?
What are you paying for all of those tools right now?
Are you able to invest in Thrivecart right now?
When will you have the time and capacity to make the switch / set everything up?
2) If I switch to Thrivecart, can I move current payment plans over?
No. If you’re using another platform right now and want to switch to Thrivecart, you aren’t able to move over current payment plans.
Your students or customers will need to either 1) finish their payment plans on the current platform OR 2) sign up for a new payment plan with you in Thrivecart. I think there are strategic ways you can and should incentivize that, but yes – sometimes it’s hard to get folks to pull out their card again.
3) What exactly can I streamline with Thrivecart?
It would be easier to say what you can’t do with Thrivecart, but here’s a full list of what you can streamline (or stop paying other tools for):
Sales funnels (including bump offers, upsells, and downsells)
Affiliate program that can run totally hands-off
Course and digital product hosting (with Thrivecart Learn)
Automation (Thrivecart integrates with most email marketing providers so no need for Zapier or other 3rd party software for most options)
Heads up: Thrivecart will send some automated transactional emails for you automatically, such as a purchase receipt, login set up emails, notifications of new courses added to your dashboard, etc but for all marketing emails, you’ll need an email service provider – more on that below.
4) What else do I need besides Thrivecart for my business?
It depends on your specific needs and what your business looks like. But, a few of the most common extra things you’ll need beyond Thrivecart are:
An email marketing provider – I currently use Drip, but if you aren’t sure which one is right for your business, you might want to check out Email Service Matchmaker. This $9 workshop + comparison guide will help you figure out which ESP is best for you, your budget, your needs, and your style.
Video hosting – Thrivecart doesn’t host videos so you will need somewhere else to host your videos that you can then embed into your Thrivecart Learn lessons. I personally use ScreenPal. Others embed Loom videos, host their videos with Vimeo, Bunny.net, or Searchie.
A community (optional) – if you have a membership or program with a community you can use a private Facebook Group, Slack on a free or paid plan, or my personal favorite that I use for Bundle Formula, Heartbeat.
5) What’s the big difference between Thrivecart and Thrivecart Pro?
Thrivecart Pro has some pretty valuable extra features included, like:
In my opinion, it’s worth the extra one-time upgrade cost to a Pro account. There are a lot of reasons why but the big one is: affiliate programs! If you’re selling courses and digital products, you’ll definitely want to get your own affiliate program up and running!
Along with Thrivecart Pro, there is also the upgraded option of Learn Plus, which includes extra course platform features, like:
Creating bundles of products so you can deliver multiple courses/templates with one purchase, if you’d like
Advanced tagging for course access (for example: if I only want people who purchased early bird to get access to a specific lesson in the course, I could only include people with that tag in Learn to see it)
Bulk importing students via CSV – extra useful if you are switching from another platform
6) Do I have to pay my affiliates through PayPal?
Yes and no.
The only option for paying affiliates directly from Thrivecart is via PayPal. However, you can mark affiliate payments as ‘manual payments’ and send your affiliates their payment another way (like through Wise or Stripe), but that will have to be done manually.
7) Can I use Thrivecart and Thrivecart Learn for my membership?
Yes! I have created an entire training on this for you because there are some extra things to think about when setting up a membership. Click here to check out Thriving Memberships!
Want to see behind the scenes of how I use Thrivecart?
You’ll want to watch this quick (seriously, 15-minute) video showing you exactly how I use Thrivecart for my entire funnel system – that’s sales pages, checkouts, affiliate program, and my course platform – without a single Zap.
