This blog shows how people go from hearing about you for the first time to finally paying for your stuff, one step at a time, without any fancy words or confusing ideas.
Shirin Niasati
Author
Shirin Niasati is a Product Owner and Website Developer at Persisca Technologies, specializing in digital solutions.
People Don’t Just Buy Right Away
Let’s be honest. Most people don’t see something and throw money at it right away. They need time. They need steps. They need to feel something. That’s what this whole thing is about — walking people through a path that ends in money for your business.
This path has a name: The Customer Journey.
Some people call it a funnel. Same idea. It’s the step-by-step way people go from not knowing you, to thinking about you, to trusting you, to buying from you.
If you’re running ads, making a website, or posting on social media, and people aren’t buying — maybe it’s because they’re not being walked through this path right.
Let’s fix that.
The 5 Main Steps in the Customer Journey (In Plain Words)
There are usually five parts to this whole thing. You don’t have to use these exact words — just get the idea.
1. People Hear About You (Top of the Funnel)
This is where strangers see you for the first time.
Maybe they see:
- A Facebook or Google ad
- A TikTok video
- A post on Instagram
- Your product on someone’s YouTube video
- Your name on a blog or email
At this stage, people don’t know who you are. They don’t trust you. They’re just scrolling and see something that catches their eye.
Your job here: Catch their attention and make them stop scrolling.
That’s it.
No hard sell. No asking for money. Just show up and be interesting.
2. People Get Curious (Middle-Top of the Funnel)
Now they’ve seen your stuff once or twice. Maybe they check out your website. Maybe they read a little about you. Maybe they follow you.
They’re not ready to buy. But they’re not ignoring you anymore.
Your job here: Help them feel like you know what you’re doing.
Post stuff that makes sense. Share real stories. Show behind-the-scenes. Use your website to show what you’re about. Answer dumb questions before people ask.
You’re not trying to be a genius. You’re trying to be clear.
3. People Want to Know More (Middle of the Funnel)
Now they’re warming up.
They’re thinking:
- Maybe this is for me.
- Maybe I should talk to them.
- Maybe I should sign up.
They’re not sure. They just need a little push.
Your job here: Make it easy to say yes to the next small thing.
Not the big buy — just a small step.
This could be:
- A free call
- A free trial
- A freebie (PDF, checklist, email course)
- A quiz
- A “see how it works” page
Just give them a small reason to move closer.
4. People Are Close to Buying (Middle-Bottom of the Funnel)
Now they’re ready to pull the trigger — but they still need a final reason.
They’ve looked you up. They’ve compared you. They’ve read your reviews. But people still get cold feet.
Your job here: Make them feel safe to buy.
Things that help:
- Good reviews
- Real results
- Fast answers to questions
- A clear price
- No hidden junk
- A smooth checkout
- A “no risk” feeling (money-back, cancel anytime, etc.)
People don’t want surprises. Keep it clean and clear.
5. People Buy and Might Come Back (Bottom of the Funnel)
Congrats, they paid you.
Now what?
Now you have a real person who:
- Might buy again
- Might tell friends
- Might leave a review
But only if their experience is good.
Your job here: Treat them like gold.
Say thanks. Send clear instructions. Deliver what you said you would. Check in later. Send them stuff that fits what they bought.
Keep the love going.
Why Funnels Matter for Your Marketing
If you’re spending money on ads, building a site, or posting content, and you're not thinking about this funnel, you're probably throwing money away.
Here’s why:
- If you ask for money too early, people run away.
- If you wait too long to ask, they forget you.
- If your steps are out of order, people get confused.
- If you skip steps, you lose trust.
Every piece of content you put out should fit into one of those steps.
Your website? Mostly for steps 2 and 3.
Your ads? Mostly for step 1.
Your emails? Depends where they are in the journey.
The whole point is this: People need to go through the steps, one at a time.
A Simple Example: Local Gym
Let’s say you run a local gym. Here’s what the journey might look like:
Step 1: People Hear About You
They see a TikTok video with “funniest gym fails” filmed in your space. Your name shows up in the corner. They laugh and watch.
Step 2: People Get Curious
They go to your website. They see your photos, prices, and the vibe. Maybe they follow your gym’s Instagram.
Step 3: People Want to Know More
They sign up for a free one-day pass on your website. You send an email reminder with what to bring.
Step 4: People Are Close to Buying
They show up, try it, love it, and see signs inside that say “join now and pay no fee for 2 months.”
Step 5: People Buy and Might Come Back
They join. You send a welcome email. You check in after one week. You send free meal plans after two weeks. They tell a friend.
That’s it. Nothing fancy. Just steps.
How to Know If Your Funnel Is Broken
Here are some red flags:
- Lots of website visits, but no sales
- Lots of “likes,” but no leads
- People signing up for free stuff, but never buying
- People adding things to cart, but never checking out
- Good reviews, but no new customers
If any of that sounds familiar, look at where people are dropping off.
Maybe they don’t feel ready. Maybe the next step is too hard. Maybe they don’t know what to do next.
The good news? You can fix that just by making each step smoother and clearer.
Quick Checklist: How’s Your Funnel?
- Is the first thing people see grabbing attention?
- Do you give people a reason to stay interested?
- Is there a super-easy first step they can take?
- Do you help them feel ready to buy?
- Do you keep helping them after they pay?
If you answered “no” to any of those, that’s your starting point.
Let’s Keep It Simple
You don’t need fancy tools or big words to make a good funnel.
You just need to talk to people the way real people talk.
Think about how you buy things. You don’t go from “never heard of it” to “take my money” in five seconds. You go through a little path. That’s what your customers are doing too.
Help them take each step, and they’ll help your business grow.
No tricks. No hacks. Just simple, clear stuff that works.