18 Sales Funnel Examples to Help You Bring in Passive Income

Sales funnels are a critical part of any business strategy, especially for generating passive income.

By guiding potential customers through a structured process, sales funnels turn strangers into leads and leads into loyal customers.

Below are 18 sales funnel examples, each with explanations and real-world examples, to help you understand how to use them to drive passive income.

1. Paid Webinar Funnel

A Paid Webinar Funnel involves charging an entry fee for a live or recorded webinar. This funnel works well for offering valuable information on a specific topic that solves a pain point for your audience.

Example:

• Website: ClickFunnels

• How It Works: Create a webinar where you provide insights into a niche subject. After offering valuable content, pitch a paid product or service.

2. Paid Live Event Funnel

A Paid Live Event Funnel targets audiences interested in attending a live event where they can learn, network, or access exclusive content. These events can be anything from seminars to masterclasses.

Example:

• Website: Tony Robbins

• How It Works: Tony Robbins' events like "Unleash The Power Within" use paid funnels by promoting tickets and exclusive experiences that are geared toward personal development.

3. eBook Funnel

The eBook Funnel is perfect for authors or experts who wish to monetize their knowledge through a digital book. You offer a free sample or a discount to entice readers into buying the full version.

Example:

• Website: Self-Publishing School

• How It Works: Promote a free eBook that gives an overview of self-publishing. At the end of the eBook, offer an upsell to a full course on publishing.

4. Workshop/Masterclass Funnel

The Workshop/Masterclass Funnel involves creating a course or session with high value, often at a premium price, to teach specific skills or techniques.

Example:

• Website: MasterClass

• How It Works: MasterClass offers paid masterclasses in areas like cooking, filmmaking, and music, which are structured to provide high-quality content in exchange for a fee.

5. Consultancy Onboarding Funnel

In the Consultancy Onboarding Funnel, you offer a free session or resource to onboard potential clients into your consulting business, encouraging them to take a deeper step toward booking a full-service consultation.

Example:

• Website: Consulting.com

• How It Works: Free content such as training videos or webinars draws people in, leading them to sign up for a paid consultation or coaching program.

6. Lead Nurture Funnel

The Lead Nurture Funnel focuses on engaging leads who didn’t initially convert. This can involve sending them targeted emails, blog posts, or retargeting ads to keep your brand top of mind.

Example:

• Website: HubSpot

• How It Works: HubSpot nurtures leads by offering helpful blog content and tools, leading visitors to try their software or sign up for more resources.

7. Lead Magnet Funnel

In the Lead Magnet Funnel, you offer a free resource (like an eBook, checklist, or guide) in exchange for the visitor’s contact information. This helps you build a database of leads that can be marketed to later.

Example:

• Website: Neil Patel

• How It Works: Neil Patel uses free resources like SEO guides and calculators to capture leads. Later, he offers paid products and services.

8. Mini-Product Funnel

The Mini-Product Funnel is a great way to offer a small, low-cost product to introduce prospects to your brand. It’s an easy way for them to sample your offerings.

Example:

• Website: Fiverr

• How It Works: Fiverr uses a mini-product funnel by offering services starting at $5. Once users see the value, they may purchase higher-tier services.

9. Smaller Project Offer Funnel

A Smaller Project Offer Funnel offers a smaller project or service at an affordable price to build trust and rapport before upselling more comprehensive offerings.

Example:

• Website: 99designs

• How It Works: 99designs offers small, affordable design projects. After completing the initial project, customers are more likely to upgrade to larger design packages.

10. Specific Service Offer Page Funnel

This funnel directs targeted leads to a specific service or product page, simplifying the process and improving conversion rates.

Example:

• Website: Upwork

• How It Works: Freelancers on Upwork create specific service pages for their expertise (e.g., graphic design or copywriting), making it easier for potential clients to book their services.

11. Pre-order Funnel

A Pre-order Funnel is perfect for launching a new product or service. It allows you to gauge demand before investing in full production.

Example:

• Website: Kickstarter

• How It Works: Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform where creators pre-sell products before they’re made. Early backers get exclusive access or discounts.

12. Quiz Funnel

The Quiz Funnel uses interactive quizzes to engage visitors, gather information, and segment leads based on their answers. This leads to more personalized marketing.

Example:

• Website: Interact

• How It Works: Interact helps businesses create quizzes to drive engagement and lead generation. For instance, a quiz could suggest personalized recommendations based on responses.

13. Process Monetization Funnel

With a Process Monetization Funnel, you can create a funnel that teaches others how to replicate your successful processes or systems for a fee.

Example:

• Website: Udemy

• How It Works: You can create a course about a process you've perfected, such as digital marketing or social media strategy, and monetize the course.

14. Call Setup Funnel

The Call Setup Funnel aims to book calls with prospects, giving you the chance to engage with potential customers and pitch your services directly.

Example:

• Website: Calendly

• How It Works: Calendly helps professionals set up easy booking systems for calls or consultations, making it easier to turn leads into paying clients.

15. Information Collection Funnel

An Information Collection Funnel gathers key data about your prospects, enabling you to tailor your offerings to their needs.

Example:

• Website: SurveyMonkey

• How It Works: SurveyMonkey collects insights about potential customers through surveys, which then help businesses provide more relevant products or services.

16. Video Ask Funnel

A Video Ask Funnel uses video content to interact with leads, answer their questions, and move them along the customer journey.

Example:

• Website: VideoAsk

• How It Works: VideoAsk lets you send personalized video messages to engage prospects. You can automate this process to nurture leads at scale.

17. Self-segment Funnel

A Self-segment Funnel allows leads to self-select based on their needs, interests, or preferences, ensuring that they only receive content that is relevant to them.

Example:

• Website: ConvertKit

• How It Works: ConvertKit offers a funnel that lets users self-segment based on their needs, such as creating an email sequence for a specific audience.

18. Challenge Funnel

A Challenge Funnel invites participants to join a challenge that motivates them to engage with your brand and potentially purchase your products or services.

Example:

• Website: Challenge Funnel

• How It Works: Host a challenge where participants complete daily tasks, and offer paid products or services at the end of the challenge to increase conversion.

Sales funnels are effective instruments for leading potential clients through a carefully crafted journey.