We all know Zoom has been the go-to video conferencing tool for ages, but let's face it, sometimes we need a change. Whether it’s the clunky UI, the cost, or the desire for something fresh, exploring other options can be a game-changer for recording your course lesson videos. Today, I’m exploring the best alternatives to Zoom that can make your course creation process smoother and more enjoyable. Let's get to it!
Why Look for Zoom Alternatives?
Zoom is great, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not perfect. The right video conferencing tool can make a huge difference in your workflow, from recording quality to ease of use. As a course creator, you need a tool that not only gets the job done but also enhances your recording experience.
So, if you’re tired of dealing with Zoom’s quirks or just curious about other options, keep reading!
What to Look for in a Video Conferencing Tool
When choosing a video conferencing tool, especially for recording course lessons, you want to consider a few key factors:
User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX): It should be intuitive and easy to navigate.
Recording Quality and Storage Options: High-quality recordings are a must, and having flexible storage options is a bonus.
Integration with Other Tools: Seamless integration with your LMS or other tools can save you loads of time.
Cost-Effectiveness: We all love a good deal, right?
Customer Support and Reliability: Because who wants to be left hanging when things go wrong?
While I personally love Zoom, Butter is a fantastic tool that’s perfect for course creators. It’s designed to be super user-friendly, making it easy to set up and start recording. The interface is sleek and intuitive, which means you spend less time figuring things out and more time creating awesome content.
Why Butter Rocks for Course Creators:
Interactive Features: Butter comes with built-in polls, timers, and breakout rooms to make your sessions engaging.
High-Quality Recordings: Your videos will look and sound top-notch.
Easy Integration: It plays well with other tools you’re probably already using.
It also has a desktop app, which is a big must for me as I don’t love when my video conference call is trapped in a browser or tab. If you haven’t tried Butter yet, you’re missing out! It’s my top pick for a Zoom alternative.
Whereby – A Solid Competitor
Next up, we have Whereby. Now, while I’m not head-over-heels in love with it, it’s definitely a step up from Google Meet (which, let’s be honest, has a UI that’s kinda meh). Whereby is simple and straightforward, which can be a blessing when you’re knee-deep in course creation.
Why Consider Whereby:
No Downloads Needed: It’s entirely browser-based, so no more “Download this app” prompts.
Good for Small Groups: Ideal if you’re working with a small team or recording solo.
Decent Integration: Works with various tools, though not as seamlessly as Butter.
Whereby might not be perfect, but it’s a reliable choice if you’re looking for something different.
Zoom Alternatives to Avoid
Alright, time for some real talk.
Google Meet?Not a fan. The UI just doesn’t cut it for me, especially when I’m trying to focus on delivering quality content. It’s clunky and not the most intuitive. Whereby is a slightly better option, but it still doesn’t top Butter or Zoom in my book.
The Role of a Good Video Conferencing Tool in Course Creation
Using the right tool can make or break your course creation process. A good video conferencing tool helps you:
Create High-Quality Content: Clear video and audio are essential.
Engage Your Students: Interactive features can make your lessons more engaging.
Save Time: Tools that integrate well with your existing setup can streamline your workflow.
Final Thoughts
To wrap it all up, while Zoom is a solid choice, exploring alternatives like Butter and Whereby can elevate your course creation game. Butter stands out as my top recommendation as a Zoom alternative, thanks to its user-friendly interface and fantastic features tailored for educators like you.
Ready to take your course creation to the next level? Check out my training, Ready, Set: Course, for more tips and strategies on creating, editing, and publishing, course lessons. And don’t forget to look into Replay Ready Recordings to ensure your course videos from Zoom are top-notch.
Let's make your course creation journey as smooth as butter (oof, bad pun)!
In a world where digital marketing tactics shift faster than a squirrel hopped up on caffeine, many marketers and entrepreneurs latch onto funnel hacking as their golden ticket to success. Funnel hacking, in simple terms, is all about copying the successful marketing funnels of others, hoping to score the same results.
The appeal of this strategy lies in the mistaken belief that what works for one will work for all.
But here's the kicker: every brand, business, and their audience is as unique as a thumbprint. This makes the one-size-fits-all approach of funnel hacking more of a mirage than a magic bullet. Truly understanding the ‘why' behind funnel optimization is crucial — it’s the heartbeat of any sustainable digital strategy. Plus, it’s basically copying which is icky anyway. It totally skips right past the strategy behind the funnel, and without good strategy, it’s gonna flop.
Let's break it down: we’ll start by uncovering what funnel hacking actually is and how it became a buzzword among digital marketers. Then, we’ll dive into why copying someone else’s funnel (or even just DEEPLY taking inspiration from it) rarely leads to the success you’re after, considering the unique identities and diverse needs of different brands and their audiences.
Finally, we’ll explore smarter alternatives to funnel hacking, highlighting the importance of personalized funnel mapping, A/B testing, and continuous optimization tailored to your audience's specific preferences. My goal here is to finally stop the funnelhacking and copying that have become so prevalent and leave you with a clearer roadmap to crafting effective marketing funnels that work for your target audience, steering clear of the common traps of funnel hacking.
What is Funnel Hacking?
Definition and Origin
Funnel hacking is all about diving deep into and mimicking the marketing funnels that competitors or industry leaders are rocking. This means dissecting every stage of their sales funnel — from the moment customers first hear about them to when they finally hit ‘buy' — to get a handle on the tactics that make them successful.
This idea took off thanks to Russell Brunson and the ClickFunnels crew, who championed this method as a way to craft your digital marketing strategy by learning from the top names by studying their funnels carefully.
Popular Examples
Take Zendesk, for instance. Lots of businesses look at how Zendesk pulls in potential customers through PPC ads and social media, hooks them with tailored video demos, and seals the deal with well-timed discounts and offers.
By studying these steps, companies can model their own funnels after what’s already working, tweaking things to fit their own products and target market.
Common Misconceptions
Some folks think that successful funnel hacking is really just copying another company’s sales funnel. But the real deal isn’t about cloning — it’s about modeling. It’s about understanding the strategies behind a competitor’s success and reshaping these insights to suit your specific market.
Remember, every business has its own quirks. Just copying another’s approach without tuning into your audience’s unique vibe can lead to a marketing flop. It can also lead to some unpleasant side effects: a DMCA takedown, being called out for copying, or simply creating a reputation for yourself of a copycat, which can cost you massively when it comes to creating industry friendships and lucrative collaborations.
In our corner of the internet, I have to stress that funnel hacking should be just one tiny tool in your toolbox. Pair it with deep market research, constant testing, and fine-tuning that’s tailored to your audience’s needs and behaviors. This way, you can draw inspiration from success stories without banking solely on strategies that might not jive with your business and aren’t original to you.
Why Funnel Hacking Doesn’t Work
Inaccurate Assumptions
One major hiccup with funnel hacking is leaning on shaky assumptions. When we peek at another business's funnel, we're only seeing what they let us see.
This surface-level glance can be super misleading because it hides the full strategy and all those little details that make it click for them. We might think a competitor’s funnel is a goldmine, but without their full data, these assumptions can lead us off track.
There might be a secret sauce to their success that's totally invisible to us, making our copycat efforts half-baked and pretty useless.
Limited Data
Another big roadblock is the lack of complete data. When we try to hack a funnel, we usually don’t have the full scoop on what makes it tick.
Sure, we see the front-end offers, but the back-end tactics and metrics that really drive the profits? Those are often hidden. This piecemeal view can push us to adopt strategies that aren't financially viable or sustainable for our business, wasting time and money.
Misalignment with Business Models
Lastly, funnel hacking often flops because it doesn't fit with different business models. Every business has its own special sauce — its value proposition, target audience, and way of operating. What clicks for one brand’s audience might fall flat for another’s.
For instance, a strategy that’s all about building long-term customer relationships might work wonders for one brand but could be a total dud for another with different goals or market dynamics. The key is to create marketing strategies that jive with your specific business model and audience needs, not just slap on a one-size-fits-all solution.
By zeroing in on our unique market research, testing, and analysis, we can craft strategies that are more likely to hit the mark than those borrowed from funnel hacking. This way, we avoid the traps of incomplete data and boost our chances of building genuineandeffective connections with our target audience.
Better Alternatives to Funnel Hacking
Given the pitfalls of funnel hacking, let’s dive into better alternatives that focus on crafting customized marketing strategies, leveraging unique business models, and building bespoke funnels tailored to your market’s needs.
Customized Marketing Strategies
Customized marketing strategies start with a solid grasp of your unique market and how your customers behave. Instead of mimicking what seems to work for others, it’s far more effective to whip up a strategy that speaks directly to your audience’s specific needs and preferences.
This means rolling up your sleeves for some detailed market research and diving into data analytics to really understand what makes your audience tick.
When you zero in on what truly resonates with your crowd, you can create marketing campaigns that are not only more engaging but also more likely to convert.
Focus on Unique Business Models
Every business has its own vibe and flavor — its values, target audience, and the landscape it operates in. Your business model should reflect these elements.
Adapting your business model in response to market shifts isn’t just about staying afloat; it’s about thriving in a competitive space. This might mean redefining your value proposition or exploring new market segments.
Remember, what works like a charm in one context might need a tweak or two to succeed in another. Being flexible and ready to adapt is key to staying relevant and competitive.
Tips for Building Custom Funnels
Creating custom funnels means really understanding the journey your customers take from discovering you to making a purchase.
And always make sure your funnel aligns with your business’s overall strategy, seamlessly integrating with your operations and long-term goals.
By focusing on these tailored approaches, you can build strong marketing funnels that are better suited to your unique market conditions and customer needs. This leads to better engagement, higher conversion rates, and ultimately, a more powerful market position.
Final Thoughts
We’ve taken a good look at funnel hacking and why it often falls short in the world of digital marketing. By recognizing the unique nature of every brand, business, and audience, we’ve highlighted the need for custom strategies over simply copying what seems to work for others.
The real secret to crafting effective marketing funnels lies in creating bespoke approaches that cater to your audience's specific needs through thorough market research, testing, and analysis. Relying on a one-size-fits-all strategy like funnel hacking can lead to a mismatch with your unique business model and goals, underscoring the importance of carving out your own path based on informed insights and a deep understanding of your market.
Instead of funnel hacking, I advocate for a more nuanced approach. This means developing comprehensive marketing strategies rooted in a deep understanding of customer behavior and preferences. It’s all about building custom funnels that mirror the unique identity and needs of your business, aligning seamlessly with your broader strategic objectives.
This approach not only fosters deeper engagement with your target audience but also boosts the chances of forging lasting, meaningful connections that drive success.
Take the shortcut when available
Another option to avoid funnel hacking but still capitalize and make the most of a strategy that’s working for a peer is when they offer to teach their strategy, like I do in several of my trainings, like BFD, my Black Friday Deals strategy that helped me make over $20k in affiliate commission over Black Friday 2023, for Four By For Footers, my email marketing strategy that has hugely impacted my revenue from every email, without having to sound salesly all the time.
The best part? Not only do I teach the strategy, the why, the testing, the results and the ‘what didn’t work’ in those trainings, I also hand you every single template and tutorial you need to set them up in a single afternoon. Absolutely zero funnel hacking needed.
Want to see how personalized funnel optimization works in action?
Check out this free video where I show you how I use Thrivecart as my all-in-one funnel system. By focusing on detailed analysis and customized funnel creation, you’re setting yourself up for sustainable growth and a competitive edge.
If you’re anything like me, you're juggling a million things at once, and your to-do list is a mile long. That’s where the magic of automation comes into play. It’s not just a fancy buzzword; it’s a huge asset for any online business looking to get more done in less time and keep the chaos at bay.
So, buckle up! Today, we're diving into some killer automation tools and strategies that’ll transform your biz from hectic to heck-yes!
Understanding Automation in Business
Think of automation as your business’s own personal assistant. It does the grunt work — from basic data entry to the fancy AI-driven decisions, so you don’t have to.
Basically, an automation is a recipe: when X happens, do Y. Create the rule once and it’ll handle that task every single time from then on forward.
Automation tools are the secret sauce to upgrading your operations, sharpening your accuracy, and, let’s be honest, making you look good by boosting that productivity.
Essential Automation Tools for Streamlining Operations
Data Automation Tools:
Let’s talk about Airtable. It’s not just another database tool; it’s your new best friend. It organizes all your stuff—from customer records to project timelines—in a super intuitive way, making it an easy yes for those of us who need to make smart, data-driven decisions without the headache of having to manipulate a lot of data, every single time.
Email Automation Tools:
Email marketing is Queen in my business: it really can’t run without it. Effective email marketing is like the heartbeat of your customer relationships, and Drip, my preferred email marketing software, is the pacemaker.
Why do I choose Drip? Because it’s majorly powerful, intuitive and easy to use, and helps make sure your messages hit the mark every time. It’s all about getting the right message to the right person without any of the guesswork.
Tools like Softr.io allow businesses to effortlessly create customized websites and web apps directly from their Airtable data, ensuring your marketing content is always fresh and engaging.
Advanced Automation Techniques for Enhanced Productivity
AI Workflow Automation:
The Marketing Magic App isn’t just for any marketer; it’s a dream come true for course creators and digital product sellers. This tool gets you, your business, and your customers. It’s all about automating your campaigns based on real behaviors and preferences. Pretty smart, huh?
Implementing Automation in Your Business
Starting is the hardest part, right? Begin by pinpointing those pesky repetitive tasks that eat up your precious time. Thrivecart is my go-to for automating the entire sales process—from the initial funnel to the final checkout, and offer delivery. It makes my sales systems smooth like butter.
Overcoming Challenges with Business Automation
While automation promises efficiency, actually setting it up can be ovewhelming due to costs and the need for technical training. Programs like Systems Over Stress teach entrepreneurs how to utilize Airtable to create robust sales dashboards, simplifying the monitoring and management of automated processes.
Embracing Automation Without Losing the Human Touch
Hey, I get it. The idea of automation might make you worry about turning your vibrant, personal business into something that feels… well, robotic.
But here’s the scoop: automation isn’t about replacing the heart and soul of your biz with cold, hard tech. It’s about amplifying your human touch, giving you more time to focus on what you love, and giving you more time for those one-on-one connections with your customers.
Automation Enhances Personalization:
Think about it—automation tools like Drip or Marketing Magic App can actually help personalize communication at scale. They analyze data to send tailored messages at just the right time. It’s about being there for your customer exactly when they need you, without you having to lift a finger every time.
Free Up Time for What Matters:
By automating the routine tasks, you’re not being pushed out of your business; you’re being pushed into the spotlight where you shine.
More free time means more opportunities to engage with your customers on a deeper level, whether that’s through live Q&A sessions, personalized consultations, or crafting content that hits right at the heart of their needs.
Automation as Your Support System:
Think of automation as the best support system you could ask for. It handles the logistics so you can focus on the human aspects of your business. From scheduling social media posts to sorting customer inquiries, these tools keep the gears moving smoothly in the background.
This allows you to remain front and center, engaging with your audience and building those meaningful relationships.
Remember, automation isn’t here to replace you—it’s here to boost you. It’s the sidekick that takes on the grunt work, so you can focus on your passions and keep adding that personal touch that your customers love.
So, let’s roll up our sleeves and use these tools to our advantage, ensuring our businesses not only survive but thrive with a personal touch that’s uniquely ours.
Final Thoughts
Automation is more than just a tech upgrade; it’s a strategic essential part of today’s biz world. It’s about making smart moves that boost productivity and efficiency without feeling overwhelmed.
So, what are you waiting for? Dive into these tools and start transforming your business into a well-oiled, automated machine that keeps your customers coming back for more.
Additional Resources
Craving more? Check out the websites for Drip, Thrivecart, and Airtable for tutorials and deep dives into making the most of automation in your business. Trust me, a little homework now means a lot of chill time later!
By embracing the right mix of automation tools and strategies, you’re not just streamlining operations. You are setting your business up for some serious growth and keeping your customer engagement strong. Let’s automate the heck out of this and make your business life a breeze!
’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.
ChatGPT and AI are everywhere and along with it, lots of clever uses cases for course creators. But AI is a tool, not a replacement. It’s a resource for brainstorming, not something that can completely do your work for you. You’re smarter than a machine, but we all get a little stuck sometimes. That’s where writing your ChatGPT prompts strategically comes into play.
I personally don't use ChatGPT to completely write my sales pages, emails or other content, but I don't mind letting it help me get started, or even just brainstorm ideas for me to write myself. Even though AI has grown so much over the past 12 months, we need to remember we’re still speaking to a robot here, not a human, and how you ask for help matters.
Once you apply a few simple tips on how to write effective prompts for ChatGPT, you will be able to use it as a powerful tool for your business. So, let’s dig in!
🫸 I made a list of the 33 most over-used words generated by AI for marketers, course creators, and coaches — jump to it here
How to Write ChatGPT Prompts
ChatGPT prompt creation is a new skill on its own. To use AI the right way for your business, you need to understand how to get the best results. And that comes from crafting the best ChatGPT prompts, which means:
1) Be clear about what you want.
You are speaking to a robot, after all. It has all kinds of access to data but it doesn’t understand YOU. If you want it to understand what you need, you need to be super clear and ask for it. Feel free to also say what you don’t want.
ChatGPT Prompt Example:
Instead of just: “Provide 20 episode ideas on the topic of productivity.”
Try This: “I’d like you to come up with 20 new podcast episode titles about productivity as a business owner and entrepreneur. For example: hot to use tools like ClickUp, time blocking, planning your quarter, when it’s time to outsource, etc. Please keep the title ideas interesting, positive, and engaging.”
Yes – I say please. You don’t have to as it won’t affect the outcome, but I can’t help typing it so I don’t bother to edit it out.
2) You need to give it context and help it out a bit.
Simply put:YOU are the secret sauce of your business. ChatGPT can help you, but it doesn’t have that secret sauce that you have. So, you need to provide some of that in your prompts to get the best possible outputs.
Copy and paste any information that would help into the chat.
For example:
If you’re looking for ideas on rewriting a sales page: copy and paste your current sales page copy as a reference (or the live URL if you have ChatGPT Plus with internet browsing).
If you want new digital product ideas: include who you are, what you do, what you currently offer, and who your audience is in the prompt. Otherwise, you might get ideas that aren’t really relevant or are super broad. The more specific you can be, the better!
3) Make sure you know your brand voice.
One super important part about writing ChatGPT prompts is having an understanding of what your brand style and voice are.
No robot will likely ever capture your voice completely, but you’ll get much better results if you know this info and provide it to ChatGPT when writing prompts.
4) Provide feedback and ask for changes.
ChatGPT is not a one-prompt-and-done solution. You need to provide feedback, ask questions, and have the output refined until it’s close enough. Then you can take it and add your human touch to it!
The List of Over-Used ChatGPT and AI Words for Marketers You Might Want to Avoid:
One thing that bothers me about ChatGPT is how very unlike me the output content sounds. It's not surprising, of course, because it's a machine, and so I firmly believe you should not use the generated text as is – you've got to make it your own! I spend a few minutes swapping out stiff-sounding phrases and words that I never use for things I actually say in my day-to-day life and in my copywriting.
ChatGPT has a tendency to over-use certain words and also over-enthusiastically add emojis.
I recently asked my audience on Threads which words AI has ruined for them due to overuse and it was a pretty long list! Most of us never use these words, so it feels a bit odd to suddenly have them appear in every piece of copy you make public. So, you might want to avoid/remove these words from your copy or content or it might seem like it’s AI-generated:
What are some overused words in AI-generated copy to avoid?
unleash
unlock
embark
ninja
empower
skyrocket
ever-evolving
captivate
essential / crucial
brilliance
new heights
picture this:
next-level
you see,
utilize
ditch
demystify
revolutionize
game-changing
delve into
master / mastery
hope this finds you well
struggle (-ling)
harness
ensure
transform (-ative)
empower
navigate
leverage (-aging)
magnetic
realm
peace of mind
ChatGPT Prompts List for Course Creators:
I couldn’t share this blog post without giving you some example ChatGPT prompts just for course creators! Anything in bold you’ll want to add your own information.
1) To Improve Your Online Course:
I have an online course called [NAME] about [TOPIC] that helps [IDEAL AUDIENCE] to/with [YOUR COURSE PROMISE]. Here is a list of what’s included and the lessons, can you come up with some ideas or ways that I could improve this course? [COPY & PASTE YOUR LESSON TITLES]
For example:
I have an online course called Email Marketing 101 about email marketing that helps newer entrepreneurs start an email list and get their first 1000 email subscribers without social media. Here is a list of what’s included and the lessons, can you come up with some ideas or ways that I could improve this course?
Lesson 1: Choosing Your Email Service Provider
Lesson 2: Email Marketing Set Up
Lesson 3: Writing Emails That People Want to Read
Lesson 4: Email Analytics
Lesson 5: Creating a Lead Magnet
Lesson 6: Nurturing Your List
Lesson 7: Staying Consistent with Email
2) To Brainstorm Online Course Ideas:
I’m a [TITLE] who helps [YOUR IDEAL AUDIENCE] to/with [WHAT YOU DO]. I’d like to create an online course about [TOPIC]. Can you come up with [#] course ideas that might be relevant to my audience?
For example:
I’m a business strategist who helps 6 figure entrepreneurs who are overwhelmed with outsourcing and hiring a small team. I’d like to create an online course about managing a team and communication. Can you come up with 10 course ideas that might be relevant to my audience?
3) To Write Course Promo Emails:
I’m launching a new online course soon called [NAME] about [TOPIC] for [IDEAL AUDIENCE] who want to [WHAT THEY WANT]. The course opens for enrollment on [DATE] and the cart closes on [DATE]. The price is [$xx] and if they sign up before [DATE] they will save/get [DEAL OR BONUS OFFER]. I’d like to send [#] emails to my list for this launch. Can you write the emails in a [VOICE] tone of voice and [STYLE] style?
I’d like these emails written:
[DATE] – Email #1 – Announcement email
[DATE] – Email #2 – Focus on the details of the bonus
[DATE] – Email #3 – Ends tomorrow email
[DATE] – Email #4 – Ends today, last chance email
[DATE] – Email #5 – sent to people who clicked but didn’t purchase yet when there are only 4 hours left to go
Let’s start with email #1.
4) To Create Social Media Content Promoting Your Course:
I’m launching a new online course soon called [NAME] about [TOPIC] for [IDEAL AUDIENCE] who want to [WHAT THEY WANT]. The course opens for enrollment on [DATE] and the cart closes on [DATE]. The price is [$xx] and if they sign up before [DATE] they will save/get [DEAL OR BONUS OFFER]. Can you write [#] social media posts for [PLATFORM] in a [VOICE] tone of voice and [STYLE] style to promote this course to the right people?
5) To Write a Script for a Course Lesson:
I am creating a course called [NAME] on [TOPIC] to help [IDEAL AUDIENCE] with [WHAT YOUR COURSE HELPS THEM WITH]. I’m working on a lesson about [TOPIC]. Can you write a video script for this lesson that will cover [THIS], [THIS], and [THIS]. I would like the video to be approximately [#] minutes in length.
NOTE: Be sure to fact-check the provided script thoroughly before you start recording; ChatGPT is not the most current or up to date and you are the subject matter expert
6) To Outline a Workbook for a Course Lesson:
I have a course called [NAME] about [TOPIC] for [IDEAL AUDIENCE]. I have a lesson within the course called [NAME] that covers [WHAT THE LESSON IS ABOUT]. Here is the video transcript of that lesson for reference. Can you use the transcript to outline a workbook that could accompany this lesson? [COPY & PASTE THE TRANSCRIPT]
7) To Understand Your Ideal Audience:
Can you come up with 3 different buyer personas that would be the perfect person for my online course? Please include what they are struggling with and what they hope to achieve from the course. Here are the details about the course: [COPY & PASTE INFO FROM YOUR SALES PAGE]
8) To Come Up With a Name for Your Online Course:
I want to create a new online course about [TOPIC]. The ideal audience is [IDEAL AUDIENCE]. The course will help them [COURSE PROMISE]. Can you come up with [#] fun and catchy names for this course?
For example:
I want to create a new online course about dealing with negative self talk. The ideal audience is female entrepreneurs who are struggling with comparing themselves to others, overworking themselves, undercharging, and are scared of success. The course will help them improve their self worth, mindset, and discover ways to overcome negative self talk with my own framework. Can you come up with 20 fun and catchy names for this course?
9) To Write the Sales Page Copy for Your Course:
I am creating a course called [NAME] on [TOPIC] to help [IDEAL AUDIENCE] with [WHAT YOUR COURSE HELPS THEM WITH]. Can you write a medium-length sales page for this course in a [VOICE] voice and [STYLE] style?
10) To Improve the Sales Page Copy of Your Course:
If you don’t have ChatGPT Plus:
I have a course called [NAME] that helps [IDEAL AUDIENCE] with [WHAT YOUR COURSE HELPS THEM WITH]. Can you review this sales page and rewrite the copy so it’s more engaging? Let’s do it one section at a time. Here is the first section: [COPY & PASTE]
If you do have ChatGPT Plus:
I have a course called [NAME] that helps [IDEAL AUDIENCE] with [WHAT YOUR COURSE HELPS THEM WITH]. Can you review this sales page and rewrite the copy so it’s more engaging? Here is the link: [ADD LIVE SALES PAGE URL]
My Favorite AI Tools:
Besides ChatGPT, I do have a few other favorite AI tools that you’ll want to take a look at.
CastMagic is also a good AI tool for repurposing content or video transcripts into different content ideas or formats quickly and easily!
But remember: AI isn’t a replacement for you. Being able to use it properly is a skill, and using AI as a tool to save time is a good thing! Just make sure to not lose your own voice or secret sauce in the process.
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.
As a course creator, choosing the right platform for your business operations is similar to selecting the perfect ingredients for a delicious dish. The choices are endless, but not all of them blend well with the unique flavor of your business.
Among the selection of options available, the dilemma often boils down to selecting between an all-in-one solution like Kajabi or Kartra and a specialized checkout platform like ThriveCart. In this post, I’ll be sharing why making the switch to ThriveCart is such a simple-yes choice.
Thrivecart: The Kajabi and Kartra Alternative
Here’s a look at just some of the big reasons why Thrivecart is a great option over all-in-one options, like Kajabi and Kartra.
Cost Efficiency:
When starting out, the allure of an all-in-one platform is hard to resist. The idea of having a single solution to handle everything sounds ideal.
However, the initial cost that seems reasonable can quickly escalate. Especially if you are an entrepreneur with a lot of products and ideas buzzing in your head, the monthly fees can add up to a hefty annual expense.
On the other hand, ThriveCart is a breath of fresh air with its one-time payment structure. I signed up for ThriveCart in 2020 for a one-time fee of $690, which eliminated the monthly financial cost associated with a Kartra or Kajabi subscription, which is usually $119-300 a month. This switch drastically cut my operational costs, leaving more room for profitandbusiness growth.
Unlimited Growth Potential:
The all-in-one platforms, while providing a basic structure, often come with limitations when it comes to scaling up. Neither Kajabi nor Kartra offers an unlimited plan, which can feel like trying to see your business soar with weights tied to your wings.
ThriveCart, on the other hand, embodies the essence of unlimited growth potential. It does not box you into a tier, rather it provides the freedom to expand your horizons without any additional financial burden.
Superiority in Functionality:
These platforms, although bundled with features, tend to fall short of delivering excellence in any one domain, which can be a bottleneck for creatives and innovators.
On the flip side, ThriveCart shines brightly when it comes to providing a smooth and efficient checkout experience. It’s not just about making sales; it’s about creating a seamless journey for your customers from browsing to buying. ThriveCart helps reduce the friction in the buying process, which in turn enhances the user experience and potentially boosts conversions.
Affiliate System:
The affiliate systems in Kajabi and Kartra can leave you (and your affiliates) less than impressed. The process of digging around for links and managing affiliate programs seems to be a chore rather than a streamlined process.
However ThriveCart’s affiliate system is designed with user-friendliness in mind. As an affiliate, the ease of logging in, viewing all the programs you're part of, and grabbing your affiliate link is a breeze. This ease of use encourages more affiliate engagement, which could lead to increased promotion and, subsequently, sales.
As a person who loves affiliate marketing, I personally can’t stand when folks use Kartra or Kajabi to host their affiliate platform (or anything else, really, perhaps other than SamCart). I love that when I log in to Thrivecart as an affiliate, I can see all the programs I’m an affiliate for and grab links quickly. That comes in incredibly handy when you’re preparing for big sale seasons, like Black Friday.
Ease of Migration:
Migration from one platform to another is often seen as an overwhelming task. I’m not going to sugarcoat the reality — it's a tedious process.
However, there are long-term benefits that outweigh the temporary inconvenience of migration. By focusing on the bigger picture and the potential uptick in conversions, the argument for making the switch to ThriveCart becomes compelling.
Integration and Automation:
The power of integration and automation cannot be overstated. ThriveCart stands head and shoulders above the rest with its robust integration capabilities, especially via Zapier.
Unlike Kajabi and Kartra, ThriveCart offers a vast array of triggers and actions for your checkouts and affiliate program that unlock a realm of automation possibilities, streamlining operations and saving precious time and resources. If you’ve upgraded to Learn+, you can add even more automations to streamline things like unlocking bonus content, removing access after a period of time, sharing bonuses after course completion, and so much more. Tap here to learn more about Learn and tap here to upgrade to Learn+ now.
Final Thoughts
It’s so important to align your business tools with your growth vision. ThriveCart is a viable, cost-effective, and efficient alternative to all-in-one platforms like Kajabi and Kartra. As you navigate the waters of online entrepreneurship, making informed decisions on platforms can significantly impact your operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and bottom line. Are you ready to reevaluate your current platform and consider making a switch that could propel your business to new heights? Explore ThriveCart and discover how its features can align with your business goals, offering a seamless and enjoyable journey for both you and your customers. Your thriving online empire awaits!
As a course creator, providing an enriching and seamless user experience is crucial for the success of your online courses. ThriveCart has become the go-to affordable user-friendly platform for course creators. Its dedicated course platform, ThriveCart Learn, has grown in popularity for its simplicity and effectiveness.
In this post, we’ll consider why ThriveCart Learn is a choice worth considering for your courses and how you can enhance your ThriveCart courses for a better student experience.
Why Use Thrivecart Learn For Your Courses
ThriveCart Learn offers an intuitive platform for course creators to share their knowledge with the world. The ease of setup, alongside robust features, makes it an attractive option for those looking to deliver quality content without a steep learning curve.
Plus the seamless integration with the ThriveCart checkout system makes for a smooth transaction process, enriching the overall user experience. 2 additional perks are the enrollment happens instantaneously (along with the ‘how to log in’ email they send) AND you don’t need Zapier for it. Triple win!
Now, let’s explore some strategies to elevate your ThriveCart courses.
How to Improve Your Thrivecart Courses
1) Improve Your New Student Experience
The journey of your students begins the moment they enroll in your course. Providing a warm and informative welcome can set the tone for what’s to come.
Whether you use Thrivecart’s own thank you page (aka success page) or have the checkout redirect to your own hosted on your website: make it clear what your new student can expect and give them what they need to know.
Consider creating a welcome video or a guided tour to introduce them to the course layout.
Additionally, make sure that the course navigation is intuitive, easy to use, flows nicely, and resources are easily accessible. The Thrivecart Learn layout you’ll want to use depends on the course product and how it’s laid out for students.
An informative FAQ section can also be a great asset to address common new student queries proactively.
2) Use a Custom Subdomain
Branding is pivotal in creating a trustful and professional image.
Utilizing a custom subdomain for your ThriveCart courses not only enhances your brand recognition but also instills a sense of credibility among your students. It’s super easy to set up in Thrivecart and provides a personalized touch, showing a level of professionalism and authenticity. You can also set up a course on a whole new domain. Nice perk: you can have multiple different custom domains, one for each of your courses, if you want.
3) Brand Your Course Login
The login page is often the first point of interaction your students have with your course platform.
Customizing the login page to reflect your brand aesthetics, using your logo, brand colors, and a friendly, personalized message can create a welcoming ambiance.
It’s these little touches that enhance the user experience and make your platform feel professional and engaging.
4) Brand and Customize Your Course Dashboard
Your course dashboard is the central hub where your students will access the course material – this is the landing page they’ll first see when they log in with ALL your courses on it. Branding and customizing the dashboard in alignment with your brand ethos provides a consistent and pleasant visual experience.
Some suggestions for elements to add to your course dashboard page:
How to get support, if needed
A link to your Facebook group or community
Affiliate program invitation or details*
A link to your blog or shop page
Don’t have an affiliate program? Learn how to set one up in an afternoon with Pay Your Pals!
Furthermore, organizing the course material in a structured and aesthetically pleasing manner can significantly enhance the ease of use and overall learning experience.
Not Using Thrivecart Yet?
I’m not bragging (ok, kinda) but I have one of the best Thrivecart affiliate bonuses around if you sign up for Thrivecart using my link. You’ll also want to check out CartStart, the course designed to help you know everything there is to know about using Thrivecart.
Final Thoughts
Investing time in improving the aesthetics and user experience of your ThriveCart courses can go a long way in creating a conducive learning environment. These enhancements, although seemingly small, can significantly impact the satisfaction and engagement levels of your students.
As you continue to refine your course delivery on the ThriveCart course platform, you’re not only providing value but also building a strong, recognizable brand with your digital products and online courses.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are around the corner, and it's time to supercharge your sales strategy to make it your best Black Friday yet. In this guide, we'll explore simple yet effective ways to maximize your Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales using Thrivecart, along with some essential tools and tips.
Whether you're a B2B business or a B2C business, these strategies will help you make the most of this holiday shopping frenzy.
Simple Ways to Increase Your Sales For Black Friday & Cyber Monday
1) Add more bump offers and upsells
When it comes to maximizing your revenue during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, bump offers and upsells are your secret weapons and my personal favorite way to not only serve my customers by anticipating their next step and offering them a juicy discount, but also on a personal level for making more from every sale. Read on for stats and real numbers.
Bump offers are those enticing add-ons that appear right on the checkout page when a customer is making a purchase. They're like the virtual candy bars at the grocery store checkout – hard to resist and often a last-minute addition to the cart.
Now, let's talk about upsells. These are one of my absolute favorite ways to reward new customers and invite them to become repeat customers with a big discount, right on the upsell page. After your customer has made their initial purchase, you have a golden opportunity to present them with complementary products or upgrades that enhance their overall shopping experience.
Stats from a launch in October 2023:
Revenue generated from the main product: $5,946
Revenue generated from order bump purchases: $297
Revenue generated from upsell purchases: $4,956
For that launch alone, 44% of the revenue was from the incredible deal on the upsell. I’m so glad I offered it!
Here's the beauty of it: you're not only increasing your average order value but also providing additional value to your customers. They leave your business feeling like they've scored a great deal, and you've boosted your sales – a win-win situation.
To supercharge your Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales with bump offers and upsells, it's crucial to plan your offerings strategically. Make sure they align with the products or services your customers are already interested in. Plus, make these offers irresistible – create a sense of urgency or bundle complementary items for a special price.
To get more inspiration on crafting the perfect bump offers and upsells, check out my free resource, the Upsell Offer Locker. It's a treasure trove of 40+ offer ideas that will have your customers saying, “Yes, please!”
And for a deep dive into the tech, setup, and strategy behind effective upselling, consider enrolling in my course, Unleashing Upsells. It's your ticket to mastering the art of boosting your Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.
2) Create a Black Friday landing page for affiliate offers
Affiliate marketing can be a powerful ally during the holiday season. If you're promoting products or services from other companies, consider creating a dedicated Black Friday landing page.
This page should feature all the deals and discounts you're offering through your affiliate partnerships.
It's a win-win situation: your audience gets great deals, and you earn commissions.
Learn how to create a Black Friday Deals page that updates itself so don’t ever have to worry about coming back to update it when a deal expires with my upcoming training, BFD.
3) Plan ahead early
When it comes to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the early bird indeed catches the worm, or in our case, the sales. These two shopping extravaganzas are a big deal, and the key to success lies in meticulous planning.
Start your preparations well in advance. It's not just about having a good idea; it's about having a great strategy in place. Begin by brainstorming your offers.
What discounts, deals, or bundles can you offer that will truly captivate your audience? Consider what worked well in previous years and how you can improve upon it. The more thought you put into your offers, the more compelling they'll be when you present them to your customers.
Next, pay attention to aesthetics. Your visuals should be as attractive and exciting as your offers. Remember, first impressions matter, and a well-designed promotional image can be the difference between a click and a pass.
Now, let's talk about email campaigns – the backbone of your promotional strategy. Craft compelling email sequences that build anticipation and excitement in the weeks leading up to the big days. Send teaser emails to let your subscribers know that something incredible is on the horizon. As the days draw nearer, create a sense of urgency. Let them know that these deals won't last forever, creating that fear of missing out (FOMO) effect.
But here's the thing: the early bird doesn't just plan; they also adapt. Keep a close eye on market trends and consumer behavior. If you notice shifts in demand or preferences, be ready to adjust your strategy accordingly. Flexibility can be your greatest asset during this dynamic shopping season.
4) Send more emails
Email marketing remains a powerful tool for reaching your audience during the holiday season. However, you're not the only one vying for your customers' attention. To stand out in the crowded inbox landscape, you'll need to send more emails (get ideas here!), but not just any emails – strategic ones.
Segment your email list to target different customer groups with personalized messages. Send teaser emails before Black Friday and Cyber Monday, reminding your subscribers about the upcoming deals. On the big day, send out enticing emails with clear calls to action.
After the sale, follow up with thank-you emails and upsell opportunities.
5) Use tools
Efficiency is key during the busy Black Friday and Cyber Monday period. Utilize sales and marketing tools to streamline your processes.
Here are some of my favorites:
ConvertBox: A versatile tool for creating engaging pop-ups, forms, and quizzes to capture leads and promote offers.
Deadline Funnel: Create genuine urgency with countdown timers that encourage customers to take action. Another alternative to check out is Countdown Hero.
Marketing Magic App: Simplify the process of updating copy and content to align with your Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions.
6) Get your affiliates involved
Lots of people are sharing deals and creating deal round-ups so make sure to let your affiliates know about your special offers.
Affiliate marketing can be a game-changer during this season of discounts. Encourage your affiliates to promote your Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals by providing them with all the necessary resources. If you haven't set up an affiliate program yet, don't worry. The Pay Your Pals training can guide you through the entire process using Thrivecart.
Final Thoughts
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are golden opportunities to boost your sales and revenue. Implementing these strategies and using Thrivecart's features wisely can help you make the most out of this shopping frenzy.
Remember to plan ahead, communicate effectively with your audience, and leverage the power of affiliates and marketing tools.
With the right approach, you can turn these hectic shopping days into a profitable success story for your business. Start preparing now, and get ready to thrive this Black Friday and Cyber Monday!
Are you having a hard time converting your website visitors into paying customers? If so, then you're in the right place. Sales funnels are critical to any successful online business, but they can also be confusing and overwhelming, especially if you're just starting out. That's why I’ve put together this blog post to answer ten of your biggest sales funnel questions.
So, grab a cup of coffee (or your beverage of choice – it’s kombucha for me!), and let's dive in!
Your Sales Funnel Questions Answered
1. What are the different stages of a sales funnel?
A sales funnel visually represents the customer journey from initial contact to the final sale. Put very plainly, a sales funnel is a set of web pages designed to move leads, or potential customers, towards a purchase.
While there are many variations of the sales funnel, most include four main stages:
Awareness: This is the first stage, where potential customers become aware of your product or service. They might find you through a blog post, social media, or advertising.
Interest: In this stage, prospects want to learn more about your product or service. They might sign up for your email list or download a lead magnet.
Decision: In the decision stage, prospects are evaluating whether or not to make a purchase. They might read reviews, compare prices, or request a demo.
Action: Finally, in the action stage, the prospect becomes a customer and makes a purchase. This might involve filling out a form, making a payment, or scheduling a call.
Remember that not all potential customers will move through each stage of the funnel. Some may drop off before they reach the final stage, while others may skip some stages altogether.
2. What are the benefits of using a sales funnel?
Using a sales funnel has a ton of benefits for your online business. Here are just a few:
It gives you clarity: A sales funnel means you have a clear plan for guiding your potential customers toward purchasing. This helps you focus your marketing efforts and get better results.
It's more efficient: With a sales funnel, you can create marketing campaigns that are designed to move prospects from one stage to the next. This saves you time and resources, making your sales process more efficient.
You'll get more sales: Optimizing – fine-tuning, improving – each stage of your sales funnel can convert more prospects into paying customers. This means more sales and revenue for your business.
You can build stronger relationships with your customers: A sales funnel includes strategies for customer retention and follow-up. By focusing on building long-term relationships with your customers, you can increase customer loyalty and lifetime value.
Overall, using a sales funnel is a smart move if you want to streamline your sales process, increase your conversions, and build a loyal customer base.
3. What are the key components of a successful sales funnel?
A successful sales funnel typically includes several key components. Here are some of the most important ones:
A clear goal:
Defining your goal is the first step in creating a successful sales funnel. What do you want to achieve with your funnel? Is it to generate leads, make sales, or something else? Having a clear goal will help you design a funnel that is tailored to your specific needs.
Targeted traffic:
Your sales funnel needs to attract the right kind of traffic to be effective. This means identifying your target audience and creating marketing campaigns that are designed to appeal to them.
A lead magnet:
A lead magnet is a valuable resource you offer your prospects in exchange for their contact information. This could be a free guide, checklist, or webinar. A strong lead magnet will help you capture and move more leads through your funnel.
Landing pages:
A landing page is a dedicated page designed to convert visitors into leads or customers. A good landing page will be focused on a single offer and have a clear call to action.
Email marketing:
Email marketing is a critical component of any sales funnel. By nurturing your leads with targeted emails, you can build trust, establish authority, and move them closer to making a purchase.
Sales pages:
A sales page is a dedicated page that is designed to sell a specific product or service. A strong sales page will highlight the benefits of your offer, address common objections, and make it easy for visitors to make a purchase.
Follow-up:
Following up with your customers after a sale is essential for building long-term relationships and encouraging repeat business. This could include sending thank-you emails, offering additional products or services, staying in touch inside a community on social media or in a forum, or providing ongoing support and resources.
By including these key components in your sales funnel, you can create a cohesive and effective marketing strategy that moves prospects smoothly from initial contact to sale.
4. How do you measure the success of a sales funnel?
Measuring the success of a sales funnel is crucial to optimizing your marketing efforts and improving your conversion rates.
Here are some key metrics you can use to track the performance of your sales funnel:
Traffic:
One of the first things you should measure is how much traffic you are driving to your sales funnel. This will give you a sense of how effective your marketing campaigns are at generating interest in your offer.
Conversion rate:
Your conversion rate measures the percentage of visitors who take a desired action on your site, such as opting into your email list or purchasing. This is a crucial metric for determining how well your sales funnel works.
Sales volume:
Ultimately, the success of your sales funnel will be measured by the number of sales you can generate. Tracking your sales volume will give you a clear sense of whether your funnel meets your revenue goals.
Average order value:
Another important metric to track is your average order value. This measures the average amount of money customers spend with you per order. Increasing your average order value can boost your revenue and improve your profitability.
Customer lifetime value:
The customer lifetime value (CLV) measures the total value a customer brings to your business throughout their relationship with you. By increasing your CLV, you can maximize the return on your marketing investment and grow your business over the long term.
By tracking these key metrics and making adjustments to your sales funnel based on the insights you gain, you can improve your conversion rates, increase your sales volume, and build a strong and profitable online business.
5. What are some common mistakes to avoid when creating a sales funnel?
Creating a successful sales funnel takes time and effort, and there are many potential pitfalls along the way.
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when creating a sales funnel:
Lack of focus:
One of the biggest things people need to correct when creating a sales funnel is trying to do too much. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, focus on a specific target audience and create a funnel that is tailored to their needs.
No clear call to action:
Every stage of your sales funnel should have a clear call-to-action that tells your prospects what you want them to do next. Make sure your calls to action are clear, prominent, and easy to follow, such as “buy now,” “join today,” or “learn more.”
Ineffective lead magnets:
Your lead magnet is a critical component of your sales funnel, as it's often the first interaction a prospect will have with your brand. Make sure your lead magnet is valuable, relevant, and aligned with your target audience's interests and needs.
Poorly designed landing pages:
Your landing pages are where your visitors will decide to take action or leave your site. Ensure your landing pages are well-designed, easy to navigate, and focused on a single offer. Be sure to check that your pages also look great on mobile!
Neglecting existing customers:
Your sales funnel should continue after a sale. Be sure to provide ongoing support and value to your existing customers, which can lead to repeat business and referrals. This could be a simple and hands-off as creating a post purchase email sequence that lets your new customers know what to expect next and checks in on their progress along the way, while also recommending other offers or products you have for sale that might be helpful to them.
By avoiding these common mistakes and focusing on creating a sales funnel that is targeted, focused, and aligned with your customer's needs, you can improve your conversion rates and grow your business over the long term.
6. What are the best tools for building a sales funnel?
So many options exist to help you build an optimized sales funnel. Here is a list of my favorite and recommended tools:
Thrivecart – hands down my favorite funnels tool ever!
7. What are some effective ways to drive traffic to a sales funnel?
One of the biggest questions I always get is how to drive traffic to a sales funnel. You can’t measure your metrics without having a decent amount of quality traffic and data. Here are a few of the best ways to get more people into your sales funnel:
Content marketing:
Creating valuable content that is relevant to your target audience can help you attract visitors to your website and build your authority in your industry.
Be sure to promote your content on social media, in email campaigns, and through other marketing channels to drive traffic to your sales funnel.
Paid advertising:
Using paid advertising platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads can effectively reach your target audience and drive traffic to your sales funnel. Be sure to use targeting options to ensure your ads are reaching the right people.
Search engine optimization (SEO):
Optimizing your website for search engines can help you rank higher in search results and drive more organic traffic to your sales funnel. Be sure to focus on relevant keywords for your target audience and create valuable content that answers their questions.
Want to learn more about SEO and how to optimize your website – without the tech jargon? Check out my friend Tara Reid’s Easy SEO Mini Course.
Social media marketing:
Promoting your sales funnel on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn can help you reach a wider audience and generate leads. Be sure to create engaging content tailored to the platform and encourage your followers to visit your sales funnel.
Referral marketing:
Encouraging your existing customers to refer their friends and family to your sales funnel can effectively drive traffic and generate leads. Be sure to incentivize referrals and give your customers the tools they need to spread the word about your brand. You can do this with an affiliate program or a referral program.
Want to learn more about creating an affiliate program? I’ve created my own Pay Your Pals training to help you create an affiliate program with ThriveCart.
Partnerships and collaborations:
Partnering with other businesses or influencers in your industry can help you reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your sales funnel. Be sure to focus on partnerships that are aligned with your brand values and target audience.
A few great options for collaborations are podcast guesting, speaking at virtual summits, participating in bundles – or hosting your own!
By combining these tactics and testing different strategies over time, you can find the mix that works best for your business and drive more traffic to your sales funnel.
8. How do you nurture leads in a sales funnel?
A sales funnel only converts as well as the nurturing process! Nurturing leads in a sales funnel is critical for building trust and moving prospects closer to a sale.
Here are some effective ways to nurture leads in your sales funnel:
Personalization: Personalizing your messaging and content can help you connect with your leads on a deeper level and show them that you understand their unique needs and challenges.
Education: Providing valuable educational content like blog posts, e-books, and webinars can help you position yourself as an expert in your industry and provide value to your leads.
Email marketing: Email marketing is a powerful tool for nurturing leads, as it allows you to stay in touch with your leads over time and provide them with valuable content and offers. Need some help with email marketing? Check out the fantastic $9 per month Email Marketing Membership!
Segmentation: Segmenting your leads based on their interests, behavior, and demographics can help you provide more targeted messaging and content that resonates with their needs. One of the best tools to help you with segmentation is Drip.
Social proof: Using social proof like customer testimonials, case studies, and reviews can help you build trust and credibility with your leads.
Consistency: Consistently providing value to your leads and staying in touch with them over time can help you build trust and keep your brand top-of-mind when they're ready to purchase.
Follow-up: Following up with your leads and providing them personalized attention can help you move them closer to a sale and address any concerns or questions they may have.
9. How do you upsell and cross-sell in a sales funnel?
Upselling and cross-selling are effective strategies for increasing the average order value and revenue generated from your sales funnel. Here are some ways to do it:
Upsells:
Upselling involves offering customers a more expensive or premium version of the product or service they're already considering. To upsell effectively, you can:
Offer a higher-end version of the product or service with more features or benefits
Provide a bundled package that includes additional products or services
Recommend a complementary product or service that enhances the value of their purchase
Cross-sells:
Cross-selling involves offering customers a related product or service that complements the one they're already considering. To cross-sell effectively, you can:
Recommend related products or services that are frequently purchased together
Offer add-ons or accessories that enhance the functionality or convenience of their purchase
Suggest complementary products or services that solve other problems or needs they have
Bump offers:
Bump offers are a type of offer that is presented at the point of purchase. They typically offer a product or service that complements the one the customer is already buying at a discounted rate. To use bump offers effectively, you can:
Offer a product or service that enhances the value or benefit of the one the customer is already purchasing
Present the offer in a clear and compelling way at the point of purchase
Provide a limited-time or exclusive discount to incentivize the customer to take advantage of the offer
By incorporating upsells, cross-sells, and bump offers into your sales funnel, you can increase the value of each sale and generate more revenue for your business. Be sure to focus on offering products and services that are relevant and valuable to your customers and present your offers in a clear and compelling way to maximize their impact.
10. What are the best practices for creating sales funnel copy and messaging?
Creating effective sales funnel copy and messaging is essential for converting prospects into customers.
Here are some best practices for creating sales funnel copy and messaging:
1. Define your target audience:
Before you start writing copy, you need to understand your target audience and what motivates them. Use this information to create messaging that speaks directly to their needs and interests.
2. Focus on benefits:
Instead of focusing on features, focus on your product or service's benefits. Explain how your offering will solve your customer's problems, save them time, or improve their lives.
3. Use clear and concise language:
Keep your messaging simple and straightforward. Avoid using jargon or technical language that your customers may not understand.
4. Use storytelling:
Use storytelling to connect with your customers on an emotional level. Explain how your product or service has helped others overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
5. Create a sense of urgency:
Use urgency to encourage customers to take action. This can include limited-time offers, countdown timers, or emphasizing scarcity.
6. Use social proof:
Incorporate social proof like customer testimonials, reviews, and case studies to build customer credibility and trust.
7. Test and optimize:
Continuously test and optimize your messaging to improve your conversion rates. Use A/B testing to try out different headlines, calls to action, and messaging to see what resonates best with your audience.
And if you’re tired of writing sales funnel copy from scratch, make sure to check out all of the amazing templates in the Damn Copy Shop or have AI do it for you in minutes with the amazing Marketing Magic App!
