1. Awareness
This is the top of the funnel, where potential customers first learn about your brand, product, or service. Whether through social media, ads, SEO, word-of-mouth, or outbound prospecting, your goal here is visibility and attraction. At this stage, prospects aren’t necessarily looking to buy—they’re just becoming aware of your existence. The key is to grab attention with compelling messaging, positioning yourself as a valuable solution to their problems.
- Expert Tip: People don’t care about your product at this stage—they care about their problems. Speak their language, not yours. Sell the pain before you sell the solution.
2. Interest
Once prospects are aware of you, they move into the interest phase, where they start to engage, research, and evaluate. They may visit your website, download a lead magnet, attend a webinar, or sign up for a newsletter. Your job here is to nurture them—provide educational content, case studies, testimonials, and value-driven insights that build trust and demonstrate your expertise without pushing too hard for the sale.
- Expert Tip: Keep them engaged and move them closer to action. Lead with education, not a sales pitch. The best way to sell without selling? Solve their problems before they even pay you.
3. Consideration
At this point, prospects are actively comparing options and deciding whether your offering meets their needs. They might request a demo, read reviews, or interact with your sales team. This is where relationship-building is crucial—answering objections, reinforcing your unique value proposition, and showcasing ROI. Personalized follow-ups, product comparisons, and tailored recommendations help tip the scales in your favor.
- Expert Tip: At this point, they’re comparing options. If you don’t stand out, you’ll lose to whoever does. Make it easy for them to choose you. Show them what their life will look like after choosing you. Sell the transformation, not just the feature
4. Decision
Now the prospect is on the brink of purchasing. They may need a final push—an exclusive offer, limited-time discount, or a strong guarantee. Overcoming last-minute objections, offering clear pricing, and making the buying process seamless is key. At this stage, urgency and confidence play a major role. A well-timed call, a persuasive email, or a testimonial from a similar client can be the final nudge needed to close the deal.
- Expert Tip: If a prospect hesitates, don’t push harder—clarify the impact of inaction. What happens if they don’t move forward? The cost of staying the same is often greater than the cost of the solution.
5. Retention & Advocacy
The sale isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning of a long-term relationship. Customer success, on-boarding, and post-purchase support are critical to ensuring satisfaction and repeat business. Happy customers become loyal customers, and loyal customers become brand advocates who
refer others. Implementing loyalty programs, asking for reviews, and maintaining engagement through ongoing value-driven content can turn one-time buyers into lifelong fans.
- Expert Tip; Set the tone from Day 1 for a world class on-boarding. Provide a seamless on-boarding experience to increase retention and reduce buyer’s remorse.
Which of the 5-stages of the Sales Funnel tips will you be implementing? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
