Who invented the sales funnel?

The sales funnel concept was introduced by Elias St. Elmo Lewis in the late 1800s. He developed the AIDA model which stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action. This model forms the foundation of modern sales funnel strategies.

Who invented the marketing funnel?

Elias St. Elmo Lewis is credited with inventing the marketing funnel. His AIDA framework describes the customer journey from initial attention to final action and is still widely used today.

Who introduced the marketing funnel?

The marketing funnel was first introduced by Elias St. Elmo Lewis. He created a structured approach to guiding prospects through different stages of the buying process.

Who makes the sales funnel?

Sales funnels are created by marketers, business owners, funnel strategists, and digital agencies. Many people also use tools like ClickFunnels or WordPress funnel builders to create them.

Who is the founder of Funnel.io?

Fredrik Skantze is the co-founder and CEO of Funnel.io. The platform helps marketers gather and organize their marketing data in one place.

Who invented the Keller funnel?

The Keller funnel was invented by Dr. Kurt H. Keller. It is a surgical tool used in ophthalmology for lens implantation during eye surgeries.

Who is a sales funnel expert?

A sales funnel expert is a professional who specializes in building, optimizing, and automating the customer journey. They help businesses turn website visitors into leads and paying clients through strategic funnel design.

How much does a sales funnel cost?

The cost of a sales funnel depends on its complexity and who builds it. A basic funnel using tools like WordPress or ClickFunnels can range from $100 to $500 if you build it yourself. For professionally built funnels by experts, the cost can range from $500 to $5,000 or more depending on strategy, copywriting, automation, and design.

What types of sales funnels exist?

There are many types of sales funnels depending on your business model. Common ones include lead generation funnels, webinar funnels, tripwire funnels, product launch funnels, and high-ticket funnels. Each is designed for a different goal such as collecting emails, selling a product, or booking calls.

Do I really need a sales funnel?

Yes, if you want to grow your business online, a sales funnel is essential. It helps guide potential customers from first contact to final purchase using automated steps. Without a funnel, you may lose leads who were interested but needed more nurturing before making a decision.

What Is a Sales Funnel? 01 Simple Yet Powerful Guide for Small Business Owners

Faysal Rahman
July 8, 2025
1:40 pm

What Is a Sales Funnel?

If you’ve ever wondered why some businesses seem to effortlessly turn website visitors into paying customers, chances are, they’ve got something working behind the scenes, it’s called a sales funnel.

So, what is a sales funnel, and why should you, as a small business owner, even care? Let me break it down for you in simple terms.

The Origin of Sales Funnels

The concept of the sales funnel dates back to the late 1800s. It was introduced by Elias St. Elmo Lewis, who developed the famous AIDA model — Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action. This framework is still used in modern marketing to describe the customer journey.

Understanding the Sales Funnel (No Tech Jargon)

A sales funnel is basically the journey someone takes from first discovering your business to finally buying from you and maybe even becoming a loyal customer. Think of it like a step-by-step process that helps guide people toward making a decision.

You don’t have to be a marketing genius or run a big company to use one. In fact, if you sell anything online whether it’s services, courses, or physical products, having a small business sales funnel in place could make a huge difference.

Why Is It Called a “Funnel”?

Picture a funnel: wide at the top, narrow at the bottom. That’s how customer behavior works.

At the top, lots of people see your content or visit your website.
In the middle, fewer people show interest or ask questions.
At the bottom, the ones who are ready actually buy from you.

The idea is to guide people from just knowing about your business to actually trusting and buying from you.

The 4 Basic Sales Funnel Stages

Even though funnels can get complex, most follow these simple stages:

Awareness : This is where someone first hears about you. It could be from a Facebook ad, a blog post (like this one), or a Google search.
Interest : Now they’re curious. Maybe they click on your site, read more, or follow you.
Decision : They’re comparing options, checking your pricing, or reading your reviews.
Action :They take action: booking a call, signing up, or buying.

That’s the flow and each stage needs content and structure that moves the person forward.

How Sales Funnels Work in Real Life

Let’s say you’re a freelance web designer. Someone searches for “website for local business” and lands on your blog. That’s the awareness stage.

Then they download your free checklist. ( Now they’re interested )

Next, they receive a few emails where you explain how you help service-based businesses get more leads ( Now they’re deciding )

Finally, they click and book a free consultation ( Action )

Boom. That’s a funnel. You just made it easy for them to trust you and take action without being pushy.

Do Small Businesses Really Need a Funnel?

If you’re running a small business and still relying on just a basic contact form or hoping people DM you, you’re missing out. A well-built lead generation funnel can automate so much of your marketing. It can:

Save you time following up with leads manually
Help you collect emails even while you sleep
Warm up cold traffic before they speak with you
Turn your website into more than just a digital brochure

So yes, you do need a funnel, even a simple one.

Final Thoughts: You Don't Need Fancy Tools

The best part? You don’t need expensive tools or complicated tech to get started. Start with a clear offer, a helpful lead magnet, and a simple email sequence.

If you’re not sure where to start or feel overwhelmed building your own funnel, I help business owners like you design simple, automated systems that bring in leads and clients without wasting time.

FAQs

❓ What is a sales funnel in marketing?

A sales funnel is the path potential customers follow from discovering your business to making a purchase. It includes steps like awareness, interest, decision, and action.

❓ How does a sales funnel work?

A sales funnel works by guiding people through different stages of the buyer journey, using tools like landing pages, email marketing, and lead magnets to build trust and encourage action.

❓ Do I need a sales funnel for a small business?

Yes, even the simplest funnel can help small businesses collect leads, build relationships, and close more sales, all with less effort.