What Is a Sales Funnel? Explained With a McDonald's Drive-Thru

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Disclosure: Some links in this post are my referral links. If you join through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Results vary, and no income is guaranteed.

A sales funnel is the path a customer follows from first hearing about you to buying, and then buying again. The easiest way I know to explain it is a trip through the McDonald's drive-thru. Every step, from the ad that made you hungry to the app on your phone, is part of the funnel.

If you're new to making money online, "sales funnel" can sound like a fancy word. It isn't. You've been through hundreds of them without knowing it.

Why does a sales funnel matter?

Here's something I believe: money is only made when you solve problems. The more problems you solve for people, the more you can earn, and the harder the problem, the more it's worth. If you want to build wealth, show other people how to solve problems for others.

A sales funnel is simply how you put your solution in front of the right people, one step at a time.

Step 1: The ad gets you to the drive-thru

You didn't end up at McDonald's by accident. Somebody promoted something. Maybe you saw an ad for a new sandwich, or a friend mentioned it, or you just know that logo and that jingle. That's the top of the funnel: getting attention.

Step 2: The speaker box welcomes you

You pull up and hear, "Welcome to McDonald's. Will you be using your mobile app today?" Notice that. Before you've ordered anything, they've already put their app in your head. That app is their real funnel, and they want you in it.

Step 3: The menu is the presentation

The menu board is the presentation. Everything is organized, clean and tempting, so it's easy to decide. You place your order, but you haven't paid yet.

Step 4: The first window is the checkout

At the first window you can drive away, or you can pay and get what you came for. You hand over your card or cash. That's the checkout.

Step 5: The receipt's QR code is the email list

They hand back your card and your receipt. At the bottom of that receipt is a QR code. That's the part most people miss. You've already paid, but you haven't joined their list yet. Scan it, and now they can reach you.

Step 6: The app keeps you coming back

Once you download the app, you're deep in the funnel. Now they can message you: a free apple pie, free fries, a new sandwich they want you to try and rate. McDonald's figured this out a long time ago. They make more money selling to the same customers again and again, as long as they have a way to reach them.

What does a sales funnel look like online?

Online, it works the same way:

1. Attention: a video, a post or an ad.
2. Welcome: a simple page that greets the visitor.
3. Presentation: a video or page that shows how your offer solves their problem.
4. Checkout: the place they join or buy.
5. Email list: the step that lets you reach them again.
6. Follow-up: emails that keep helping them and bring them back.

Most beginners skip steps 5 and 6. That's the step McDonald's built a whole app around.

What is a done-for-you sales funnel?

A done-for-you sales funnel is one where the pages, the presentation and the follow-up are already built for you. That's what Prosperity Marketing System is for me. It has the pages and the presentation, plus a built-in email broadcaster that lets you email your team up to five levels deep once every three days. As listed when I wrote this, it's a 7-day free trial and then $12 a month. Results vary, and no income is guaranteed.

Frequently asked questions

What is a sales funnel in simple words?

A sales funnel is the path a customer follows from first hearing about you to buying from you, and then buying again.

What are the stages of a sales funnel?

Attention, a welcome page, the presentation, the checkout, the email list and the follow-up. In a drive-thru, that's the ad, the speaker box, the menu, the pay window, the receipt's QR code and the app.

Do I need a website to have a sales funnel?

No. A done-for-you system or a simple page builder can give you the pages, and a free email tool can handle the follow-up.

Why is an email list part of a sales funnel?

Because it lets you reach the same people again. Social media can change overnight, but your list is yours.

Go read it. Go get paid.