Secrets to the Great Online Course Sales Funnel in 2023
In the event that you've been on the sidelines of any discussion about internet marketing, there's a high likelihood that you've heard the term "funnel." It's a lot more than just a few conversations about funnels, as well as more than a few companies promising to help you build your perfect funnel.
The use of funnels is increasing to sell things like high-ticket coaching or memberships. Therefore, it is obvious that funnels could be a great idea for selling an online course. They can!
This article we'll discuss all things funnels. What is it that makes a funnel work? What should you avoid? And we'll give you three possibilities to design your own online course funnel.
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In this post...
What exactly is an online sales funnel for courses?
What is an online course funnel for sales is NOT
What is it that makes an online course sales funnel function?
Truths about online course funnels
How do you make an online course sales funnel
How to fill up your course's online funnel
How do you create an online course using
What is an online course sales funnel?
A sales funnel for online courses is a method of selling that starts with a high volume of potential buyers and guides each step of the way to the intended course purchase. Most often, the journey of a customer through the funnel begins with a no-cost or low-cost deal, such as webinars, gifts (opt-in) or a an online community membership. Those who are qualified go through the funnel until they - eventually - buy the course!
A course's funnel could have upsells at one side, and often creators include things such as 1-on-1 coaching, a personal community, a different course, or a live event.
On the way, the potential customer realizes (by spending a bit of money or time) that you're the right person to help them, and is then mentally prepared to invest in the training course. This is awesome!
A funnel relies on a successful ratio of leads to sales and the recognition that not everybody will purchase. That's okay. The trick to a viable business model for online courses is to draw enough customers into your funnel so that enough of them reach the end of the process - although it's important to tweak your funnel in order to improve it. Then we'll go over everything!
Value ladder as well as the universal truth about marketing
At Mighty We really love using the term value ladder for funnels. Since when your ideal student invest a little either time or money (in exchange for some of value) and they begin to be able to trust the person you are. As they trust you and trust you, they'll invest more time or money for more benefit.
It's awesome math!
What does an online course sales funnel is NOT
- Selling techniques that make you feel pressured. Let's face it We've all been there. In the event that you're not confident the product is right or that the seller can aid with your questions, yet you're being urged to buy it - it's the worst!
- The "Buy it today" button. The entire purpose of a funnel should be nurturing and providing the value. Every funnel must contain at least two stages along its value path.
- One deal. In essence the term funnel means more than one offer. This doesn't mean that it's all paid. Heck, your funnel might include 3 things for free with a final offer to buy a course. But there should be multiple places that provide worth.
- Universal. There is no single-size fits all funnel. There are certain most effective practices, and ClickFunnels has created a strong name around the repeatable elements of funnels. But a funnel that worked for someone else might not suit your needs. Try it out.
- It's a bait-and-switch. You want to build an effective funnel? Make sure you're giving worth at every step. Someone who asks their audience to download a crappy useless PDF, and expects them to become a $215 course sale, needs to think again.
What is it that makes an online sales funnel work?
Trust
The strength of the funnel is the trust. Feel it. Experience the power of the funnel. (IS that an original Yoda quote? It ought to be!).
The ENTIRE purpose of this ladder of value is to earn someone's trust. It is essential that they trust:
- It's not a problem.
- You're the right person to help you solve this problem.
- Your worth is worth the money.
Many people work for the money. We don't want to throw it away - particularly in the current economic climate.
What is the best way to gain trust from people?
Easy peasy. Value your words. Prior to asking the money. If you can give more value to your Ideal Student than the money is required to acquire it, they'll be loyal.
After they've invested some time or money on your items, and can see that the investment was worthwhile and they'll want to go on the next level!
Perfect for Students
For an online course to work, you need an Ideal Student. This is the focused avatar of the person that will be paying for your course. There should be a need which you could help them resolve... That's why they should take the course.
What are the best way to find your Ideal Student?
The first step is to be particular. "People who are dog lovers" is not an accurate description of the Ideal student. In all seriousness Who doesn't love dogs?
We need to limit it down. "People trying to crate train an infant puppy" could be an ideal Best candidate.
When you're planning your course and course flow, you should meet with people that you believe would make Ideal Students! Learn about their issues and issues, particularly if they'd be willing to invest in an answer.
You can then make what is known as an "Big" Purpose statement for the course you are taking. It looks like this:
Offering Value
We've talked about the importance of value over. Once you've identified an idea of your Ideal Student then the next task is to provide them with the right info - give an upfront value. If you're planning a great top-of-funnel treat to show that you're TOTALLY the right person to support them, ask yourself what do they require to learn?
In the case of those who have just had a puppy, it could be a PDF with an example dog training schedule. Perhaps it's a webcast with some training tips.
It is only possible to provide value once you know who the Ideal student is. What's amazing? When you offer value the people are more inclined to trust you. Amazing stuff.
Software
Last but certainly not least, the majority of funnels will require some kind of software. What do you need? It is dependent on the kind of funnel you design. However, generally speaking an online course funnel needs software to collect leads, software for nurturing leads, and software to deliver the course.
It can be a bit intimidating, and it's is a fantastic web-based course platform like does all of the above for you.
Here's what you'll need software to handle:
Attracting New Customers |
Delivering Value |
Selling the Course |
|---|---|---|
|
Paid Ads |
Webinar Platform |
Point of sale |
|
|
PDF Downloader |
LMS, streaming platform or even a live stream |
|
Social Media |
Community platform |
Chat and messaging |
|
A website (SEO) |
Software to send emails |
Community |
|
A podcast |
Event platform |
Analytics |
The type of funnel you're designing will affect the program, but we'll go into it.
Facts about online courses funnels
- Only a percentage of people will buy - your "conversion" percentage. Nobody creating a funnel ever hopes for 100% of the people to buy the thing. You can expect anywhere between 1 and 10 10% maximum.
- Funnels take the time to test. You can be sure that the first funnel will get you there however it's most likely. You'll likely need to figure it out. Yet, as the founder of ClickFunnels Russel Brunson said, you're just one funnel away!
- A well-designed funnel can make millions. Have an optimistic outlook, but be aware that many creators of courses have people go through the funnel repeatedly until they discover one that is effective.
- The funnels should be worth more than what they cost. In marketing, the cost of acquisition is a crucial number. If you realize that each time you spend $10 in Facebook advertisements, you will receive the equivalent of $30 in course sales, then you could simply keep feeding the funnel!
How to create an online course sales funnel
There's no one way to build a sales funnel for an online course. In reality, you have to determine what is best for your personality and your audience. So let's show you a couple, including one that we secretly think is the best. However, you are able to mix and match these.
Email Sequences
This sales funnel of an online course has been around as long as the internet. You've seen it in the past. It happened to you when you visited a site and were offered an "Cool PDF" or "Free Training." You handed over your email address and started receiving email from the company.
When it works the sequence of emails builds the trust of users. We can imagine your Ideal Students eagerly waiting for your next email, waiting for every word you say. In order that when the invitation to sign up for the online course finally comes they'll be saying "Gee, golly, gosh yes !"
That's the best-case scenario.
You know how email works. You can be sure that you've signed up for 39 other emails and that your fantastic missives end up in their junk mail folders once in a while.
SO, you've got to figure out if it's a good fit for you and your audience. And psst, it can certainly be element of a larger funnel. If you have a small email list (e.g. 100 individuals) having 2% to buy won't assist much. If you have 100,000 individuals, then 2% of them buying will be a significant amount of revenue!
Webinar
It's a common one. You sign up for the "Free Training" - usually through advertisements in Facebook, Youtube, or LinkedIn. It's a way to watch the video whether recorded live or pre-recorded. (Or it's prerecorded but they pretend it's live. Those sneaky sneakers. )
Watch it and then they offer some benefit, and then afterward the show, they provide you with the chance to buy, a coupon code, or an offer to bring you to buy.
What makes webinars better than email is that you can often build trust more quickly. Video has a certain quality that is extremely effective. It allows you to look the person in the eye, ask a few inquiries addressed (maybe), and decide if they're right one for you.
If you're so inclined, you'll buy!
Community Funnel
the best selling funnel to sell online courses
So the final value ladder we'll talk about is a community. Here at Mighty we are incredibly passionate about great communities.
In reality, a community is able to do all that the traditional sales funnel can do and much more. People can learn about the community. You can invite them to join (either for free or for the cost of a fixed amount). It's easy to join and let users join in on a conversation that's already happening with you and the friends.
You fill your community with great content, Q&As, webinars, live streams Live events, just about anything else you want. Your content provides a lot of value on a large scale.
Then, when the time is right to market your course online there's an existing audience of individuals who are aware, like, and trust you. They are confident that you're the only one to assist them and they're going to whip off their wallets and shell out for it!
If you have what you call the Ideal Students and the Big Purpose right, it's easy to give value and build confidence within the community. You won't even do it alone, but other members will be able to contribute value courtesy of the network effect. It's the top online funnel for online courses.
How to make your online course funnel
There are a variety of ways to get the right people to join your funnel. Here are a few ideas!
- Paid advertisements
- Social media content
- Posts in social media groups
- sharing with other friends
- Publishing on your website (SEO)
- Working off of an email list that is already in place
- Making partnerships with other like-minded creators (get to be in front of their target audience)
- Podcasts appearances
- Guest posting
How do you create an online course using
If you're ready to start building your online course, we've got brief review of the course's functionality within Mighty.
Are you ready to begin?
Did all this info get you ready to build your own funnel? There's no better way than an excellent funnel to help create an online course that sells. So if you have something to share and you're ready to begin making the funnel!
And if you want the community funnel (or webinar - let's be honest - you can do both) Come and try Mighty! We're a software for culture that let's you bring together communities, courses content, commerce, and more. Flexible Spaces let you combine features like Live streaming, an LMS, discussion forums Chat and messaging, Member profiles, Q&As and many more!
It's also easy to sell your course in 135 different currencies, or even to monetize it using token-gating. Students can also use the course via the best app available for each device.