If you’re here, you’re probably considering using ClickFunnels. Good! Welcome to this super comprehensive Laptop Empires’ ClickFunnels review.
ClickFunnels is a service we recommend to anyone who’s taken one of our courses because they offer great landing pages and funnel software. We have tons of information to share about the service and why we think it rocks, so let’s get started.
What is ClickFunnels?
Essentially, ClickFunnels helps you build sales funnels, which are what online companies use to lead customers through the journey of purchasing a product or service. But ClickFunnels can do so much more than just sales funnels.
Let’s say you want to generate a sales funnel from start to finish. You’ll need to get a domain, build some sort of website, whip up landing and thank you pages, and do everything you already have to do to nurture folks into buying your product or service.
ClickFunnels doesn’t replace all of this work, but it certainly simplifies the process. Forget about grabbing a domain, muddling through landing pages, or figuring out the exact location of the word “Thanks” on your thank you page.
Instead, ClickFunnels incorporates all of these elements into its platform and offers pre-built funnels for a number of different businesses, services, and products.
If you need to make changes, ClickFunnels offers an intuitive interface that allows you to customize everything for your individual business needs.
Basically, ClickFunnels sets out to simplify the selling process for almost anyone.
What is ClickFunnels Used For?
ClickFunnels can be used for many things, but at its core, it’s a marketing platform to help you increase your business revenue. To understand what this means, here’s a breakdown of how you can use ClickFunnels to increase your earnings,
Opt-In/Mailing List Building
ClickFunnels can be used to build mailing lists. Once you choose your traffic source and something to entice your audience to sign up (such as an ebook, coupon code, or training course), you’ll need one of two things — time or money.
A combination of both is best when you’re looking to build quickly, and putting some money into Facebook or Google ads is an excellent way to go.
ClickFunnels has a number of well-designed, formatted landing pages meant SPECIFICALLY to grow mailing lists. Get an ad going that drops a user onto the opt-in page, link to the matching thank you page, and you’re all set.
Check out my video tutorial on our Laptop Empires YouTube channel where I walk you through how to create a high converting landing page funnel using ClickFunnels.
Sales
ClickFunnels helps you build sales funnels so you can get sales with it. Here’s one scenario to make this happen:
- Use ClickFunnels to build your email list.
- Create an email sequence to introduce your product or service.
- Convert those readers to sales.
This is a pretty simplistic overview, but ClickFunnels will help you with every step of your sales funnel, including landing and thank you pages, payment integrations, and more.
Webinar Attendees
Webinars are a great business development tool for a lot of reasons, like building relationships, understanding your target audience, raising brand awareness, and more.
For those reasons, it’s important to fill as many virtual seats as possible, and ClickFunnels can help make this happen with funnels specifically designed for webinars.
Memberships/Gated Content Sign-Ups
Another great feature of ClickFunnels is how you can integrate payment solutions into it through Zapier via native solutions like Stripe or PayPal.
If you have some gated content requiring paid membership, such as a forum, Facebook group, or resource center, you can set up the entire sign-up process through ClickFunnels. You can even get alerts when new people have paid you.
Taking it a step further, if you pair this with Actionetics, ClickFunnels’ in-house email system that comes equipped with autoresponders and trackable emails, you have an entire funnel you can set and forget (mostly).
The Businesses Benefitting the Most from ClickFunnels
The future of sales is going to be the internet. Even if you don’t use ClickFunnels, you need to be focused on building your online brand using proven methods.
With big brands going out of business every day – Payless and Sears, anyone? – you need to get in the game as fast as you can.
Part of this includes cultivating some sales techniques that work for you day and night like sales funnels do. They’re always open for business, even when you sleep.
When you think of it this way, it’s simple: if your business wants to make money, then you should be building funnels.
ClickFunnels is a tool to make that happen for almost any business.
How ClickFunnels Can Help Your Specific Business Model
Another beauty of the ClickFunnels service is the number of business models it is able to serve. Examples include:
- Selling physical products. A funnel can help you build a sense of trust, and there’s a whole funnel template for selling physical products. You can also showcase the product in a video or photos and add a review box of user-generated content.
- Promoting digital products or services. Selling digital products (like ebooks) and services (like lead generation) might be even easier than selling a physical product. Unlike selling physical products online, you can show off a digital product in full force with a demo, video, or case study. Link to the purchase page, grab their info and push it through your processor, send them to a thank you page, and then give them their receipt and product info via the email they provided.
- Businesses to Business (B2B) sales. B2B sales can be complicated. While marketing tactics are basically the same, you will need to make some adjustments. Remember, there are still people behind every business, so sales funnels still apply.
- Sole proprietors and start-ups. ClickFunnels is not the cheapest option on the market, but it’s one of the simplest and easiest to use. Once you get it, you get it, and you can use it for life. It automates a ton of the steps involved in making funnels, websites, and all that jazz. In fact, you can use ClickFunnels effectively before you even have a website, which is a flexible option for those starting up their new business.
Sign up for a free 14-day trial of ClickFunnels through our exclusive Laptop Empires link and, as a thank you, receive the exact list-building funnel we use!
The Best ClickFunnels Features
ClickFunnels has a ton of features, but we want to highlight a few of the best ones to give you an idea of its capabilities.
Drag-and-Drop Editor
This is by far our favorite feature. Owning and running a business is a balance between spending the cash to make someone else do something for you and learning how to do it yourself.
The editor is a nice balance. While you aren’t paying a ton of money and you do have to learn a few things, this editor is so easy to learn. Want a button? Drag it there. Want a picture? Drag. Want to adjust the text size? Click.
Templates
ClickFunnels has tons of template options like the one below if you want to simplify everything and save a bunch of time.
ClickFunnels Support
Not only does ClickFunnels offer 24/7 support, but their knowledge base is also exceptionally huge. They have training videos, articles, how-tos, and useful advice on how to use their product and build a business on their blog.
Their training materials alone are phenomenal and cover hundreds of topics in-depth, all the way from copy and design tips to “hackerfunnel” advice.
Third-Party Integrations
ClickFunnels has native integrations like Stripe and Salesforce, but most of their integration juice comes from their API.
Zapier, a company known for creating one or two-click links between two otherwise disconnected services, has taken it upon itself to get ClickFunnels to integrate with basically everything.
Popular integrations include MailChimp, Gmail, Twilio, Google products, Shopify, and Facebook.
If you can name it and it has anything even remotely to do with business, Zapier has likely built an integration for it and ClickFunnels.
Affiliate program
ClickFunnels has basically built an army of affiliates to advertise their product. Through their incredibly strong affiliate program, affiliates make between $38-$118 per month when they get someone to sign up underneath their affiliate link.
ClickFunnels Actionetics
This is ClickFunnels’ native email system. Through Actionetics, you can create a workflow of autoresponders, follow-up funnels, and text messages.
The concept of Actionetics is similar to ClickFunnels in the sense that it comes with a “what you see is what you get” email builder and templates.
You can build “action funnels,” which work based on if/then statements. For example, you might tell the funnel to only send the next email in a series IF the receiver opened the first one. This way, people who don’t open the first email won’t get the next one in the funnel.
It’s also easy to segment your audiences based on lists and “smart lists,” which will then add and drop people from specific groups based on activity or other criteria that you set for each list. This happens automatically, hence “smart,” which means you set the parameters upfront.
ClickFunnels Backpack
Backpack is meant for affiliates who are trying to build networks of paying customers who have signed up with them. This is ClickFunnels’ way of encouraging all users to become affiliates.
You get unlimited affiliates with Backpack, in addition to trackable commissions, management of commissions paid and owed, branded affiliate sign-up, customization, and several useful integrations with SMTP and billing platforms.
Backpack lets you add an affiliate program to the backend of any of your funnels, which means you can create a ClickFunnel to get people to buy ClickFunnels. It’s like ClickFunnel-ception.
You don’t have to have Backpack or Etison to be a ClickFunnels affiliate. In fact, the company allows people to have affiliate links that do not actually have ClickFunnels.
Backpack does make it easier to manage your commissions and sign-up landing pages. It also makes it simple to capitalize on their affiliate program that pays a whopping 40% of any subscription that signs up under you. We’ll share more about this later.
ClickFunnels Wasabi (Unreleased)
With ClickFunnels Wasabi, you can choose a template for a “locked” membership backend and have a Teachable-esque platform. Just create content or training, upload it, gate it, and create a funnel to get people to sign up and pay to play.
ClickFunnels Pipeline (Unreleased)
ClickFunnels is great for what it is, and because of its integrations with big CRMs (customer relationship management systems) like Agile, SalesForce, and HubSpot, most folks don’t miss what they don’t have.
However, ClickFunnels has decided they’re going to take that bull by the horns and create their own CRM.
Generally and loosely speaking, most CRMs work the same and perform the same functions — manage your relationships with your clients — so we can probably expect something similar from Pypeline that integrates smoothly with ClickFunnels itself.
Along with Actionetics, you have a pretty powerful all-in-one tool that can change the face of how you make money entirely.
How to Make Money with ClickFunnels
There are basically two ways to make money with ClickFunnels.
The first way is to use ClickFunnels for its intended purpose — creating end-to-end funnels with landing pages, sales pages, order forms, and everything else you need to sell your products, programs, or services.
The second method is through their affiliate program, which is a great way to break even on what you’ve paid to use the software or possibly earn more.
When customers sign up for ClickFunnels through your affiliate link, ClickFunnels offers you 40% of all recurring charges realized through those customers.
Prices don’t increase or decrease for those customers, and they’re treated just as well as a customer who didn’t sign up under an affiliate link. However, they’re making you money.
You can do the affiliate program with the goal of paying for your own subscription, and that’s totally cool. It’s also fine to skip the affiliate program and do your funnel thing. But being an affiliate is just another way to make money off of ClickFunnels.
Tips for ClickFunnel Affiliates
While you only get a commission based on subscriptions, ClickFunnels doesn’t just make you embed the link on every Quora question known to man and hope for the best.
Instead, they actually have several free training courses, which are available through their funnels and help their customers build a legitimate, happy network of ClickFunnels users.
In addition, you can share funnels you’ve created with people who haven’t signed up with ClickFunnels, and they can use your funnel for $19 a month. They can’t create new funnels or use any of the templates, but they can use the one you shared with them.
Often, these starter users will upgrade later, especially if your funnel really works.
Here are a few tips to get your creative juices flowing if this is something you want to do:
- Choose a niche. These funnels are great for all sorts of businesses, and we recommend choosing one or two and marketing to them. Trying to get everyone as a client is difficult.
- Focus on the client. Some consultants and marketers will discount their monthly service fee in exchange for a sign-up through their ClickFunnels affiliate link because it’s easier to work on a client through their own account if they’re sizable anyway. This situation can help you build a better working relationship with anyone who signs up through your link.
- Use the software. The best way to sell ClickFunnels is to USE ClickFunnels and believe that it really does help people (because it does). Don’t just sign up to be an affiliate and leave it at that. Use the funnels to be a better affiliate. Give away good stuff. Find people who are going to stick around and use it (with or without your guidance).
The bottom line is that some people are super successful as affiliates, and some aren’t. It’s hard work, so if you decide this is where you want your income to come from, go all in.
ClickFunnels Pricing
There are three options for ClickFunnels pricing, but most businesses likely fall into the first two pricing categories.
ClickFunnels Basic
$97 a month gets you 20 funnels, 100 pages, 20,000 visitors, unlimited contacts, and three custom domains.
For the most part, small and medium businesses as well as solopreneurs will be able to stick with ClickFunnels Basic for a long time. Even if you’re managing sales funnels for your own clients, the $97 plan is more than sufficient (unless you have more than 15 clients).
ClickFunnels Basic also includes a number of handy features, such as:
- Optin funnels
- Email integrations
- A/B split tests
- “ClickPops” (pop-up opt-in forms that can be put on any page of a website)
- Automated webinar funnels (which include playbacks, reminder emails, and nurture emails)
- Order pages
- Integrations
- Upsell and downsell pages
- The ability to share your funnels with other ClickFunnels users
ClickFunnels knows it’s hard to shell out cash for something you haven’t tried, so you can sign-up and start your 14-day free trial of ClickFunnels through our exclusive Laptop Empires link. As a thank you, we’ll send you the exact list-building funnel we use.
ClickFunnels Etison Suite
$297 a month gives you unlimited funnels, pages, visitors, contacts, and domains. It also gives you the ability to create membership backend “websites” where locked content is stored and only available after purchase.
The Etison Suite offers numerous features and upgrades plus basically unlimited everything, including all the perks in the Basic option. But with the extra $100 a month spent, you also have access to a couple of ClickFunnels upgrades.
These upgrades come in “packs,” and each pack has a set of specific, targeted features. Both Backpack and Actionetics are currently included in the Etison Suite.
TwoComma Club
The third option, labeled the “TwoCommaClub,” offers unlimited access to all features as well as VIP chat services and up to 27 funnels. It is priced at $2,497 per month and is targeted towards those who own multiple businesses or multiple brands.
Is ClickFunnels worth the money?
Hands down, yes.
For the majority of people who are flying solo or only have small teams, ClickFunnels is most definitely worth a monthly Benjamin.
ClickFunnels drops a lot of stuff in your lap, but they make it easy to learn and implement so you can focus on other aspects of your business.
We aren’t talking about the little stuff, like how the funnels are going to work. More specifically, the service lets you focus on why people should buy your product, what exactly you’re selling, and to who.
ClickFunnels takes the pressure off so you can focus on what you need to do, making your job easier for a pretty minimal price tag.
It’s kind of like hiring someone to operate a crane instead of getting a license yourself. You know what the guy’s doing, and you could probably step in and help if you really needed to, but you’re leaving the bulk of the heavy lifting (literally) up to the professional.
Plus, ClickFunnels grows with you. You can get the bigger package when you’re ready, but you can somewhat easily sneak into the six-figure income before you need to look at upgrading. The basic package gets you pretty far and packs a punch for a hundred bucks a month.
Here’s a fact: If you have a company that does ANY amount of business online, you need a sales funnel. Period. ClickFunnels is here to provide that.
Pros and Cons of ClickFunnels
As awesome as ClickFunnels is, it would be unfair to say that it’s perfect, so here’s an honest look at the pros and cons of ClickFunnels.
[insert table]
ClickFunnels Frequently Asked Questions
Is ClickFunnels easy to use?
ClickFunnels is easy to use. Period. However, since you are probably wondering how easy it is, we’ve made a video for you to review and see for yourself (or you could sign up for the 14-day free trial to see it all up close and personal).
How does ClickFunnels compare to other landing page services?
Here’s a graphic that ClickFunnels shares that shows just how much bang you get for your buck.
[insert graphic]
With that in mind, we compared Clickfunnels with a couple of pretty straight competitors. To simplify things, our comparison is only looking at the lowest tier of some of the most well-known and regarded landing page creators.
The monthly prices are included, but all of these competitors offer lower rates if you pay by the year. In the case of LeadPages, for example, the discount is nearly 30% for annual subscriptions.
[insert graphic]
Should I use ClickFunnels over WordPress?
WordPress is an excellent tool to have in your toolbox, and by no means would we discourage you from hopping on the WP train and seeing if it might be right for you.
The platform is perfect for the backend of websites, and the majority of plugins that expand the functionality of WordPress are free or at least very reasonably priced. Better yet, they aren’t usually recurring — they’re a one-time charge.
But, WordPress isn’t exactly built for landing pages. There are ways to build them and plenty of plugins to help, but the learning curve for even some of the best drag-and-drop plugins like Elementor is kind of steep.
ClickFunnels doesn’t only do landing pages. They actually specialize in the whole funnel. If you don’t know what you’re doing and don’t have a ton of time to learn, then go with an easier and more intuitive method like ClickFunnels.
Let’s say you want to take the hard road and try to use WordPress to manage your funnels, but then you can’t find a good landing page creator so you go with the cheapest option in our comparison chart — Leadpages. As opposed to spending $97, you’re paying $37.
But what do you lose?
Well, you’ll need to also….
- Find a sign-up form, welcome mat, or slide-in option with something like OptinMonster.
- Get a payment processor to integrate with your funnel creator.
- Have knowledge on how to create a funnel without having a template for the entire funnel and only the lead page. You’ll have to answer questions such as when do they see the payment page? When do they get their service or merchandise? When do they get an email? When do they see a thank you page? What happens between each step?
- And, if you’re trying to construct something similar to Etison, you’ll need a marketing automator ($49 – $300), affiliate management software ($500 – $650), and more.
You suddenly have all of these moving parts that you’re trying to juggle at the same time. If something goes wrong, where do you go first? Where’s the cog that needs attention?
This strategy isn’t bad if you have the time and capacity for it (it will take a lot of both), but simplifying the system to focus more on making money is where we’d rather spend our time and energy.
Five Questions to Ask Before Buying ClickFunnels
As eager as you might be to get started, first ask yourself these five questions to figure out if ClickFunnels is the right investment for you.
Is it in your budget?
ClickFunnels, like many other software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, is a tool to help you grow and succeed in a competitive world. You won’t get rich overnight, and it will take effort to be successful. Make sure you’re ready for the commitment in dollars before you sign up.
Have you done the groundwork?
ClickFunnels makes it super easy to build effective, sleek funnels. But do you even know who you’re marketing to yet?
You want to make sure you’ve selected your audience, figured out the way you’re going to reach them using ClickFunnels (your funnel will just sit there unless you actually advertise it — people aren’t just going to stumble into it randomly), and really understand your niche or industry.
Have you chosen a payment processor?
We recommend Stripe because it’s fully integrated with ClickFunnels already, but if you prefer PayPal or Square, there’s a Zapier connection for them. You will need a reputable payment processor to use ClickFunnels.
Are you going to join the affiliate program?
You can join the affiliate program at any time, but it can be helpful to know in the beginning if you will be using it at some point. Are you going to focus on being an affiliate, or are you signing up to focus on a different business?
The decision will influence your funnels and your audience.
Are you ready to make mistakes and be patient?
Finally, you truly need to consider if you’re ready to commit to something like ClickFunnels. It’s easy and kind of fun to play with, but unless you’re going to use it and learn from your mistakes, don’t sign up.
You’ll also need to exercise patience as your funnels bring in the money and be willing to adjust them as needed.
Final Thoughts on ClickFunnels
The bottom line is that when you find a product you love, you want to tell others about it, which is what our ClickFunnel review is designed to do. We’re happy customers and strong supporters of them because they’ve helped us build our business and increased our revenue.
More than anything, ClickFunnels is helping us help people.
We feel strongly about our courses and how we’re helping online entrepreneurs with the information we share on our blog and podcast. ClickFunnels is one of the ways that we can make it all happen.
Ready to help more people, grow your business, and convert more sales?
It’s time for ClickFunnels.
Sign up today through our exclusive Laptop Empires Link and we’ll send you our exact list-building funnel as a thank you!
Leave a Reply