Ever feel like you’re constantly talking about your offers and wish you had something working in the background to bring in clients without the hustle? I get it – and that’s exactly why I’m obsessed with creating simple, effective funnels for my business. The beauty of a well-designed funnel is that it works for you 24/7, consistently bringing in qualified leads while you focus on serving your existing clients.
I have people coming into my offers often, and it’s not always because I’m publicly promoting them. There are things happening behind the scenes that are consistently funneling people into my offers – and today, I’m going to walk you through how you can create the same system for your service-based business or coaching practice.
What Is a Lead Magnet (And Why You Need One)
Let’s start with the basics. A lead magnet is something that attracts your ideal clients to you. It’s typically a free resource – like a comprehensive guide, pre-recorded masterclass, mini-course, or template – that solves a specific problem for your audience. The key is that it needs to hit on a pain point, move them closer to a desire, and be so valuable they simply HAVE to have it.
When someone signs up for your lead magnet, they’re giving you their email address in exchange for that valuable content. Just like that, you’ve obtained a new lead who’s now on your email list!
Pro tip: Make sure your lead magnet isn’t super broad. Instead of creating “50 Viral Hooks for Entrepreneurs” (which anyone might want but few would buy from), create something very specific to what you’re offering. I’d rather you have 20 qualified leads who will actually consider buying from you than 100 people who just wanted the free resource with no intention of sticking around.
Building Your Funnel: The Next Steps
Once someone has signed up for your lead magnet, you have a few options to move them through your funnels:
Option 1: The Upsell Page
As soon as they sign up, you can have another page pop up with an offer. This could be a complementary paid guide, a discounted call booking, or another relevant offer. They’re still getting their free resource via email, but you’re capturing them while they’re hot!
Remember, when someone gives you their email address, they already see you as an authority on the topic. The value of an email these days is about $20 – so if they’re opting in, they value what you have to say. Don’t waste that momentum!
Option 2: The Email Sequence
If you want to keep things simple, deliver your lead magnet via email and then follow up with a series of nurturing emails. My favorite approach is to train people to open my emails by giving them something valuable in every single message.
Sometimes the value is right in the text of the email, and other times it’s a link to a video or resource I created just for them. Throughout this sequence, I’m building toward my offer – teasing it, leading up to it, or sometimes talking about it right away depending on what I want them to do next.
The Importance of Face-to-Face Connection
Here’s where many business owners miss an opportunity: if you’re selling a higher-ticket offer (especially coaching or consulting), your funnel should include something that gets you face-to-face with potential clients.
Think of it like dating – signing on as a private client is like an engagement! You need to nurture the relationship first. During your email sequence, invite them to:
- A free 30-minute strategy call
- A free audit of their work
- A day of Voxer coaching
- A live Q&A session
This face-to-face connection builds an immense amount of trust and allows you to sell more effectively. Even if you’re not explicitly selling during that interaction, you’re building rapport that makes it much easier to reach out later and say, “Hey, I have an opening. Are you interested?”
For service providers, this approach works too, though the emphasis might be more on demonstrating your expertise than building personal connection. Your potential clients want to see proof, testimonials, and a behind-the-scenes look at how you work.
Alternative Next Steps
Depending on your business model, you might funnel people into:
- A free or paid challenge
- A live masterclass where you sell at the end
- A low-cost offer that gives them a taste of working with you
If you’re selling something smaller like a mini-course, $100 offer, or membership that doesn’t include one-on-one support, you might not need a call as your next step. But remember: the higher the price of your offer, the more trust you need to build.
Keep It in Perspective
Remember that funnels are a support to your business, not your entire strategy. You won’t have droves of people joining your email list unless you’re using paid promotion or already have a large audience. This is one piece of your marketing that will work alongside everything else you’re doing.
I don’t get all my clients through funnels, but I do get some of them this way. It’s one tool in your toolkit that can consistently bring in leads while you focus on other aspects of your business.
If you’re excited to implement these strategies but want more guidance, I’ve got you covered inside the Grow Business and Marketing Academy membership. Every quarter, we dive deep into topics like this one, providing templates and roadmaps so you can easily create your own effective funnels.
Inside Grow, you’ll get:
- Weekly coaching calls
- A supportive community
- Daily content prompts (no more wondering what to post!)
- Quarterly masterclasses and challenges
- My complete 60+ lesson framework for building a simple, sustainable business
Whether you’ve been in business for years or are just starting out, Grow will give you the strategies, support, and accountability you need to create consistent income without the hustle.
Ready to join us? Your first month is just $77! Click here to get started – I can’t wait to see you inside!
