How To Make A Sales Funnel For Web Design
Web design businesses face unique challenges in client acquisition and project qualification. A well-structured sales funnel can help web designers attract ideal clients, showcase their expertise, and convert inquiries into profitable projects. This guide will show you how to build, market, and implement a sales funnel specifically for your web design business.
If you're a web designer or agency owner looking to generate consistent leads and streamline your client acquisition process, there are several excellent platforms that can help you build effective sales funnels without requiring extensive marketing expertise.
The first step to making your web design sales funnel is choosing the right platform. However, selecting from numerous options can be overwhelming, especially when you're focused on client work and design projects. Keep reading this guide to see our suggested picks and a step-by-step guide to making a sales funnel for your web design business.
The Best Platforms For Web Design Sales Funnels
When choosing a platform for your web design sales funnel, you need specific features that address the unique needs of creative service businesses. The ideal platform should include portfolio showcasing capabilities, interactive project assessment tools, client questionnaires, and scheduling integration. It should also help you qualify prospects based on budget, timeline, and project scope. Based on these requirements, we've ranked the top 5 platforms for web design sales funnels:
1. ClickFunnels
Get started with ClickFunnels (Free Trial) ๐
ClickFunnels offers web designers a comprehensive solution with templates that can be customized to showcase your portfolio and design approach. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create multi-step funnels that qualify prospects, collect project requirements, and schedule consultations. ClickFunnels integrates with popular CRM systems and allows for client-specific secure areas for sharing design concepts. It offers a 14-day free trial to test all features.
2. Unbounce
Get started with Unbounce (Free Trial) ๐
Unbounce provides web designers with highly customizable landing pages perfect for promoting specific design services like e-commerce websites, brand identities, or custom WordPress development. Its Smart Traffic feature automatically directs potential clients to the landing page variant where they're most likely to convert based on their specific needs. Unbounce excels at A/B testing different portfolio presentations and service offerings.
3. Elementor
Get started with Elementor (Free Version Available) ๐
Elementor offers an ideal solution for web designers who want to showcase their WordPress expertise through their own funnel design. As a popular WordPress page builder, it allows you to demonstrate your design capabilities directly through the funnel itself. The platform includes portfolio widgets, testimonial carousels, and form builders specifically useful for web design businesses. The free version provides substantial functionality for getting started.
4. Leadpages
Get Started with Leadpages (Free Trial) ๐
Leadpages offers user-friendly templates that web designers can quickly customize to match their brand aesthetic. Its alert bars and pop-ups are effective for promoting limited-time offers or design packages. Leadpages makes it easy to create lead magnets such as “Website Audit Checklists” or “UX Best Practices Guides” that demonstrate your expertise while capturing prospect information.
5. Instapage
Get started with Instapage (Free Trial) ๐
Instapage allows web design agencies to create personalized landing pages for different service offerings and industry specializations. Its team collaboration features are particularly valuable for agencies where designers, developers, and project managers need to coordinate on client acquisition. Instapage's heatmap analytics help identify which portfolio elements or services attract the most attention from prospects.
Conclusion
After evaluating multiple platforms, Elementor stands out as the best choice for web designers due to its natural alignment with the industry, powerful portfolio showcasing capabilities, and the ability to demonstrate your design skills through the funnel itself. The free version provides substantial functionality, with the Pro version offering advanced features at a reasonable price point.
However, if you need a more comprehensive all-in-one solution with built-in payment processing and advanced automation, ClickFunnels offers these capabilities despite its higher price point.
Now that we have identified our top choice, let's show you how to make a web design sales funnel using Elementor.
How to Make a Sales Funnel for Web Design Using Elementor
Creating an effective web design sales funnel involves showcasing your portfolio while qualifying prospects and streamlining your client onboarding process. The following steps will guide you through building a funnel that attracts your ideal clients.
Step 1: Set Up WordPress and Install Elementor
If you don't already have WordPress installed, set it up on your hosting account and install the free Elementor plugin (or Elementor Pro for more advanced features).
Step 2: Map Out Your Funnel Structure
For web design businesses, an effective funnel typically includes:
- Portfolio showcase landing page
- Service specifics and pricing page
- Project assessment questionnaire
- Consultation booking page
- Proposal delivery system
- Client onboarding sequence
Step 3: Make Your Portfolio Showcase Landing Page
Using Elementor's drag-and-drop editor:
- Add a compelling headline highlighting your unique design approach or specialization
- Include a gallery of your best work with filtering options by industry or project type
- Feature client testimonials with specific results achieved (increased conversions, traffic, etc.)
- Add a simple form to capture initial interest or offer a website audit
- Include trust indicators like design awards, certifications, or notable clients
- Embed a short video introducing yourself and your design philosophy
Step 4: Design Your Services and Packages Page
Create a page that:
- Clearly outlines your service offerings and specializations
- Showcases tiered packages with transparent pricing when possible
- Highlights the unique benefits of working with your design business
- Addresses common client concerns and questions
- Includes case studies demonstrating concrete results
- Features a clear path to the next step in your funnel
Step 5: Build Your Project Assessment Questionnaire
Develop a form that:
- Collects essential information about the prospect's business
- Identifies their specific goals and challenges
- Gathers technical requirements and preferences
- Establishes budget range and timeline expectations
- Asks about competitors and inspiration sites
- Qualifies prospects based on your ideal client criteria
Step 6: Make Your Consultation Booking Page
Design a page that:
- Explains what the consultation will cover
- Sets expectations about the meeting format and duration
- Embeds a scheduling tool (like Calendly or SimplyBook.me)
- Includes preparation instructions for the prospect
- Features additional social proof from similar clients
- Addresses any concerns about commitment or next steps
Step 7: Develop Your Proposal System
Set up a streamlined process to:
- Create and deliver professional proposals based on assessment information
- Allow for online approval and digital signatures
- Collect initial deposits securely
- Establish project milestones and timelines
- Set clear expectations about the design process
Step 8: Implement Email Follow-up Sequences
Create automated email sequences for:
- New prospects who haven't completed the assessment
- Qualified leads who haven't booked a consultation
- Prospects who received proposals but haven't approved them
- New clients entering the onboarding process
- Post-project follow-up for testimonials and referrals
Step 9: Set Up Client-Specific Secure Areas
For active projects:
- Create password-protected pages for sharing design concepts
- Implement feedback systems for design iterations
- Develop milestone approval processes
- Create training resources for client website management
Step 10: Launch and Monitor Performance
Use analytics to track:
- Portfolio engagement metrics
- Assessment completion rates
- Consultation booking conversion rates
- Proposal acceptance percentages
- Client acquisition costs by channel
- Project profitability by lead source
By following these steps with Elementor, web design businesses can make an effective sales funnel that showcases their expertise, qualifies ideal clients, streamlines project initiation, and converts more inquiries into profitable design projects.