Business
So, you have heard of sales funnel stages and you may have a foggy understanding of the impact it can have on your business. All you know is that it has something to do with the buyer's journey. For now, you are not really sure why paying closer attention to this is super important. After all, why all the fuss anyway? Does it really make a difference in the long run to look at your buyer's journey under a magnifying glass? Let me know if this sounds familiar. You have a big dream to only work 20-hours a week or less doing what you love but you are not quite sure how to achieve this goal. Wouldn't it be great to have leisurely mornings, spending more time with friends, joining a book club, paying off the mortgage or even buying your dream house? Your big goal is to own a 6-figure business which will give you the financial independence that you need to do all those things. What do you think it takes to run a business that generates $500,000 every year? The answer may surprise you. Spoiler alert! It does require you to have a deep understanding of your buyer's journey. The truth is understanding the sales funnel stages will give you a deeper appreciation for your audience so you can provide resources for them. At the end of this post, you'll be able to create the right resources for your audience at the right time which results in more income. You'll also be able to get the engagement and growth you need to bring your business forwards by leaps and bounds. What are Sales Funnel Stages? In case you are new to this blog and you missed the other articles in this series let me explain. The sales funnel stages are closely linked to the buyer's journey because the funnel cannot perform without the buyer. When I wrote the article explaining what is a sales funnel I gave this example of a sales funnel stage. TrafficDeliver value or warm-upOffer While this is a simplistic way to explain it there are actually a lot more intricate details when it comes to a sales funnel. Think of it as taking the scenic route on a journey from Los Angeles to New York. If you have 10 families going on a road trip from San Francisco to New York will they all have the same experiences along the way? Will they arrive at their destination at the same time? If not, why is that the case? Everyone of us is on a journey to achieve goals, fulfil needs and meet obligations. Each of us have the freedom to choose how this is accomplished. This is the same with your potential customers. Some are ready to get the product or service they need while others need to think about it. Ideal Client Avatar I know that I mentioned this in a few articles previously but it would not hurt to revisit it again. One key secret of deeply understanding the sales funnel stages is first knowing who your ideal client is and what they are going through. Here are those key details that you need to know about your potential client. AgeGenderWhere do they live? (country, city)Do they live in a house or an apartment?Their neighbourhood, what does it look like?What are their daily, weekly, monthly or annual challenges?Outline their biggest needs?The kind of problems they are trying to solve personally, financiallyTheir deepest desires and dreams for them and their family, what are they?In terms of their biggest fears, what are they? (not spiders, emotional ones?)Do you get their short-term and long-term goals?Any idea of their good and bad habits?What gets them excited?The stuff that annoys them, what are they?Their passion projects, what are they?Where do they spend the most time online?List the kind of items they spend their money on when they get paid?What type of podcasts do they listen to?Which software and/or apps do they use? As you can see it is very detailed and it is that way for a specific reason. If you don't know them intimately then your messaging will not resonate with them...