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What is a Sales Funnel? Why it has more to do with Know, Like & Trust.

What is a sales funnel? Why it has more to do with know, like, and trust verse selling in a coaching business? Sales funnels are essential to any business, especially in the coaching industry. They're not just about selling; they're about building relationships. And that's why I like to call them “relationship funnels.” That's what creating a trust funnel is about.

What is a Sales Funnel?

Building a relationship with a potential coaching client is not any different than building any other relationship. It will follow the same path: you meet, get to know each other, decide you like to hang out with this person, and the more you hang out, the more you trust each other.

When building a sales funnel, you’ll ensure that you do the same things you would to create a long-lasting relationship.

How you meet

Imagine you're meeting someone new for the first time. You're both strangers, but over time, you start to get to know each other, decide you like each other and eventually build trust. It is no different with a sales funnel. Can you see how it is a trust funnel?

You will meet new people in various ways with an online coaching business. It may be through social media, via a google search, or, more than likely, an introduction from one of your mutual online friends.

When building a sales funnel, you need to ensure that you're doing the same things you would do to create a long-lasting relationship. You need to meet people, get to know them, and build trust. And the key to building trust is being visible.

It’s visibility…

First, you need to be visible. How will potential clients find you if you're not putting yourself out there? It can be scary to put yourself out there, but it's essential. You must share your knowledge, engage on social media, and attend local meetups if that's your thing.

If you’re not putting yourself out there, how will anyone, let alone your dream client, know what you offer?

This is how you build visibility and connect with the people you're meant to serve.

But I know that being visible can be scary. It's an area that I struggle with too. I love to have my head down working behind the scenes, but that's not how you build relationships. You need to face your fears and put yourself out there.

If you stay in your little world, you will have difficulty connecting with people with whom you have a genuine bond. They are the people that you’re drawn to, the people that you’d like to serve. If you’re not visible, how will they find you? So get yourself out there and mingle.

Overcoming…

Overcoming visibility phobia can only be done by facing the fear. Stop lurking in Facebook groups and actually share your wonderful knowledge. Create a Reel for Instagram, comment on posts, and begin to engage. Put a few stories on and then start to go live on social media. This gives people the opportunity to engage with you. Prefer face-to-face? Search for local Meet Ups.

Stop assuming that people know what you know. Share your unique self.

Now that they meet you

Now that they meet you, it’s time to start to get to know each other. How would you do this if you were developing a budding friendship? You may ask them out for a coffee; you can do the same and have a virtual coffee chat.

Block time out in your schedule a couple of times a week for 15 minutes to have a video chat via Zoom, Skype, Facetime, or whatever video conference platform you use. This gives you the added benefit of having a face-to-face experience. It is much easier to get to know someone if you can actually hear the voice inflection and see the smiling face.

Trust will come…

Once you've made a connection, it's time to start getting to know each other. This is where the “know” part of the funnel comes in. You can schedule virtual coffee chats, engage on social media, or have them join your email list. The more you interact, the more trust you'll build.

And trust is essential. It's a two-way street; you both need to feel comfortable in the growing relationship. Without trust, you won't be able to move forward and discover the solutions you can offer to help them.

In time, the relationship will continue to develop, whether it is through coffee chats, engagement on social media, or subscription to your email list. Trust grows as the relationship grows.

A growing relationship requires both members to feel comfortable with each other.

In the relationship funnel, know, like, and trust is at the top.

Discover

Once you've built trust, the “discover” step is next. This is where you pay attention to the things they talk about and their struggles and invite them to a discovery call.

Now that you know their struggles, don’t be scared to tell them how you can help. If they do not reach out to you first, it's okay to create a little plan and invite them to a discovery call and give a few solutions you can offer.

If you have a true connection, why would you sit back and watch them struggle when you’re offering the exact solution they have been searching for?

This is the “discover” step of the funnel. After this, you'll both decide if it's a good fit to move forward and become part of the “inner circle” or a new client.

The goal is to turn all your clients into “champions” – people who give you love notes and introduce you to their friends. This is how the inner circle grows, and your business thrives.

Inner Circle

After the discovery call, both of you get to decide if this relationship deserves an invite into your inner circle. Your inner circle should be clients that you have a genuine connection with.

You’ll want to ensure the inner circle is saved for clients with similar values and characteristics because you don’t want to be alone when you break out in a happy dance to celebrate their win.

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Little Side Note

Be visible! Developing successful relationships with potential clients starts with being visible.

Share your knowledge, share your personality.

Champions

Do you hear it in your head now – “We are the Champions…”

The goal is to turn all your clients into Champions. What are champions? They are the people that give you love notes and introduce you to their friends. This is how the inner circle grows.

But don't just take my word for it. Try it for yourself. Implement a sales funnel in your business, and see how it changes how you connect with potential clients. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes.

In a nutshell, a sales funnel builds a relationship with potential clients by getting to know them, liking them, and building trust. It's not just about selling; it's about creating a connection that can last for the long term. It's a way to understand your client's struggles and offer them the solutions they need to overcome them. And as a coach, your ultimate goal is to make your clients champions, people who sing your praises and refer you to others. So, start building your trust funnel today and watch your business grow.

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FloDesk Email Automation: Your Welcome Flow Series

by Michele | Content Marketing, May Contain An Affiliate Link

Want to take your email marketing to the next level and stand out from the crowd? Flodesk is the answer. Its user-friendly design and automation features make it the perfect tool for online business and mindset coaches looking to streamline email marketing and build deeper connections with their audience. Say goodbye to overwhelming email automation and hello to beautifully designed, automated emails that will help you connect with your audience and grow your business!

Why did you start your online business?

Yes, I know I ask more questions than a three-year-old, but it is for a good reason. You see, why you started your online business need to be strong enough to get you through the periods when you feel scattered, overwhelmed, and overworked. Running an online business is not for the faint of heart.

I’ve circled back to my why more than I care to admit. For anyone that doesn’t know my story, before starting my business, I was a sales representative that traveled for work 75% of the time, feeling like a stranger in my own home for a job that did not feel rewarding or impactful.

For me, it is the freedom to be present for my family while building a business that feels like I’m making an impact and supporting another business owner’s dreams.

What I’ve discovered is this same why is so true for many online business owners and coaches.

The never-ending bits and bots of creative content

Unfortunately, I’ve heard from many of you that the neverending bits and bots of creative content leave you overwhelmed and overworked.

Building your email list is one way to avoid burnout from content creation. I know what you’re thinking, creating a welcome flow email series has zero appeal to you, or perhaps you’ve made one before that generated little traffic.

If you’d like an easier way to engage with your potential clients, it’s time to leverage the power of automation to connect quickly with your new subscribers. With Flodesk, you can easily create an automated welcome email series that will make a great first impression for all new subscribers.

Are you procrastinating on building your email list?

There could be a variety of reasons why business owners and mindset coaches might procrastinate on building an email list. I’ve heard a lot of reasons; here are the most common, and I’m curious as to which bucket you fall into.

Lack of understanding or knowledge about how to build an email list effectively.
Feeling overwhelmed or unsure about what content to include in your emails.
Fear of failure or rejection from potential subscribers.
Prioritizing other tasks or responsibilities over building an email list. (cough, cough, social media)
Believing that email marketing is no longer an effective method of reaching clients.

Do you have a different reason for procrastinating on creating your welcome flow email series? Please know that whatever the reason, know that you’re not alone.

Why building an email list is necessary for the success of your online business.

Most people don’t realize that building an email list is essential for the success of an online business because it allows you to communicate directly with your target audience and build relationships with them.

Some key benefits of building an email list include

Increased client retention: Email marketing helps keep your business top-of-mind with your clients, leading to increased sales and repeat business. I can tell you for a fact that the marketing emails that come in from my current coach and my past coaches always get read.
Cost-effective: Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach and engage your target audience.
Personalization: Email marketing allows you to personalize your message and tailor your content to specific segments of your audience, which can lead to higher engagement and conversion rates.
Direct communication: Emails are a direct line of communication with your clients, which allows you to easily update them on new services, sales promotions, and other helpful information.
Increased website traffic: Email marketing campaigns can drive more traffic to your website, increasing your visibility, leading to more sales, and helping to grow your business.
Additionally, having an email list gives you the ability to reach out to your audience even if social media platforms or search engines algorithm change. This way, you have control over your audience, and you can reach out to them directly.

Connecting Flodesk to your site.

If you’re a new user of Flodesk, the first step to creating an automated welcome email is connecting Flodesk to your site. It is as simple as copying and pasting a bit of code into your website's header.

Depending on your WordPress theme, most make it pretty simple these days.

This will allow for a popup for your visitors, and yes, they do work.

Flodesk makes it easy for you and new subscribers.

Basically, this will automatically enable your new subscribers to be added to the list once they’ve signed up. After you've connected Flodesk with your site, it's time to create a message that will be sent out whenever someone subscribes from your site.

Creating a Flodesk email automation is simple.

Flodesk has an online university that walks you through creating a welcome flow email series. Here is the link to watch that training! https://university.flodesk.com/what-are-workflows

Write out the messages in your welcome flow email series.

Your welcome message should be warm, friendly, and inviting. Start by thanking your subscribers for joining your list. After all, think of this as a new client walking through the front door of your business. When I worked at Victoria's Secret years ago, every customer walking through needed to be greeted almost immediately.

You should also give them an idea of what they can expect to receive from you. Such as new product updates, helpful blog posts, exclusive discounts, and offers – and how often they'll hear from you. Be sure to add your contact details if anyone has questions about their subscription so they know who to reach out to.

Craft a killer subject line.

The subject line of your automated welcome message should pique curiosity and hint at what’s to come.

Brainstorming ideas such as: “Welcome to!”, “Grateful you’re here,” or “Get ready for the great stuff ahead.”

Keep it short and sweet but set the tone with an introduction to yourself, your brand, and your personality in the subject line to encourage subscribers to open it.

Pretty Email Automation

One of the best features is the beautiful email templates. Flodesk offers an extensive library of beautifully designed templates to choose from so that you can create a framework for your email in no time.

Each template has been professionally designed by their in-house design team and is entirely customizable with drag-and-drop elements such as logos, images, text frames, social media links, fun gifs, and so much more!

You also have the option to upload your photo, graphics, and brand fonts if you want to customize Flodesk further.

Set it and send it.

Set up triggers to send the automated email. Now that you have designed your automated welcome email, you will need to create triggers to send it.

In Flodesk, this is a simple process – just click on the Automations tab and select a trigger. Several types of triggers are available, including when someone signs up for your newsletter list or makes a purchase from your store. Select the desired trigger and then set up the message's delivery time – it can be sent out immediately or delayed for later. You’re all done!

How much is Flodesk, and is it worth it?

Flodesk pricing starts at $35 per month when billed annually, which includes all features and integrations. One of those features is unlimited subscribers, you may be wondering. This is not necessarily the case for all email service providers.

Is Flodesk worth it for a growing online business? Yes! With Flodesk, members are never penalized for successfully growing their lists. Subscriptions are $38/month for unlimited email sends, unlimited subscribers, and unlimited access to all features.

Get 50% off your first year with my code! Here is the link: https://misstask.com/flodesk

Again, in case you missed it above, here is my affiliate disclosure: Some of the links in this post content are affiliate links, and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I only share companies I truly believe in.

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Little Side Note

Email Marketing: Plan A/B Testing In Your Next Email Campaign

Time to wrap this up; welcome flow email automation with Flodesk is a powerful tool for online business and mindset coaches looking to build deeper connections with their potential clients.

It allows you to create a series of automated emails that welcome new subscribers, introduce your brand and build trust with your subscribers.

With its user-friendly design and automation features, Flodesk makes it easy to streamline your email marketing and make a lasting impression on your new subscribers. So, if you're looking to take your email marketing to the next level, give Flodesk a try and see how it can help you grow your business.

See the difference Flodesk can make in their email marketing. Try Flodesk risk-free for 30 days and see the results for yourself. In case you missed it above.

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The Secret to Sales Success: A Simple Overview of a Digital Marketing Sales Funnel

by Michele | Content Creation, Content Marketing, Digital Products

Michele from Miss Task Simple Overview of a Digital Marketing Sales Funnel

Are you a new small business owner in the online space? Perfect, today we’re going to walk through a digital marketing sales funnel and learn how to generate leads for your digital product.

The digital marketing sales funnel explained.

Your digital marketing sales funnel is how to generate leads online. It is for prospective clients to find you and your digital products.

The goal of your digital marketing sales funnel is to let your ideal prospect know more about you, what your digital products solve, and whether they are interested in working with you in the future.

Start With The End Of Your Funnel Mind

I’ll frequently tell you to start with the end if you've been around here. In addition to planning your day and projects, working backward from the end is also necessary when planning your marketing and sales campaigns.

Understanding the goal and where you want them to go helps you decide where to start. It's important to remember that the top of the funnel isn't your free offer; it's the free content you're providing to the world. What is your primary source of content? Are you a blogger, YouTuber, or podcaster?

Bringing awareness to you and the problems you solve is the purpose of your pillar content. Here’s the thing, you must understand how your free content relates to your digital product.

Another key point to mention, in order to stay energized by the content you create, it is best to come up with six or so pillar content ideas. These are the topic that you’ll talk about each week.
What other problems are your ideal clients trying to solve similar to your digital product but not quite the same?
You want them to be able to find you, get lost in your amazing content, and look for ways to get more of what you have to offer.

Creating a Free Offer As Part of Your Digital Marketing Funnel.

Your free offer, lead magnet, freebie, or whatever you call is the next stop after they gain awareness of you.
In order to make your free offer work, it must solve the same problem as your paid offer or digital product.
You won’t stop at a lemonade stand for a cup of coffee. Just saying.
Think of your free offer as a sneak peeks at working with you. Everything you do should provide value to you and your prospective client.
What would they find useful enough to invest their time?

Here are a few ideas for you.

Create a quiz; everyone loves a great quiz.
Develop a challenge.
How about a mini-course
Another option is a wait list for early access to a new digital offer.

The type of content you are comfortable creating for them.

Another point to remember with your free offer is that lead gen strategies work best when closely aligned with the overall marketing strategy.

A good lead gen strategy will include a free offer that helps you and your ideal client get results.

Using A Tripwire In Your digital marketing sales funnel

I'm guessing you've either purchased from a tripwire in the past or you're familiar with a tripwire. Just in case, a tripwire is a low-dollar digital product or download that they can purchase after they opt-in to your free offer.

A way to do this is by creating a Thank You Page that allows them to purchase a high-value, low-price offer that will enhance the free offer they signed up for.

After they sign up for your free offer, redirect them to a thank you page, letting them know they have successfully signed up and to watch their inbox. Your thank you page gives them the option to purchase your high-value, low-price offer.

A tripwire is an easy yes. A way to open the door to purchasing more of your paid offers.

You will find that many digital marketers add another upsell to the tripwire. I find them super annoying. But, you do you.

The Middle Is Good Stuff, Too, In Your Sale Funnel

The middle of your marketing funnel or digital sales funnel is all about getting to know your prospective clients. This is the stage where you load them down with valuable content.

Will you two be a good match? Are they picking up what you’re laying down?

Always be thinking about either your ideal clients or your current clients. What would they find helpful?

What would make them want to open your emails because they know that you’ll give them great content?

Think of all the different messages you could draft and create in an email sequence that would provide more valuable information from your free offer to your paid offer.

Buying Decisions

Just because it’s free doesn’t mean it should be crappy.

Think about how you make buying decisions.

What would you like to know if you had to make a decision? What has impressed you so much that you wonder what it would be like to work with that person?

Would it be testimonials from happy clients? Or case studies outlining success stories from clients?

You can show them you understand their struggles by all the different things you do.

Undoubtedly, you understand the problem they are facing in their life or business. Don't forget that they must truly need and want your service.

Do you provide them with enough information to feel comfortable handing money over to you? Remember, we must pay for things, whether in time or money.

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Little Side Note

Disclaimer: If you happen to purchase anything I recommend in this or any of my communications, I'll likely receive some kind of affiliate compensation from these products that I use and love. Please do not feel obligated to purchase anything through my links. With that said…

Flodesk has launched a checkout feature as an add-on to their email marketing. This feature is so simple and easy to use. I'm not sure about you, but those are two words I like to hear when looking at software. Here is my affiliate link. (;

If your digital marketing sales funnel Does Its Job

In the end, if you’re digital marketing sales funnel has done its job, they will know without a shadow of a doubt that your digital product is precisely what they must have to solve their problem.

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading this post!

I appreciate you.

I would love for you to comment below and tell me what your free offer is at the top of your funnel or about your pillar content and what you offer as your awareness piece.

Thank you again! I hope you have a wonderful week.

Simple Digital Product Checklist

Scrambling at the end is zero fun. Here is a simple digital product launch checklist to help you avoid that.

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Free Digital Product Launch Checklist for Bloggers Launching A New Digital Product

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