10 Ways to Boost Conversions at Every Funnel Stage

Discover effective strategies to enhance conversions at each stage of your referral funnel and maximize customer engagement.


Justin Britten

Justin Britten

· 9 min read
10 Ways to Boost Conversions at Every Funnel Stage

Want more customers? Here's how to improve your referral funnel:

  1. Better landing pages
  2. Customer testimonials
  3. Tailored content
  4. Email campaigns
  5. Rewards for referrals
  6. Simpler sign-ups
  7. Good welcome process
  8. Ask for referrals
  9. A/B testing
  10. Multi-channel marketing

Quick Comparison:

Strategy Stage Key Benefit
Landing pages Awareness First impression
Testimonials Interest Social proof
Tailored content Consideration Personalization
Email campaigns Nurturing Guided journey
Rewards Conversion Incentivizes action
Simple sign-ups Conversion Reduces friction
Welcome process Onboarding Shows value fast
Referral asks Advocacy Leverages word-of-mouth
A/B testing All stages Data-driven improvements
Multi-channel All stages Reaches users everywhere

These tactics work. Dropbox grew 3900% in 15 months with referrals. Start with one strategy, track results, and keep improving your funnel.

Make Landing Pages Better

Your landing page is your first impression. Make it count:

Keep it simple

Don't overwhelm visitors. Use white space, stick to one clear CTA, and focus on benefits.

Speed it up

Slow pages kill conversions. A 1-second delay can cost you 7%. Trim those images and streamline your code.

Go mobile

Mobile-friendly pages convert better (11.7% vs 10.7% for desktop-only). Make sure it looks good on all devices.

Use smart visuals

A great hero image or video can grab attention. But be careful - pages without big images actually convert better (11.4% vs 9.8%).

Nail your headline

Only 2 in 10 people read past the headline. Make it clear, benefit-focused, and match your ad copy.

Show social proof

Pages with social proof convert at 12.5% vs 11.4% without. Add testimonials, logos, or case studies.

Simplify forms

Fewer fields often mean more conversions. Ask only what you NEED to know.

Test, test, test

Small changes can have big impacts:

Company Change Result
Basecamp Added human image 102% more sign-ups
HubSpot Changed CTA button color 21% more conversions
Truckers Report Shorter form 13% more conversions

Keep testing. You never know what might work for YOUR audience.

2. Use Customer Testimonials

Customer testimonials are conversion boosters. They're social proof that your product or service delivers.

Why testimonials work:

  • 78% of shoppers are more likely to buy after reading positive testimonials
  • They speed up buying decisions
  • Customers who interact with reviews spend 62% more per visit

Here's how to use testimonials effectively:

1. Collect strategically

Use automated NPS surveys to find your biggest fans.

2. Place them where it matters

Don't hide testimonials. Put them on your:

  • Homepage
  • Product pages
  • Landing pages
  • Near CTAs

3. Mix up your formats

Use written reviews, videos, case studies, and social media posts.

4. Make them specific

Include the customer's name, job title, photo, and concrete results.

5. Keep it real

Authenticity is key. Don't fake it.

Here's a powerful testimonial example:

"With Delighted, a pop-up question appears on the website that our users can complete in a single click. After maybe 10 days, we had six times the responses that we'd had within the last six months. It made a huge difference, and now NPS is something we actively participate in improving across the whole business." - Ido Breger, VP of Product at Cynet

This testimonial works because it tells a story, provides details, shows results, and comes from a credible source.

3. Tailor Content to Users

Want more conversions? Tailor your content to your users. It's that simple.

Here's how to do it:

1. Segment your audience

Split your users into groups. Then, create content for each group.

Appboy found that well-segmented campaigns can lead to 3x more conversions. Not bad, right?

2. Use behavioral data

Track what users do on your site. Use this info to give them content they'll love.

Netflix did this in India. They saw users mainly used mobile devices and thought $9 was too much. So, they made a $3/month mobile-only plan. Smart move.

3. Personalize emails

Make your emails speak to each user. It works wonders:

What You Do What You Get
Personalize subject lines 26% more opens
Personalize everything 38% more clicks

4. Customize on-site experiences

Change your website based on what users do and like.

Oktopost tried this. They showed the right content to each visitor. Result? 31% more leads.

5. Use geotargeting

Change your content based on where users are. Think language, currency, and local offers.

Wool and Gang does this well. They show shipping rates and prices in Euros for Austrian customers. It tackles worries about international shipping head-on.

Remember: The more you tailor, the more you convert. It's as easy as that.

4. Set Up Email Campaigns

Email campaigns are key for moving leads through your funnel. They're not just about sending messages - they're about creating a journey that turns prospects into customers.

Here's how to set up email campaigns that work:

  1. Split your list: Don't send the same email to everyone. Group your list based on behavior, interests, or funnel stage.
  2. Make it personal: Using a subscriber's name in the subject line can boost open rates by 41.8%. But go further. Tailor the content to what they need and like.
  3. Welcome new folks: First impressions count. Create a series of welcome emails to introduce new subscribers to your brand.
  4. Use clear CTAs: Every email needs a purpose. Make your call-to-action stand out.
  5. Think mobile: 66% of emails are read on phones or tablets. Make sure your emails look good on small screens.
  6. Test and tweak: Use A/B testing to improve your emails. Try different subject lines, content, and send times.

Here's a quick look at some effective email types:

Email Type Purpose Example
Welcome Introduce new subscribers "Thanks for joining! Here's what to expect..."
Promo Highlight offers or products "20% off your first purchase - Limited time"
Cart Reminder Remind users of items left in cart "Forgot something? Your cart is waiting"
Re-engage Win back inactive subscribers "We miss you! Here's a special offer"

The goal? Guide leads through your funnel, not spam them. Each email should add value and move the subscriber closer to buying.

5. Give Rewards

Want to boost conversions? Offer rewards. It's that simple.

Here's how to do it right:

  1. Double the fun: Reward both sides. The referrer AND the new customer get something. It's a win-win.
Company Referrer Gets New Customer Gets
HelloFresh $20 credit $40 credit
Athletic Greens $15 off 5 free travel packs
Misen $20 discount 20% off first buy
  1. Stack 'em up: More referrals? Bigger rewards. Keep your top fans hooked.

Example:

  • First 5 referrals: $250
  • After that? Double it. Every. Single. Time.
  1. Think beyond cash: Sometimes, stuff beats money. A University of Chicago study found non-cash rewards 24% more effective for referrals.
  2. Points, anyone?: Reward ongoing engagement. Evernote gives 10 points for each of the first three referrals. That's three months of Premium.
  3. Upgrade for free: Give away premium features or longer trials. Trello offers a free month of Gold for each referral, up to a year.

Make it simple. Make it automatic. Get those rewards out fast. Keep your users excited and they'll keep coming back for more.

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6. Simplify the Sign-Up Process

A smooth sign-up process is key to boosting conversions. Here's why: over 67% of visitors abandon sign-ups if they hit roadblocks. That's a lot of potential customers lost.

So, how can you fix this?

  1. Cut the clutter: Keep forms short. Ask only what's necessary. Expedia dropped one form field and made $12 million more per year.
  2. Offer options: Let users sign up with social media accounts. It's quick and easy. Miro does this well.
  3. Skip the CAPTCHA: Those squiggly letters cost you users. Find other ways to stop bots.
  4. Go mobile: Over half of internet traffic is mobile. Ensure your sign-up works on phones. Jotform does this well.
  5. Show progress: If you need more info, use a progress bar like Airtable. It keeps users motivated.
  6. Allow guest checkouts: For e-commerce, let people buy without an account.

Here's a quick comparison:

Approach Example Result
Minimal info Asana (work email only) Less effort
Social sign-on Headspace (Facebook, Apple, Google) Faster sign-up
Progressive profiling Beehiiv (3-page series) More interactive
One-click verification Squarespace Stops spam

Every extra field can cost you users. Keep it simple and quick.

Take ClickUp: their sign-up page asks for just an email. That's it. They claim users can start in seconds.

The bottom line? Make signing up easy, and watch your conversions grow.

7. Create a Good Welcome Process

A solid welcome process can boost your conversion rates. It's your shot to grab new users and show off your product's value fast.

Here's how to do it right:

1. Send a welcome email

Your first contact matters. Make it count.

Asana reminds users about their free trial and gives usage tips. Freshbooks explains the "add a client" feature with clear steps and a strong CTA.

2. Keep it simple

Don't overwhelm new users. Break it down into easy steps.

Airbnb's welcome email has just three short sections. Easy start.

3. Show value quickly

Get users to their "aha moment" ASAP.

Drip focuses on quick wins, highlighting features that users love.

4. Use progress bars

They keep users motivated and show progress.

5. Offer support

Be there when users need help.

BigCommerce provides 24/7 live support during onboarding. No delays.

6. Personalize the experience

Tailor onboarding to different user types.

7. Use video

A short welcome video adds a personal touch.

Userlist includes a brief video from its founders. Makes it personal.

Here's the kicker: 85% of people say they're more likely to stick with a business that welcomes and educates them post-purchase.

So, nail that welcome process. Your conversion rates will love you for it.

8. Ask Users to Refer Friends

Want more customers? Let your users do the work. Referral programs can be a goldmine.

Here's why:

  • 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family over ads
  • Referred leads convert 30% better than non-referred ones
  • Referred customers stick around 37% longer

How to create a killer referral program:

1. Make it easy

Dropbox nailed this with a one-click personalized referral link. Users could share via email, social media, or text.

2. Reward both sides

Trello gives a free month of premium to the referrer and a trial to the new user. Everyone wins.

3. Pick smart incentives

Dropbox offered extra storage instead of cash. Result? 3,900% user growth in 15 months.

4. Time it right

Ask for referrals when users are happiest - after a successful purchase or positive interaction.

5. Track everything

Use referral software to monitor your program's success. Keep an eye on referral rate, conversion rate, and lifetime value of referred users.

"If there's something in it for the referrer, and these incentives are balanced, then you won't have to worry about overexposing your referral program." - Josh Ho, Referral Rock CEO

9. Test Different Options

A/B testing is your secret weapon for boosting conversions. It's simple: compare two versions of something and see which one wins.

Here's how to use A/B testing to level up your funnel:

  1. Start at the top. Test your landing pages first. Play with headlines, images, and CTAs.
  2. One change at a time. Don't go crazy. Change one thing per test.
  3. Trust the data. Your gut feeling? Ignore it. Let the numbers speak.
  4. Big changes, then small. Test major stuff first, then fine-tune.
  5. Never stop testing. What works now might flop later.

Real-world win:

China Expat Health boosted their lead conversion rate by 79% with A/B testing. Their big win? Changing "Health Insurance in China" to "Save Up to 32% on Your Health Insurance in China." Boom. Instant value for visitors.

More A/B testing victories:

Company Test Result
HubSpot Green CTA button to red 21% more conversions
Airbnb Email copy for referrals Friend's reward focus won
Talkable Plain text vs HTML emails Plain text: 50.4% higher click-through

Don't limit yourself. A/B test everything: websites, emails, ads, even product features. Keep pushing, keep testing, keep winning.

10. Use Multiple Marketing Channels

To boost conversions, you need to reach users where they are. This means using multiple channels to connect with potential customers across various platforms.

Here's how:

1. Pick the right mix

Choose channels that fit your audience and goals. B2B? Focus on LinkedIn and email. Consumer products? Try Instagram and Facebook.

2. Align channels with funnel stages

Use different channels for different parts of the customer journey. SEO and content marketing work for awareness, while email campaigns are great for nurturing leads.

3. Create a consistent message

Keep your brand voice the same across all channels. This builds trust and recognition.

4. Use data to guide decisions

Track performance across channels. Adjust your strategy based on what works best.

Let's look at some examples:

Company Channels Used Results
Starbucks Mobile app, in-store, social media Increased engagement and sales
Walgreens Mobile app, website, physical stores Easier prescription refills, improved experience
Amtrak Chatbot, website, customer service 25% more bookings, $1 million saved in costs

Starbucks nails this. Their mobile app lets customers order ahead, earn rewards, and reload cards. It connects seamlessly with their in-store experience, making it easy for customers to engage both online and offline.

It's not about being everywhere. It's about creating a smooth, connected experience across all touchpoints. This approach, called omnichannel marketing, can lead to big wins:

  • Customers who engage with multiple touchpoints are 30% more valuable on average.
  • Repeat customers, often reached through multiple channels, make up 40% of revenue despite being a smaller part of the customer base.

To get started:

  1. Map your customer journey to find key touchpoints.
  2. Create unique content for each channel.
  3. Use tools to track performance.
  4. Test and optimize regularly.

Conclusion

Boosting conversions at every funnel stage is crucial for business growth. Let's recap the key strategies:

Stage Strategy Impact
Awareness Better landing pages More engagement
Interest Customer testimonials Builds trust
Consideration Tailored content Meets user needs
Conversion Simpler sign-ups Less friction
Retention Email campaigns Keeps users engaged

Small changes can be game-changers. Take Dropbox: a simple referral program offering extra storage boosted sign-ups by 60% almost overnight.

Don't overwhelm yourself. Pick one or two strategies that fit your business. Monitor your metrics and tweak as needed.

Always prioritize your customers. Ask yourself: "How does this improve things for them?" This approach will guide you to meaningful changes.

Ready to start? Choose a strategy and begin optimizing your funnel today. Your future customers (and profits) will thank you.

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