What is a Sales Funnel?

Everyone tell you that you need a sales funnel for your business, but what is a sales funnel?

The definition of the sales funnel (also known as a revenue funnel or sales process) refers to the buying process that companies lead customers through when purchasing products. A sales funnel is divided into several steps, which differ depending on the particular sales model. One common sales process is divided into seven phases including:

1. Awareness Phase – in which prospects become aware of the existence of a solution.
2. Interest Phase – in which prospects demonstrate interest in a product by conducting product research.
3. Evaluation Phase – in which prospects or prospect companies examine competitors’ solutions as they inch toward a final buying decision.
4. Decision Phase – In which a final decision is reached and negotiation begins.
5. Purchase Phase – in which goods or services are purchased.
6. Reevaluation Phase – in B2B sales it’s common for offerings to involve contracts that need to be renewed. As a customer becomes familiar with an offering, and especially as a contract draws to a close, a customer will enter a reevaluation phase during which they’ll decide whether or not to renew their contract.
7. Repurchase Phase – in which a customer repurchases a product or service.