The recent influx of global pandemics has made people rethink the conventional sources of income and strengthened the thought of keeping multiple income sources intact to ensure maximum financial security. Out of all the novel income ideas, affiliate marketing is among the most popular and effective. It has gained the title of one of the most sought-after side businesses in 2022, and the following section traces the basics, process of funnel building, best funnel builder for affiliate marketing, etc.
Affiliate Marketing: An Overview
The concept of affiliate marketing revolves around the idea of affiliates. Affiliates are the people who get into an agreement with any organization or small business to promote their product or service. For each person who visits the concerned business through the link provided by the affiliate, the affiliate will earn a specific amount as a commission.
Affiliate marketing is the process of involving affiliates to generate maximum business through affiliate links and advertisements. The parties involved in affiliate marketing will agree on the commission provided for each client brought in via the affiliate. Although the affiliate will receive an amount beforehand, the affiliate commission acts as an extra incentive for the affiliate, motivating them to market the product to their maximum.
Affiliate marketing has proven effective in generating maximum traffic to the target website and streamlining the inflow of customers. Affiliate marketing earns wide popularity via various social media platforms, and almost all content creators of the current milieu involve in such marketing schemes. Other popular affiliate marketing tools are email marketing, search engine optimization, content marketing, etc.
Affiliate Marketing Funnel
Marketing funnels are one of the most prominent tools used in online marketing, especially affiliate marketing. A marketing funnel intends to target a particular business’s target audience; that is, it is the process of streamlining an ideal lot of customers to the target website. A marketing funnel would be tailor-made to suit the requirements and needs of the customer and match it with the exact service provider.
It is visible that creating marketing funnels are much more helpful in generating more sign-ups and sales on target websites. The marketing personnel fetch information on the products that a particular customer is interested in and create advertisements with direct leads to the customer’s favorite product page. These leads generate more traffic to a page than conventional methods of spreading the word about a product through various media.
Building an Affiliate Marketing Sales Funnel
It has already been established that sales funnels are something that every business requires to maximize their sales and profit. But how to build an affiliate marketing sales funnel? Once well-versed with digital marketing and sales funnels, anyone can create a customized affiliate marketing funnel for their business.
To create an affiliate marketing sales funnel, the user has to understand the four steps through which the funneling of customers happens
- Create awareness of the product or service via social media pages or online platforms
- Fetch the customer’s interest in the product offering
- Lead the customer to the product’s home page
- Convert the customer’s visit into a solid sale.
Once users understand the funneling process, they can create their funnel by following several simple steps.
- To achieve the primary goal of making the customer aware of the business, the user has to carry out search engine optimization so that customers of the particular category get presented with the company in focus. The business’s website has to be optimized through keyword integration and on-page optimization to attain top ranks in a search engine result list, thereby increasing the business’s visibility online.
- The next step is to optimize the website’s content to suit the target customer community’s aesthetics and likings so that the customer who visits the website tends to remain there. The user has to pay attention to creating authentic, original, readable, and high-quality content on the website. It is also advisable to include readable formats like sub-headings, bullet points, pictures, etc., to the content to make it even more exciting and readable.
- Creating an ideal landing page to convert the customer’s presence to proper sales is the final step to building the best sales funnel. The landing page should be attractive and compelling enough for the users to check the product out and purchase it. The users can use videos and images on the landing page and place them in the most eye-catching areas of your website, like the sidebar and end or middle of a blog post.
Funnel Builders for Affiliate Marketing
Funnel builders or funnel creators are various online tools that let users customize marketing funnels for their product or service and help use them ideal enough to generate potential buyer interest. There are numerous examples of funnel builders like ClickFunnels, Groovefunnels, Builderall, etc. These tools or platforms provide assisted sales funnel services, and automated sales funnel creators.
Some standard features or marketing techniques funnel builders use are as follows.
- They use search engine optimization to make more people click on the lead.
- They widely use social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc., to generate interest in the product among the younger generation.
- Customizing the lead landing page to suit the target audience’s aesthetics and vibe. It helps in creating a positive first impression regarding the service provider.
- Collaborating with popular content creators across mainstream media to increase the reach of the product.
- Email marketing generally prevails to funnel potential customers, maintain constant touch with old customers, and update the latter regarding the latest additions to the website.
Best Funnel Builder Platforms
The popularity gained by affiliate marketing has caused numerous people to turn to this field for income generation. The newfound popularity of affiliate marketing has instigated the mushrooming of many affiliate marketing service providers, especially funnel builders online. Despite this high number of funnel builders, only some are trustworthy and loyal. Ending up in the rough hands of the wrong funnel builder will not help the customer experience any business growth and could even be the reason behind the business’ downfall. Thus, the following list intends to present the best funnel builder for affiliate marketing for potential buyers to choose from.
1. Systeme.io
Celebrated as a one-stop solution for all digital marketing needs, Systeme.io is undoubtedly the best funnel builder for affiliate marketing. The platform features services like building sales funnels, affiliate marketing, email marketing, website building, marketing automation, online course building, etc.
The hassle-free sales funnel service from Systeme.io has the assistance of an easy-to-use editing tool. The tool provides numerous ready-made templates for customers to build sales funnels. The users can avail of the platform service to customize the sales funnel by adding the list of emails, chosen payment options, etc., to the funnel system.
The user can choose to integrate automation at any step of the funnel creation, enabling the funnel to provide automated service whenever a trigger happens. This automated-sales funnel creator at Systeme.io significantly saves the effort and time of the user in maintaining the sales funnel after its creation.
The platform also features several affordable pricing plans at $27, $47, and $97 per month to suit the budget of any small business. There is also a free plan which provides access to several basic features of the funnel builder. The free account does not levy hidden charges from the customer, and the customer can upgrade to the paid plans at any point. It includes unlimited emailing, infinite file storage space, access to affiliate programs, payment integration, 1-click upsells, unlimited blog posts, and permission to maintain up to 2000 contacts. The services associated with the free account also qualify Systeme.io as one of the best free sales funnel software.
2. Builderall
Builderall platform is an initiative launched in 2011 by the digital marketing company eBusiness4us Inc. Builderall, within the short span since its con caption, has become the leading marketing platform online. It features over 1000 services and over 50 tools to streamline marketing strategies and create sales funnels. Some of the popular features of the platform include the WhatsApp automation tool, professional email service, Builderall marketplace, services to increase social proof, chatbots, virtual assistance, etc.
The funnel builder service on the Builderall platform is highly advanced and flexible. It lets customers customize the sales funnel according to their business needs through hassle-free steps. The platform offers the option to get a tailor-made sales funnel according to the blueprint and inputs regarding the business in concern.
The funnel conversion process on the platform features performance analysis and various automation strategies to create an ideal sales funnel for a particular business.
The email sequencing service on the platform lets the user enter a list of emails that needs to be in constant touch and also allows the user to sequence the email with automated responses to engage the provided email list. It also offers options to integrate both upsell and down-sell features on the funnel created.
Several other notable features of the Builderall platform include the options to create A/B tests on the lead page, create pop-up opportunities, add tags, and create automated email campaigns.
3. ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels is one of the famous names among the best marketers in the digital space. It aids in marketing, selling, and promptly delivering the products or services of a business. But can you do affiliate marketing with ClickFunnels? The answer is a solid yes. SalesFunnels features the best funnel builder for affiliate marketing currently available.
This funnel-building platform sports features like pre-made funnel templates, a flexible editor with drag and drop feature, inputs, performance analysis, A/B split testing, etc. The user need not have exceptional computer or software skills to use ClickFunnels and create a customized sales funnel.
The platform offers three different paid plans at $127, $157, and $208 per month. The users can also avail of the 14-day free trial of any plan and decide conveniently on committing to any particular plan. The platform also offers a solid 30-day money-back guarantee, which ensures that even after subscribing to a paid plan, the user need not continue with it until and unless happy with the service.
ClickFunnels also claims not to take any commission off of the sales funnel created by the user. The user can avail of the platform’s domain name if they do not have a custom domain name.
4. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is a top-performing digital marketing platform with exceptional funnel-building features. It comes with numerous digital marketing services, including email automation, sales automation, marketing automation, social media marketing, marketplace integration, and many more.
The various paid plans in this platform cost around $29, $49, and $149 per month. They also have varying price ranges for email campaigns. The prices vary between $10 and $1200, depending on the number of emails included in the campaign.
The user can customize the sales funnels through pipeline automation, landing pages, split testing, and web personalization. The platform also aids in creating newsletters, emails, etc., that are required to keep in touch with the customer community and update them about the latest services. Customization of emails by ActiveCampaign has proven to have increased contact lists by 143%.
The automating options of the platform are sophisticated enough to maintain automated contact management, automated reporting, automated lead generation, and dynamic content throughout the subscription period. The sales funnel service on this platform is equipped with CRM, which enables the user to have all data on the business at a single stop. Follow-up is made much more accessible via the efficient CRM on the platform.
Engagement tracking is another prominent feature of this funnel builder. This feature ensures maximum engagement between the user and the customer via social media messaging and SMS and enables the presence of recurring customers.
5. Podia
Podia has been functioning in the mainstream digital marketing arena since 2014. It offers high-quality features like website building, affiliate marketing, consultations, email marketing, and many more. The affiliate marketing feature is among the best in the industry for its user-friendly interface. The sales funnel for affiliate marketing is extremely easy to set up through Podia.
The platform offers both paid and free plans for users. The free plan provides complete access to the website, email marketing services, chat support, etc. This package levies an 8% transaction fee from the users despite being free. The paid plans are of three types, priced at $33, $75, and $166 per month. Each pricing plan differs based on the number of services and privileges involved. The user can cancel or unsubscribe from any paid plans at any time without any complications or extra charges.
The funnel builder service in the Podia platform involves customization of the website, embedding options, upsells, high-conversion checkouts, easy payouts, customizable branding, lead magnets, pre-sales landing pages, etc. They also run effective email campaigns to boost sales.
Supporting up to 11 global languages and more than 20 currencies and having the ability to integrate with almost all software providers, Podia comes off as one of the most flexible and convenient sales funnel builders.
6. Convertkit
Convertkit is another online marketing service provider which includes funnel-building features too. The platform features a free plan, but if the user has to access the exclusive privileges offered, it is advisable to subscribe to any paid plans. The paid plans start at $15. Two more plans are available for the customers at $29 and $49 per month.
The sales funnel services available at Convertkit include advanced features like a landing page editor, targeted email campaigning, etc. The platform has several pre-made landing page templates that, on coupling with customizable domain names, ensure maximum customer traffic. The highlight of this feature is that the customizable domain names and pre-made templates are all included even in the free subscription plan. The users can add pop-ups, embeds, visual media, etc., to the existing landing page templates.
Convertkit features an efficient segmentation and tagging system, enabling targeted audiences to access the website. Even the automated campaigns on the platform abide by the segmentation system in place and, thus, highly targets the required group of customers.
The funnel editor is almost self-explanatory in functioning. The users need not avail the help of an expert in designing the sales funnel, yet professional service is available on the platform. The platform also exhibits high rates of integration, and out of almost ninety major integrations, some notable names are Shopify, ConvertPlug, and WooCommerce. The latest feature of selling digital products enables the user’s to even sell newsletters or blogs from their business for an extra share of income.
7. Kartra
The Kartra platform is a complete digital marketing solution that includes services like affiliate marketing, sales funnel building, course delivery, and many more. Despite having various expert areas, the platform is known for its funnel-building and funnel-mapping features. The platform offers a 14-day trial for customers at just $1. During this trial period, the user gets access to all the privileges of the forum.
The paid plans start at $99, and at this price, the user gets to generate up to 2500 leads and 15000 emails in a month. The second plan is silver, which is available for $149 per month. The user can generate up to 12,500 leads and 12,5000 emails via this plan monthly.
Three more pricing plans are available on the platform: gold, platinum, and diamond, priced at $299, $499, and $699 per month. The platform offers integration options with top players like PayPal, Kajabi, Zapier, and Wishlist.
8. Get Response
The all-in-one online marketing platform Get Response features multiple pricing plans for the users to choose from. It has numerous advanced features like email marketing, automation, customized landing pages, CRM, and many more. The platform offers a free plan which consists of pop-ups, landing page templates, website builders, etc., whereas the remaining three plans cost $19, $29, and $54 per month.
The lead creation feature called Conversion Funnel is the highlight of Get Response. This feature consists of various sales funnel creation tools and techniques and is ideal for businesses and webinars. The list automation feature is highly advanced and helps segment a business’s customers for better service.
Other notable features of this platform are design testing, dynamic content, spam testing, live chat, sales tracking, social media advertisements, etc. The platform integrates with firms like Shopify and offers multiple safe payment options.
9. Groovefunnels(Groove. cm)
The funnel-building platform named Groovefunnels features high sales conversion rate compared to many other similar platforms. It features countless funnel templates users can use to build effective funnels further up. The users get to customize their sales funnels on the platform.
Along with funnel building, Groovefunnels acts as a one-stop solution for most digital marketing services, including web page building, automated email campaigning, and customizing landing pages.
The platform features a free subscription plan which primarily focuses on generating income through recurring customers. The free plan comes with multiple payment gateways, unlimited customizable domains, unlimited share funnels, and pre-made templates.
The platform also lets users simplify their business’ checkout pages to a more convenient single-page checkout system, which is sure to appeal to a potential customer. The automated transactional emails sent through the platform enable the customers to have updates and timely reminders on the latest addition to a business.
10. Unbounce
Specializing in creating customized landing pages, Unbounce features the efficient use of AI-equipped tools to perfect sales funnel generation. Founded in Canada in 2009, it offers service in more than 30 global languages and can produce authentic content for more than 45 instances and formats.
Unbounce is available in three pricing levels- $81, $122, and $203 per month. Most of the features offered on this platform are automated, and the automated optimization of customers primarily lets the business receive a targeted audience.
The platform also offers a 14-day free trial which is up for cancellation at any time. Some of the popular features available on Unbounce are customizable templates, A/B testing, a drag & drop tool for editing, intuitive editing, and many more.
11. FunnelXpert
Founded in 2017 by Peter Nyiri, the platform focuses on providing real and practical techniques and services that are bound to boost sales and profit considerably. The platform contains everything from guides to courses to funnel-building services. It is an ideal platform for a beginner in funnel building and affiliate marketing to seek expertise.
The platform stresses various stages of marketing, like copywriting, pre-selling, promoting, email marketing, and tracking. The platform offers multiple media courses on teaching the basics of affiliate marketing and funnel building, and each course consists of simple content which acts as a step-by-step guide to excelling at digital marketing.
In the affiliate marketing category itself, there are contents regarding micro niche blogging to the guide to position the affiliate link to earn maximum visibility.
12. CloudFunnels
CloudFunnels is the most powerful and best funnel builder for affiliate marketing available online. It features numerous free resources on the basics of funnel building, along with top-notch services on the same.
It comes with a built-in analytics network that collects data on the performance of the client’s page and customizes strategies to boost sales. The designing & editing tool on the platform has a flexible drag-and-drop option, which enables the designing of dynamic and aesthetically pleasing landing pages in minimal time.
Beginners in funnel building can use the ready-made landing page templates available on the platform to avoid building one from scratch. It also comes with free payment gateways, cloud funnels, autoresponders, A/B testing, Zapier integration, and many more.
13. Leadpages
Lead generation is made more accessible with the all-in-one platform named Leadpages. It assists users in developing the ideal landing pages and redesigning webpages to maximize profit and sales. Despite the platform’s pricing plans, a 14-day free trial is also available for the customers.
Some of the most popular features available on the platform are unlimited pop-ups, customizable landing page templates, free customizable domains, lead notifications, and many more. The platform offers two pricing plans for the users to choose from- Pro and Standard. The pro plan prices $37 per month, and the standard plan comes at $ 19 per month.
The platform provides priority tech support to users via phone, email, and chat. The platform’s landing pages have a built-in guidance system to help beginners attain high sales conversion rates.
14. HubSpot
HubSpot was founded in 2006 and catered to clients’ digital marketing needs worldwide. It provides a centralized and user-friendly platform for all marketing and sales funnel-building needs. It has proven to be of high use in generating high-converting leads, creating a database of target customer communities, and streamlining the inflow of customers to the user’s page.
The marketing plans at HubSpot are of three types- the Starter plan at $45 per month, the Professional plan at $800 per month, and the Enterprise plan at $3600 per month. The platform also features a free-of-cost plan which includes services like email marketing, live chat, ad management, etc.
HubSpot provides excellent pipeline management and deal tracking assistance and offers valuable insights to the user based on performance analysis.
15. DropFunnels
DropFunnels is a prominent digital marketing platform specializing in lead generation, and sales funnel building. It also functions as a blogging platform that focuses on SEO content.
The platform offers unlimited sales funnels, high page speed, landing page templates, custom checkouts, etc. It also features domain mapping, a built-in tracker, split-testing pages, autoresponder integrations, and many more.
The drag-and-drop feature sported by the editing tool of the platform offers maximum convenience in designing landing pages. The users also gain access to the numerous courses and blog post which provides insights on novel digital marketing strategies.
The users can choose themes and designs for the sales funnel, and Strip integration enables an easy and convenient payment process. The platform features a menu from which the users can easily pick the required service. The affiliate program arranged by DropFunnels ensures a recurring commission of 30% for the affiliates.
16. Thrivecart
With over 13 million products sold already, Thrivecart is a frontrunner in digital marketing, especially lead generation. The funnel services available at Thrivecart assist the user’s business in boosting sales conversions by a significant amount.
The highlighting service at Thrivecart is the customizable landing pages. The editing tool on the platform comes with features like the drag-and-drop tool, which offers maximum flexibility to the user in designing the landing page. The users can also add pop-ups, embeds, and create single-page checkout on the landing page. They need not build the pages from scratch but can choose from the templates available on the platform.
It also consists of specific ‘profit boosters’ which provide extra income for the users through features such as single-click upsells, subscriptions, transaction charges for subscriptions, trials, newsletters, courses, and sellable content.
17. Wishpond
At Wishpond, users gain simple marketing solutions to make enormous changes in sales and profit. The most notable services available on this Vancouver-based platform are social promotions, customizable landing pages, social media advertisement campaigns, email marketing, marketing automation, website building, marketing sales funnels, shopping cart management, Shopify marketing, and many more.
The high-quality services and tools from the Wishpond platform were featured in acclaimed dailies and magazines like Entrepreneur, The Huffington Post, and Forbes. The platform hosts around 3.4 million annual visitors, which include more than 4000 paying clients. Some of the famous clients of Wishpond are Walmart, Lululemon, ESPN, The Weather Network, and CBS.
What makes Wishpond stand out from its competitors is the comprehensive digital marketing solutions offered at an affordable price. Subscribing even to a basic plan will give the user access to countless tools and privileges in the platform.
The users can have appointments with an expert regarding the services offered and the price rate for the assistance needed via the platform’s official website. Or else, the user can subscribe to the free trial plan and explore the platform’s features before proceeding to a paid plan.
