1. Awareness Stage: The “Oh, What’s This?” Moment

At the top of the funnel, people first discover you – just like Thomas discovering the Glade. (Okay, he was put there on purpose, but he was kinda lost about what the place is and why he is there along with the rest of the Gladers. He also had to learn about the maze!) But how are you guiding them to the next step? Are you capturing attention or just letting them wander? A funnel flow map shows you how to turn curiosity into deeper interest.

In this stage, you’re helping people become aware of your brand, offering something eye-catching and valuable to pull them in. Without that map, you could be losing them before they even start.

• Key Focus: Grabbing attention through social media, ads, or content that makes them want to learn more.
• Key Page: Landing Page – Capture initial interest and drive traffic.

2. Interest Stage: The “I Want to Know More!” Moment

Once your audience is aware of their need, they begin to research potential solutions. This is where you provide valuable content that piques their interest and encourages them to explore further.

Think of it like the Gladers with the leadership of Thomas beginning to explore the maze, seeking clues and strategies to find their way. Your content serves as those essential clues that lead them to consider your solutions.

• Key Focus: Engaging content that captures curiosity, such as blogs or informative videos. Educate and nurture.
• Key Pages:
  • Lead Magnet Page – Offer something valuable in exchange for contact information.
  • Thank You Page – Confirm the lead magnet has been successfully downloaded and set expectations for what’s next. Nurturing email sequence.

7. Loyalty Stage: The “I’m In This for the Long Haul!” Moment

Here’s where the magic happens! A happy, loyal customer will continue to invest in your offers and even advocate for your brand. Much like the other Gladers coming to trust Thomas as their leader and follow him to take on the challenges faced in part 2 and 3 of The Maze Runner movie. [and a confirmed 4th part in development – yay!]

• Key Focus: Customer retention through great service, loyalty programs, and ongoing engagement.
• Key Action: Membership or Community Page—Keep them engaged with exclusive content or perks.

How to Create Your Funnel Flow Map: Step-by-Step Process

Now that you understand the stages, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how to create your funnel flow map. 

Follow these steps to ensure you have a detailed and actionable plan:

1. Define Your Goals: Before you start mapping out your funnel, it’s crucial to define your goals. What do you want to achieve with your funnel? Are you looking to increase leads, boost sales, or improve customer retention? Clearly outlining your objectives will guide the rest of the mapping process.

2. Identify Your Target Audience: Understand who your ideal customers are. What are their pain points, needs, and desires? This will help tailor your funnel to them. I like to pick a specific audience for each funnel I craft, because If you are anything like me I have multiple levels of audiences. Some are at the beginning of their journey, some are already experimenting and some already have success, but need refinement or moving further along.

3. Outline Each Funnel Stage: Typically, a sales funnel consists of several stages: Awareness, Interest, Consideration, Decision, Purchase, Repeat, Loyalty. Include all the key interactions that happen at each stage and consider what actions you want your customers to take at each point. This will help you visualize the flow of your funnel.

4. Map Out Customer Touchpoints: For each stage of your funnel, identify and list out all possible touchpoints (e.g., blog posts, social media posts, emails, landing pages). Documenting these touchpoints will help you understand how customers move through your funnel and interact with your brand.

5. Create a Visual Flow: Arrange these touchpoints visually to show the path customers will take. Use arrows to indicate the movement from one stage to the next. Mindmap, whiteboard tools are perfect for this task or even the old-school sticky notes work well.

6. Identify Gaps and Leaks: Once your funnel flow map is complete, it’s time to analyze it. Look for areas where customers may drop off or where the flow could be improved.Are there stages with too many options or unclear calls-to-action? This is crucial for optimizing your funnel. 

7. Test and Refine: After implementing your funnel flow map, track the performance at each stage. Use analytics to see where customers are engaging or losing interest. Refine your approach based on data. Continuous improvement is key to maximizing conversions and achieving your goals.

8. Document and Share: Keep your funnel flow map as a living document. Share it with your team to ensure everyone is aligned and aware of the strategy.

To effectively build a sales funnel, you’ll need specific types of pages that correspond to each stage of the funnel. Here’s a breakdown of the essential pages to include:

Types of Pages Needed for Your Funnel

1. Landing Page (Awareness Stage)
   • Purpose: Capture initial interest and drive traffic.
     • Features: Engaging headlines, eye-catching visuals, and clear calls to action (CTAs) that encourage visitors to learn more or take action (e.g., subscribe to a newsletter).
     • Example Content: Brief introductions to your services or products, and links to blog posts or other informative content.
       
2. Lead Magnet Page (Interest Stage)
   • Purpose: Offer something valuable in exchange for contact information.
     • Features: An appealing offer (like an e-book, checklist, or video), a simple form to capture names and email addresses, and persuasive copy that highlights the benefits of the lead magnet.
     • Example Content: A downloadable guide related to your niche that solves a common problem your audience faces.
       
3. Thank You Page (Interest Stage)
   • Purpose: Confirm the lead magnet has been successfully downloaded and set expectations for what’s next.
     • Features: A thank-you message, additional resources, or a video introduction, along with a CTA encouraging further engagement (e.g., following you on social media).
     • Example Content: A link to access the lead magnet and suggestions for other related content.
       
4. Sales Page (Decision Stage)
   • Purpose: Present your offer and persuade the audience to make a purchase.
     • Features: Detailed descriptions of the product or service, benefits, pricing options, testimonials, faq and a strong call-to-action to buy now.
     • Example Content: Compelling case studies that demonstrate success stories from previous customers. Testimonials to help them see what others have achieved by purchasing your offer. [please stay authentic and share real results people got]
       
5. Checkout Page (Purchase Stage)
   • Purpose: Facilitate the final purchase process.
     • Features: A streamlined form for payment information, clear product details, and reassurances (like money-back guarantees).
     • Example Content: A summary of what the customer is buying, total cost, and an easy way to input payment details.
       
6. Upsell/Cross-sell Page – if applicable (Purchase Stage)
   • Purpose: Offer additional products or services after the initial purchase.
     • Features: Clear and enticing offers for related products, along with the option to add them to the original order.
     • Example Content: Suggesting a complementary product that enhances the main purchase.
       
7. Follow-Up Email Sequence (Post-Purchase Stage)
   • Purpose: Engage customers after their purchase and encourage repeat business.
     • Features: A series of emails that include thank-you notes, requests for feedback, additional resources, and promotions for future products.
     • Example Content: A nurturing email that shares tips on how to get the most out of their purchase, along with a special offer for future purchases.
       
8. And the whole funnel process restarts at each new funnel for a new offer.
   
   Every time you introduce a fresh offer, whether it’s a product, service, or a new program, your audience embarks on the journey all over again. Like Thomas facing a new section of the maze, each funnel has its unique twists and turns. Your goal is to lead them through each stage seamlessly, guiding them from awareness to loyalty—again and again—while optimizing their experience with every step.

With each iteration, you’re refining the process, learning from past experiences, and creating smoother paths to conversion. Whether it’s a returning customer or someone completely new to your world, each funnel offers another exciting journey to success.

Before finishing my post and letting you go and watch The Maze Runner, I think it’s important to have a little conversation about >>>>>

The 5 Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Trying Map Out a Winning Funnel Flow Strategy for Maximum Conversions

Creating a funnel flow map is an essential step toward clarity and success, but there are common mistakes that can lead you astray. 

Here are a few pitfalls to watch out for:

1. Skipping Stages:
One of the biggest mistakes is jumping straight into designing your funnel without fully understanding each stage. Each stage – Awareness, Interest, Consideration, Decision, Purchase, Repeat, Loyalty – serves a specific purpose in guiding your audience toward conversion. Skipping a stage can leave gaps in your funnel, much like how a Glader who rushes into the Maze without a clear plan can easily get lost. Take the time to understand the paths before you run!

2. Overcomplicating the Map:
It’s easy to get carried away and make your funnel flow map overly complex. While it’s important to detail the paths your audience will take, a cluttered map can confuse you (and your team!). Keep it simple! Just as Thomas had to focus on the essentials to navigate the Maze, you should prioritize the key steps and connections in your funnel. Use visual aids like color-coding or symbols to make your map more digestible.

3. Ignoring the Audience’s Perspective:
Remember that your funnel is designed for your audience, not for you. Failing to consider their journey can lead to a disconnect. Put yourself in their shoes—what do they need at each stage? Just as the Gladers in the maze had to understand the Maze’s patterns, you need to tailor your content and messaging to meet your audience’s needs at every stage to keep them engaged.

4. Not Testing and Refining:
Your funnel flow map is not set in stone. Many entrepreneurs create a map and think they’re done, but testing is crucial. Monitor how your audience interacts with your funnel, gather feedback, and be ready to make adjustments. Just as Thomas and his friends learned to adapt their strategies in the Maze, your approach should be flexible and ready to evolve based on results.

5. Neglecting Follow-Up:
The journey doesn’t end with the sale. Neglecting follow-up strategies can lead to missed opportunities for repeat business and referrals. Make sure your funnel includes post-purchase communications and engagement tactics to keep your customers coming back. Think of it as ensuring that the Gladers stayed connected after escaping the Maze; maintaining relationships is key to a thriving community.

By being aware of these common pitfalls, you can create a funnel flow map that truly reflects the journey you want your audience to take – leading them to a successful conversion, just as the Gladers found their way out of the Maze.

Wrapping It All Up:

The Exit to Your Funnel Maze aka From Minho to Thomas, You’ve Got the Map

Like Minho in The Maze Runner, you might have parts of your funnel mapped out, but without a complete funnel flow map, you’re still running in circles. When Thomas came along, he didn’t just run the maze—he changed the game, saw the bigger picture, and found the way out while working together.

And that’s what a funnel flow map does for you!!!

You might have all the tools, content, and resources, but without clarity and direction, it’s easy to get lost. The funnel flow map helps you see clearly where your customers are, where they’re going, what you need to make [pages, emails etc]  and how to get them to the finish line. So, instead of running endlessly like Minho, become the Thomas of your funnel world—create your map, take control, and lead your customers out of the maze – funnel style.