The marketing world is changing, and new tactics are emerging every day. To stay ahead of the curve, you need to grasp the latest strategies and tactics. Yet, this often results in a lot of confusion for those new to marketing and sales.

We will walk you through the difference between a marketing and a sales funnel. When you're first getting started with your marketing campaigns, it can be easy to confuse the two. So, let's get started!

What is a marketing funnel?

You use a marketing funnel to get new prospects by providing a series of materials that introduce your brand, products, and services. This process could include blog posts, social media posts, email marketing, etc.

The goal of a marketing funnel is to turn one-time visitors into loyal customers. You'll need to create a series of materials that help your customers go through the decision process and choose your brand.

Marketing funnels often start with one piece of content intended to capture people's attention. This content could live on a blog. A blog post would be published, and it would be the first step in the marketing funnel.

The next step could be a poll or question. This is designed to gather data about what people are interested in and what they are looking for in your products or services. This is the information that you will use to determine what your marketing campaign should be.

The next step could be a webinar or a video. These are designed to present your product or service in more detail to interested prospects. Then, the final funnel piece could be an offer for some free trial or other low-risk, low-investment offer that allows people to try out your product or service before they buy.

These final steps of your funnel are designed to make sure that many people who have shown interest in your product have the opportunity to try it out. This way, you have the perfect opportunity to collect even more information about your customers.

What is a sales funnel?

A sales funnel an online process that leads potential customers through a series of stages. It's important to note that a sales funnel process is different from the tools brands use to track their sales process. Various tools can be used to track your sales funnel.

A sales funnel aims to convert leads into customers using specific sales techniques. The sales funnel broken down into three stages: awareness, interest, and purchase.

The Awareness Stage

This stage is all about making potential customers aware of your brand. The goal is to get them to notice your brand and then visit your site.

While awareness is the primary goal, you still want these potential customers to take action. You can start by providing value through your content. If a reader can take away one piece of advice that helps their life, your content has served its purpose. This awareness will lead to curiosity and conversions when they visit your site. At this stage, you want to avoid anything that might scare your readers away. Providing too much information too will only confuse.

The Interest Stage

Once they've visited your site, you want to encourage visitors to take the next step and learn more about your brand. This step is an excellent opportunity to collect their information, including their name, email addresses, and phone number. Using tools like the pop-up form, you can ask for extra info and build a relationship with prospective customers. These tools allow you to offer valuable content in exchange for contact information. You can also use the "form block" or "thank you page" to capture leads as they leave your site. This way, you can keep in touch with them as they continue their journey through the sales funnel.

The Purchase Stage

People who have entered into the purchase stage of your sales funnel, it's time for you to make an offer. You must provide clear information on what people can expect to get if they buy from you.

Differences between marketing and sales funnel

There are a few differences between a marketing funnel and a sales funnel.

We use marketing funnels to get new customers. We use the sales funnels to convert existing customers into profitable ones.

Marketing Funnels focus on generating interest in your products/services. Marketing funnels also focus on building a relationship with your audience. 

You can use marketing tactics such as SEO, content marketing, email marketing, and social media marketing.

These activities are designed to improve the visibility of your business. Once someone visits your site, they go through a process known as a "buyer's journey." This process introduces website visitors to your brand until they become a customer.

The sales funnels focus on converting leads into customers. They are designed to move your leads through a series of steps where they can be monitored and measured. Using a sales funnel will enable you to track your leads and see what actions they take to close the deal.

To create a sales funnel, outline every step that your ideal client would need to go through to purchase your product or service. Then, you will need to decide on the best way to collect information from your potential clients at every step of the funnel.

You can use a sales funnel for both B2B and B2C businesses. In the case of B2B companies, sales funnels often involve a long and detailed sales process. The salesperson will follow a designed process that enables them to collect information from the buyer at every stage of the process.

In the case of B2C businesses, creating a sales funnel will be different. It will usually be designed so that the buyer can move through the funnel independently without the need for input from a salesperson.

Final Words: How do you know if your marketing funnel is working?

Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to determine whether your marketing funnel is working or not.

First, you can consider comparing the amount of traffic your website gets with the amount it should be getting. If your website is receiving fewer visitors than it should be, it could signify that your marketing funnel is not working.

Your funnel needs to be both wide and deep. Suppose your traffic is too low compared to your conversion rate. If your traffic is too high, then it could mean your marketing efforts aren't effective enough. 

Another way to find out if your marketing funnel is working is to set up some basic tracking. This process will help you track which marketing strategies drive the most traffic and what type of leads they are.

If your marketing funnel is not working, you may consider reviewing your online marketing strategy. Consider whether your goals align with your current marketing strategy. Other marketing tactics can be tweaked to bring in the right amount of customers without wasting resources.

It would help to focus on your funnel to determine when it is not bringing in the customers you want. If your marketing funnel is not working, you can try to adjust your strategy to bring in the right customers.

Re-evaluating your funnel can often help you stay on top of your marketing efforts. It would be best if you remain vigilant about the changes in your industry and your customers' needs. A funnel that worked a year ago may not be as effective now. Stay aware of these changes and remain flexible in your marketing efforts.