Before anyone swipes their credit card or clicks the “order now” button, there’s a process they go through.
Sometimes, it takes people days, weeks, or even months to make a decision. Other times, it happens fast—within seconds.
There are different reasons behind this, but what really matters is knowing that this process always happens. As a smart business owner or marketer, it’s important to understand how people make buying decisions.
Once you understand this, you can create the right message and offer that matches where your audience is in their decision-making journey.
That’s where a sales funnel template comes in. It helps you map out the steps your potential customer will likely take before they’re ready to buy from you.
👉 Author’s Note: If you want an easy tool that builds your sales funnel for you and helps boost your sales automatically, check out the GetResponse Conversion Funnel. It’s made to save you time and help you get results.
TABLE OF CONTENT of Guide to Sales Funnel Template
1. What’s a Sales Funnel Template?
A simple explanation of what a sales funnel is and how a ready-made template can help you attract, engage, and convert more customers online.
2. The 7 Simple Steps to Build Your Sales Funnel
- Step 1: Bring in the Right Visitors - Learn how to attract people who are most likely to be interested in what you offer.
- Step 2: Send Them to a Focused Landing Page - Discover how to guide your visitors to a clear, high-converting web page that matches exactly what they’re looking for.
- Step 3: Turn Visitors into Leads or Email Subscribers - Find out how to collect their contact info so you can stay in touch and build trust.
- Step 4: Build a Connection with Your Audience - This step is all about turning your leads into loyal fans by sharing value, stories, or helpful content.
- Step 5: Turn Your Fans into Paying Customers - Now that they trust you, it’s time to make a compelling offer and encourage them to buy.
- Step 6: Win Back People Who Left Without Buying - Learn how to follow up with those who added to their cart but didn’t complete the purchase.
- Step 7: Seal the Deal and Make the Sale - Wrap it all up by closing the sale and giving your new customer a smooth, satisfying experience.
3. Final Thoughts
A quick summary of how these steps work together to help you grow your business online.
What is a sales funnel template?
By now, you’ve probably already got the basic idea:
A sales funnel template is simply a plan or design that shows the journey your customer takes—from the moment they realize they need something to the moment they buy from you, and even what happens after that.
Think of it like drawing on a whiteboard. You map out your customer’s experience step-by-step—starting from when they first think, "I need something," to the point they actually find your business and decide to buy.
Here’s a simple example of what that journey might look like:
- Someone realizes they need something — let’s say, “I need a new pair of shoes.”
- They open Instagram and start scrolling for ideas or inspiration.
- They type a search into the Instagram search bar.
- They scroll through different shoes, styles, and brands.
- One product catches their eye, so they click to learn more.
- They visit the brand’s website to see the full details.
- They like what they see, add it to their cart, and complete the checkout.
That’s the basic idea—but in real life, a customer’s journey can be much longer and more complicated. Still, this gives you a clear picture.
So what does a sales funnel template do?
It helps your business show up at each step of that journey—so you're there when your customer needs you most. It guides them smoothly from “just browsing” to actually buying.
In the next part (called the “Seven Steps”), you’ll see a full sales funnel template you can use for your own business.
Wondering if this works for your type of business?
Good news—it works for any business!
✅ Selling digital products like eBooks or online courses?
✅ Offering online coaching or consulting?
✅ Running an offline service like fitness training or self-defense classes?
No matter what you sell, this sales funnel template can help you attract more people and turn them into paying customers.
👉 Want to learn more? Check out: Beginner’s Guide to Marketing Funnels
The 7-Step Sales Funnel Template (Made Simple)
No matter what kind of business you run, most customers usually go through a few key steps before they decide to buy from you. These steps are often the same, and we’ve broken them down into 7 clear stages.
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Visual representation of a sales funnel template you can use to grow your business. |
📊 Take a look at the image above.
It shows a simple and powerful sales funnel that you can use to grow your business.
This is the exact template you need. Even if you only use this one sales funnel, it can still help you reach the growth you’re aiming for—as long as you understand how it works.
So in this guide, we’re going to walk you through each of the 7 steps in the funnel—step by step. That way, you’ll know exactly what to do at each stage to turn people from strangers into paying customers.
Let’s break it down and make it easy to follow!
Step 1: Bring in the Right Visitors 🚦
When it comes to making sales online, most people think: "If I just get more people to my website, I’ll make more money."
But here's the truth—more traffic doesn’t always mean more sales.
You could have thousands of people visiting your site every day, but if they’re not the right people, they won’t buy anything. That kind of traffic is just a waste of time—and it won’t help your business grow.
What you really need is targeted traffic.
Targeted traffic means the people coming to your site are actually interested in what you're offering.
They’re the ones who are already looking for a product or service like yours. These are your ideal customers.
So how do you find them?
👉 First, figure out where they hang out online.
Ask yourself:
- What Facebook groups, forums, or communities are they part of?
- What keywords are they searching for on Google?
- Who are the influencers they trust and follow?
Once you know where they are, your job is to show up in those places and give them a strong reason to check out your website.
That’s where a lead magnet comes in.
A lead magnet is something valuable you give away for free—like a helpful eBook, a cheat sheet, a video training, or a live webinar. It solves a small problem for your audience, and in return, they give you their email address.
Now, they’re not just a visitor—they're a potential customer, and your sales funnel has officially started.
And that takes us straight into Step 2.
Step 2: Send Traffic to a Specific Landing Page That’s Built to Convert 🚀
If you’re not familiar with the term landing page, it’s simply a web page designed with one main goal—to turn visitors into leads or paying customers.
Now here’s where a lot of people go wrong: they send traffic (like people clicking ads or links) to their homepage or some other general page on their site. That’s a big mistake if you want to get results.
Why? Because a homepage isn’t focused on one message or one clear action. It usually has a lot of links like “About Us,” “Products,” “Blog,” or “Contact.” So when someone lands on it, they often get distracted and start clicking around—not doing what you actually wanted them to do, like signing up or making a purchase.
A landing page, on the other hand, is super focused. It’s built around one topic and one offer. There are no distractions.
It speaks directly to the person visiting and encourages them to take just one action—like signing up for a freebie, joining a webinar, or buying a product.
Here’s the key: when people land on this kind of page, they know right away what it’s about and what they should do next. Their choices are simple:
✅ Take the offer (like entering their email)
❌ Or leave the page
And that’s exactly what you want when you’re trying to collect leads or make sales.
Just so you know, landing pages don’t have to be short. They can be longer if you need more space to explain your offer and convince people to take action. The most important thing is that the page stays focused on one single goal.
Want some inspiration? You can find plenty of great landing page examples online to see what works.
Step 3: Turn Visitors Into Subscribers and Leads 🚀
Getting people to visit your landing page is a great first step…
But that’s only half the job.
The real goal is to convert those visitors into email subscribers or leads—people who actually want to hear from you.
Now think about what goes through a visitor’s mind when they land on your page. They’re silently asking themselves:
- “Is this worth my time?”
- “Do I really need to sign up for this?”
- “Should I just leave and move on?”
They’ll make that decision in just a few seconds. And what you show them on the page—your headline, your main message (body copy), and your call-to-action (CTA)—plays a huge role in what they decide.
If those three things aren’t clear or persuasive, chances are they’ll leave without signing up.
Let’s break it down using a real-life example from fitness coach Nia Shanks.
1. The Headline:
Nia’s landing page starts with a bold headline:
“The only fitness guru I still see in my inbox.”
That’s not just any headline—it’s actually a testimonial from a current subscriber. It grabs attention right away because it shows that people genuinely value her content. And it sparks curiosity:
“If this person still trusts her emails, maybe I should check it out too.”
2. The Body Copy (Main Message):
Next, she talks about a common frustration:
“Most health and fitness newsletters are boring or full of junk.”
Then she makes a promise: Her newsletter is different—more helpful, more real, and not full of fluff. She even adds another testimonial to back up that claim. Just before the signup form, she includes one more quick testimonial, which helps build even more trust.
3. The CTA (Call-To-Action):
Right after the testimonials, there's a clear and simple CTA:
“Sign up and get real advice that actually helps.”
It’s not pushy, but it’s persuasive. It makes the value clear—helpful advice—and it encourages action without being overwhelming.
None of this would work if the actual offer wasn't valuable. Even with a perfect landing page, people won’t subscribe unless they want what you're giving away.
So how do you make sure your offer (like a free guide, checklist, or newsletter) is something your audience wants?
✅ Use data and proven insights—like those from the 2020 Best Lead Magnets report—to figure out what your ideal audience really needs. That way, your offer speaks directly to them, and they're much more likely to sign up.
Want help writing a great landing page? Start with a simple 7-step guide to create one that converts.
Step 4: Turn Your Leads and Subscribers into True Fans 🙌
(Build Loyalty and Real Connection)
Can you really turn someone into a loyal fan of your brand?
Yes, absolutely—and there are some smart ways to make it happen.
Let’s break it down. When someone signs up for your email list or downloads your free offer, it means they’re interested in what you have to say.
That’s a great first step. But if you want them to become real fans—people who talk about you, share your content, and eventually become paying customers—you need to impress them from the start.
Here’s how to do it:
Let’s say you promised them a free tool, like a marketing ROI calculator. Once they sign up and try it out, make sure it actually works well and gives them real value. If it’s easy to use and gives helpful results, they’ll be happy—and more likely to tell their friends about it.
Or maybe you offered a free course, like how Ahrefs gave away a business blogging course. People loved it so much that they started tweeting about it and spreading the word. That’s what happens when you go above and beyond expectations.
The key is this: always deliver on your promise—and do it in a way that surprises them (in a good way). When people feel like they’re getting more than they expected, they begin to trust you. That trust is what turns casual subscribers into true fans.
Once they’re fans, the next step is moving them toward becoming customers. But don’t rush it. Keep giving value, building trust, and staying consistent.
💡 Pro Tip: One of the best places to start building loyalty is the “thank you” page your new subscribers see right after signing up. Don’t waste that space! Use it to leave a strong first impression. You can add a warm message, a quick win (like a bonus resource), or even a special offer. Sometimes, a well-designed thank you page can lead to a sale right away!
Step 5. Turn fans into customers
The main goal of any sales funnel is simple — to make money.
Once you’ve brought people to your site and turned them into fans or email subscribers, your next move is to turn those fans into actual customers.
So, how do you get someone to buy from you? 🤔
Well, making a sale is a skill, but there’s an easy way to get started — build a strong sales page.
A sales page is where you show your followers exactly why they should buy from you. It’s like your pitch, but online.
Here are the 4 key things every sales page needs:
- Who it’s for – Make it clear who will benefit from your offer.
- What you’re selling – Explain what your product or service is all about.
- Real testimonials – Share positive feedback from your current or past customers.
- A strong call-to-action (CTA) – Tell them exactly what to do next, like “Buy Now” or “Get Access.”
Let’s take a quick example from AdEspresso 👇
Their sales page headline says:
“Ready to master Facebook and Instagram ads?”
Boom — we instantly know it’s for people who want to get better at advertising on social media.
Then, they highlight the benefits of their course and share success stories from past students.
And finally, they add a clear button that says “Subscribe now.”
✅ With those 4 pieces — the right audience, the offer, real reviews, and a clear CTA — you’ll have a sales page that turns fans (and even random visitors!) into real customers.
Step 6: Bring Them Back If They Leave Without Buying 🛒
Let’s be real—most people start second-guessing when it’s time to make a purchase.
Thoughts like these pop up:
- “I hope this service is really worth it.”
- “What if I make the wrong choice and lose money?”
- “Maybe I should look at other options first…”
Your job? Calm their doubts and win them back.
If someone visits your checkout or service page but doesn’t buy, don’t worry—it happens. But that doesn’t mean the sale is lost. You just need to follow up and remind them why your offer is worth it.
There are two simple ways to do that:
- Use retargeting ads
- Send follow-up emails (if you’ve collected their email earlier—like we mentioned in Step 2)
Emails are powerful. They help you figure out where someone is in their decision-making process. If someone visits your product or payment page but leaves without buying, you can send a well-timed email to bring them back.
Here’s how it works:
The email tool you use should be able to track what pages your subscribers visit on your website. That way, you’ll know exactly when someone checks out your offer and leaves without buying.
Tools like GetResponse’s Conversion Funnel make this super easy. It’s a full sales funnel system that not only collects emails, but also tracks what your visitors do—so you can reach out when it matters most.
When someone abandons their cart or closes your service page, GetResponse lets you send personalized emails or run retargeting ads that help you bring them back and close the sale.
Remember, it’s not over just because they walked away—you’ve still got a chance to win them over! 💡
Step 7: Make the Sale! 💰
This is where it all comes together…
The main goal of any sales funnel is to bring in money. Now that you’ve got the template, it’s your turn to put it to work and start boosting your sales!
But here’s the thing — making the sale isn’t just about having the right tools. It’s about knowing how to use them.
You need a strong, high-converting sales page that speaks directly to your audience. Your words should grab attention, build trust, and convince people — especially those who left their cart — that your offer is worth it.
Want to learn how to do that like a pro? Watch the video below 👇
Conclusion of Guide to Free Sales Funnel Template
Building a sales funnel template is honestly one of the smartest moves you can make for your business.
Why? Because it helps you sell in a way that actually connects with people. When you create a funnel, you’re thinking about what your ideal customer needs to see, hear, and feel to say “yes” to your offer.
That’s exactly what this guide has given you—an easy-to-follow template that shows you how to attract the right people, build trust with them, and turn them into loyal customers. 🚀
Ready to put it to work? Let’s go GetResponse conversion funnel! 💼🔥
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