5 Best Places To Get Successful Sales Funnel Inspiration

We’ve all been there: you’re at an industry conference or maybe a company meeting, and talk turns to creative ways to bring in leads.

Then someone, your favorite co-worker or your biggest rival, says it… that perfect idea that they’ve incorporated into their sales funnel.

It could be an interesting gizmo with their name on it or a clever way to grab someone’s attention online, but the reaction is almost always the same.

Why didn’t I think of that?

Then a bigger question pops up right after that first one.

Where do they come up with all these ideas?

It can sometimes seem like there’s a secret grapevine out there just teeming with ideas for your funnel.

If you could only find it!

[Nudge, nudge.] Hey, you there. Yeah, you… reading this article.

That secret grapevine is actually only a short click away in many cases, and it’s not even so secret.

It merely flies under the radar.

But today, we’re going to show you exactly where to draw a monumental sense of inspiration for your funnel.

While we might be a bit biased saying that Clickfunnels blog is an absolutely essential starting place, you’re already here, and you’re hungry for more.

Well, these 5 places will have you cranking ideas like no one’s business. (and when you’re done with this article, check out our others on how to use stories to weave together a message and what you need to pull a hack-a-thon all-nighter to build your funnel quickly).

Now, without further ado… 5 best places to get inspiration for your next successful sales funnel.

Searching on Sites Like ClickBank and OfferVault

These two sites are like a treasure-trove of sales funnel ideas.

Simply browse them for a few minutes, and you’ll see exactly what we mean.

These online resources incorporate digital marketing and affiliate programs into their platforms in a way that lets you rapidly look through tons of ideas.

You’ll find that you can locate many other listed sales funnels to get your mind buzzing with those funnel ideas.

ClickBank boasts 12,000 individual sellers and more than 10,000 affiliates on their site.

And OfferVault has more than 60,000 registered affiliate publishers and is in the process of growing further.

You’ll find very quickly that it’s almost impossible to exhaust all the possibilities on sites like these.

At the same time, registering for each site is completely free.

The benefits are that you get access to some additional features.

In our opinion, it’s worth taking the time to register so that you’ll be able to get access to some of these other benefits.

Also, another great aspect of sites like these is that you’re able to drill really down using the search and filter functions to get an idea of what’s trending in places all over the world.

This means you have even a better chance of incorporating that next popular trend right into your sales funnel before it’s even the next big thing.

Protip: Once you’ve registered an account, one of the most powerful tools is the demographic breakdowns on some offers. These breakdowns give you much-needed insight into audience-ship and message crafting.

Interacting with the Community on ClickFunnels Facebook Group

You’re probably here at the ClickFunnels blog regularly, but have you had a chance to head over to our Facebook Group? It’s full of insightful people and great, action-oriented conversation.

You’ll want to request to join so that you can participate in all the fun.

Our site has gained over 12,000 active users in only about a short year, and we’re welcoming more and more every single day.

There are thousands and thousands of users that are passionate about maximizing their funnels and getting creative just like you.

So you can imagine how awesome it is when everyone gets together in one spot to chat and share what they loved or hate in the world of sales.

Here’re a few examples below of people sharing their funnel ideas.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better spot to mix and match different ideas to center your funnel around.

And you can even get feedback on your own funnel ideas before you ever launch yours!

Protip: Don’t be afraid to share an image showing a sketch of your funnel, even if it’s only a rough draft. The ClickFunnel Facebook Group is friendly and always willing to discuss everything about the process of funneling.

Traveling to Industry Trade Shows

In the past, you might have had an opportunity to check out trade shows in your industry when you’re attending one for your company.

And 99% of marketers report finding some unique value from these shows.

But in reality, these trade shows are jammed pack with ideas for every sales funnel.

Take big trade fairs like the Canton Fair in China every year. Since the 1950s, this trade show has been showcasing exhibitors from all over, with tens of thousands of brands attending.

The event is so filled with people and products, marketing and pitches… you’ll almost feel like you’re drowning in ideas for your funnel.

At the bigger trade shows, it’s definitely a good idea to bring a way to record your ideas as you go.

Whether you merely use pen and pencil or a fancier method like Evernote to snap photos and keep notes, it’s vital that you jot down your thoughts as you go.

Trade shows are such a popular method of connecting with branding and funnel ideas, that 92% of attendees specifically say that they came to see and discover what’s new in products and services.

They really are hubs for hunting out those new ideas!

And because 56% of participants travel 400 miles or more, trade shows represent a good cross-section of geographically diverse people.

This is especially good if you’re a local small business looking to see what other ideas are making headway through the country and the world.

Protip: Nothing says you can’t attend trade shows for industries other than your own. If you notice an interesting one in your area (and better yet, it’s free to attend), stop in and see what brands in other markets are doing.

Choose from Almost Anything on Alibaba.com

If you haven’t heard of Alibaba yet, take a look at one of the largest online marketplaces in the world.

With 8.5 million active sellers, this e-commerce site is a bottomless pit of products of all types.

What’s awesome about using it is that you can search through vendors that sell business to business as well as to the general public.

And the prices are absolutely amazing, especially for much larger, bulk orders.

Finding items for your sales funnel can be as simple as browsing through the site and looking at the different products and categories that are available until you hit on something that gets the creative juices flowing.

We love heading over to the front page to use the featured products and vendors sections to see interesting items that we might not have thought of otherwise.

Once you’ve found something, you only need to click and go, and before you know it, you’ll be able to include the items in your sales funnel.

From trendy-looking water bottles in your brand color to skateboards to camping mugs and so much more, this website is easy to get lost on for a few hours as you start generating those creative ideas to center your next funnel around.

The best part is that 83% of consumers say they really like getting promotional products like these that feature advertising, and because the prices are low, the cost per impression is less than a single penny in many cases.

Protip: Most areas have a marketing company available that can have your brand name printed on just about any item you find and for an affordable price. After you’ve found that novel item on Alibaba, have your company logo printed right on it!

Regularly Read Entrepreneurial Publications

Our final sources are those entrepreneurial publications you probably already find yourself reading each week.

Online publications like Forbes and Inc. aren’t just places to read articles on professional topics; they’re also priced sources for your sales funnel.

But how can that be?

On sites like these, you’ve probably found yourself reading an inspiring story about a business owner who built their company into what it is today.

Or maybe you’ve read an article or two about some of the top brands in your industry.

What many of these articles have in common is that they reveal the ideas these businesses used in their sales funnels.

Take this article for instance.

By seeing how other brands have made the subscription box work for their funnel, you’ll be able to see ideas that have been put into action… and worked!

Or how about this article on how one mom took to YouTube to boost her sales funnel?

Every article seems to contain a little kernel of an idea, sometimes hidden away or so subtle you might miss it if you weren’t paying attention.

But now, next time you read those publications, you’ll be “in the know,” collecting, analyzing, and considering all them for your next sales funnel.

Protip: You can also use these publications to keep an eye on trends such as Pokemon Go, which is taking the world by storm right now.

By getting tipped off to these trends before they break or even as they’re breaking, you’ll be able to plug them into your next funnel and catch your prospect’s’ attention that much more.