May 20, 2025 • 35 mins
If the words 'sales funnel' make you want to hide under your desk, this episode is for you. Whether you’re stuck on what to sell, overwhelmed by the tech, or just tired of spinning your wheels, today’s guest Shannon Gaither is here to simplify the entire process. She’s breaking down how to go from idea to income with a sales funnel that’s simple, sustainable, and actually works—even if you don’t have a team or a tech background. This is the clarity and confidence boost every online business owner needs.
Connect with Shannon Gaither
Instagram: @shannongaithercreative
Website: https://www.shannongaither.com/
Shannon's Free Guide "100 Digital Products You Can Create & Sell Today": https://www.shannongaither.com/100
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Carrie Saunders (00:00):
If the words sales funnel makes you hide
under your desk, this episode isfor you.
Whether you're stuck on what tosell, overwhelmed by tech or
just tired of spinning yourwheels, today's guest speaker,
shannon Gaither, is here tosimplify the entire process.
She's breaking down how to gofrom idea to income with a sales
funnel that's simple,sustainable and actually works,
(00:24):
even if you don't have a team ortech background.
This is the clarity andconfidence boost that every
online business owner needs andthat I wish I had early on.
So let's dive in.
Welcome to the e-commerce madeeasy podcast.
I'm your host, k Saunders.
When we started this business,all I had was a couch, a laptop
and a nine monthmonth-old.
(00:44):
My main goal To help others.
Now, with over 20 years in thee-commerce building industry,
and even more than that in webdevelopment, I have seen a lot.
I love breaking down the hardtech into easily understandable
bits to help others besuccessful in their online
business.
Whether you're a seasonede-commerce veteran or just
starting out, you've come to theright place, so sit back, relax
(01:11):
and let's dive into the worldof e-commerce together.
Welcome back to the show.
Today, we have a special guestwith us, and her name is Shannon
Gaither, and she is a sales andmarketing strategist who helps
online business owners buildsimple sales funnels through her
coaching and signature courseSales Funnel Lab.
She's all about turning ideasinto income without the tech
overwhelm, and she is a joy totalk to.
She and I are both tech people,and I always have a great
(01:33):
conversation with Shannon.
So welcome Shannon to the show.
Thank you, I'm so glad to behere.
So, shannon, tell us a littlebit more about you and who you
are, and what's your fun hobbiesto do, too, besides all the
tech things you do.
Shannon Gaither (01:47):
Well it's, I have twins.
I have 13 year old twins, boygirl.
They keep me pretty busy andgardening is my go to hobby, for
sure.
And I'm vegetable gardener,love vegetable gardening.
I've been doing it for a lot ofyears and that's my main.
I'd say that's my main hobby,other than just constantly
organizing things in my home.
Carrie Saunders (02:11):
So tell us a little bit more about your your
sales funnel business and yourhow you help other businesses
too.
Shannon Gaither (02:18):
Yes, I like to take the guesswork out of what
to sell and how to sell it, andI do that through coaching and
my course, as you mentioned,sales Funnel Lab and I've been
doing it for I don't know.
I went from, let's see, aboutfive years ago.
I switched to coaching andbuilt my first course about four
years ago Systems for Successand I love systems and that just
(02:44):
comes naturally to me.
And it took a little while towarm up to realizing that all my
business had turned into afunnel business Like it had,
just without really realizing it.
That's what I had ended up.
That's what I've been doing.
I met with a coach and she waslike what exactly is your
transformation, what do you helppeople with?
And we kept drilling into itand I was like over and over
with a coach and she was likewhat exactly is your
(03:04):
transformation?
What do you help people with?
And we kept drilling into itand I was like, over and over
and over again, it was like Ibuild offers.
I help people build offers,figure out how to launch them
into the world and how toposition them and how to
optimize, and so it's justevolved into that business and I
absolutely love it because itoften is the differentiator
between somebody making enoughmoney in their business to
(03:28):
validate their business, to makesure that it is, you know,
continuing to be something thatthey should be putting their
time and effort into.
And I see a lot of people stopat a certain point and kind of
cap off and find that they havetech challenges or just strategy
challenges.
They don't know where to whereto focus their energy next and
(03:49):
um, and it stops them fromreally getting the business that
they can they deem successful,you know, and um, without that
they're, they're they're liableto give up on their business if
they get burnout or um, or justyou know, they might just not
make enough money to for it towork, for it to make sense for
them.
And so I love seeing somebodygo from that place to successful
(04:15):
and making money and reallybringing it in and in a way that
gives them the opportunity tobuild the lifestyle that they
want for their own family andthemselves.
Carrie Saunders (04:23):
Have opportunity to build the
lifestyle that they want fortheir own family and themselves.
And I've witnessed you do thisbefore too with some business
people.
I know, some business friends Iknow, and it's just so
wonderful to see how you workwith them and the transformation
you give them and really howmuch you care and to make sure
that you're similar to me in ourbusiness and that you're
invested in their business andyou want to make sure that they
(04:46):
are, you know, seeing successand really making that next
stride, and so I think that'skind of why we're a little bit
of a kindred spirit here,because we both love to just see
the success in our clients andit really shows what you do.
Shannon Gaither (05:01):
Thank you for saying that.
I do feel like it is theirsuccess is my success.
That's literally.
It's so tied.
There's no way.
It's not, it's just.
You know, that's literally whatI live for and I think that
it's really fun and exciting tosee somebody have that click
(05:22):
happen and make that move.
That really is thedifferentiator in their business
.
It's cool.
Carrie Saunders (05:28):
Makes sense.
So, for those listening andthey're wanting to build like a
sales funnel, what are some ofthe common misconceptions about
sales funnel among the earlystage online entrepreneurs?
What are they not knowing ormissing, or along those lines?
Shannon Gaither (05:47):
Let's say that one of the biggest
misconceptions is they need a.
They think they need a hugeaudience or they need to come
really complicated tech to havea funnel that works, and you
really don't.
I mean I've had clients startwith a free checklist or a
simple thank you page or thathas an offer on it or a
three-page email sequence thatmakes their first sale, and it
(06:08):
really doesn't have to be supercomplicated.
And I'd say anothermisconception would be thinking
you have to build out like anentire course or challenge or
boot camp or a membership beforeyou start selling, and that's
putting the cart before thehorse.
I think sometimes you need topre-sell or launch a beta before
(06:30):
you you launch something big orput your time into something
large, because you need to getproof of concept first.
So, like I've had a clientlaunch a four-week workshop that
was about with just like abasic, basic sales page,
literally had a few buttonbullets on it about what she was
teaching and it sold out.
So it really doesn't have to beoverly complicated, but I think
(06:53):
a lot of folks think it shouldbe.
And then, um, the last thingI'd say is a misconception that
comes right to mind is thatpeople think it's it, it, um,
funnels are cold and pushy, andbut the best funnels are cold
and pushy, but the best funnelsare really should feel like a
conversation.
It should be like someone'sopting into your freebie and
(07:13):
then they read your story in anemail that you send in response
to that or delivery, and thenthey're like, wow, she's been
where I am.
You know the good sales funnelsare not spammy, they're
supportive.
So I'd say those are the bigmisconceptions.
Carrie Saunders (07:32):
Well, and I think that makes a lot of sense,
because I know that the salesfunnels that I am attracted to
are the ones that are that arelike that.
They're they're simpler,they're more friendly.
I feel like I am having aconversation with the person.
So I love how you help peoplesee that, because it's so easy
(07:53):
for us, as entrepreneurs, toover complicate what we're doing
and I'm talking to myself too,because I do this as well and I
sometimes have to be like wait aminute, carrie, we need to back
up and make this a littlesimpler.
You know, try it out, prove aconcept, things like that.
So I love that you help theclients, you know, see that, and
you're not.
I feel like that's showing thatyou're not taking advantage of
them as a client.
You're truly, you know, walkingside by side and and helping
(08:16):
them.
See, you know, we can do thiseasy and get some sales and get
some momentum and some reallyencouragement and more
self-confidence when we do makethose you know, little sails
along the way as we're building,whatever the thing is, and it
helps us, you know, have thatconfidence to keep going and
know that we're in the rightdirection and finish.
(08:38):
What's in our brain is thebigger, more perfection part of
it.
But we're making those manysteps along the way because done
is better than perfect, forsure.
Shannon Gaither (08:47):
Done is better than perfect Absolutely.
And you can spend a lot of time, just like you can build a
website, and you can spend a lotof time doing your branding and
your website and building allthat out and then not actually
selling anything for a while,and then you're like I should
have been selling first, Ishould have sold first and then
built those things out.
You know, and same thinghappens with a lot of course,
creators and membership peoplethey, they go to launch and they
(09:08):
don't really have, they haven'tbeen building their audience or
they haven't been warmingpeople up and you know it's,
it's um, it's always morerewarding when you have that
validation first, when you, youknow you've got the validation,
you know to put your where, toput your energy, it's way better
.
Carrie Saunders (09:25):
For sure, for sure.
So then, if somebody is wantingto do something like this, how
can a business owner identifyand validate a profitable offer
before, like, building out thefunnel and before doing all the
bigger things behind it?
Shannon Gaither (09:40):
I'd start with paying attention to what people
are asking you for.
I'd start with paying attentionto what people are asking you
for.
So, like, if you're a mindsetcoach and people are asking you,
I'm, I'm, you know, if peoplekeep saying like I know what I
should be doing but I'm notconsistent at it, then that
could be a sign for you to makesomething like a 30 day
accountability plan, you knowand?
(10:00):
Or?
Or like a a daily reset routineor some mindset reset routine
or something like that.
You know, just, you don't haveto reinvent the wheel, just
package your support around theneed that they're expressing.
So build something around whatyou hear them talking about,
they need, if you can.
(10:21):
And then also, validationdoesn't have to be super fancy.
It can be like you could post apoll on your Instagram saying
something like if I offered aquick training on on this topic,
would you be into it?
And if you get replies or DMS,then there's your green light.
You know you could also try amini version of your idea.
I love the love of gettingpeople to make like a small
(10:45):
offer.
Like, for example, if you'reyou want to create a big course,
before you do that, you build,you host a 90 minute workshop
like a paid workshop.
My one of my clients did thatwho?
She did a $37 workshop foraccounting basics for tax pros
and she totally validated heroffer and that people were
willing to pay and she turned itinto a bigger product.
Carrie Saunders (11:09):
So I love that and I feel like that that's
something we sometimes don'tgive permission to ourselves to
even do.
Yes, so I love that you givethem that permission, and
sometimes we need to hear itmore than once too, because the
other day I was actually talkingto somebody and we're at the
(11:30):
time of this recording, we'rerunning some webinars.
Well, she was like, well, areyou going to, like, save it and
record it and sell it later?
Well, I hadn't even consideredit, you know, I hadn't
considered what I was teachingand it as being like a little
mini workshop of some sort.
So sometimes we just need apartner like like you, shannon,
that, can, you know, take a lookback, look, you know, an
(11:50):
outside, look at something tosee, well, what are these little
mini offers we could do to, tobuild building blocks to that
bigger offer we want to have?
Shannon Gaither (11:58):
Yes, absolutely Absolutely.
And I think sometimes, whenwe're into our business kind of
deep, we also think we don'tneed to validate.
That also happens.
It doesn't just happen to newtimers or newcomers or whatever,
it can also happen to thosevets because you don't think you
have to validate, because youraudience says something.
(12:21):
Well, how many people in youraudience said that?
You know, was it just oneperson?
Was it one student or onecustomer who said that?
Because you might be buildingan offer around that?
One person.
So it's take that, take a fewminutes and validate it, you
know.
Carrie Saunders (12:35):
That's a very, very good point.
Shannon Gaither (12:37):
It's a whole section of my course is
validation and I go all into allthese validation techniques and
yeah, it's such an important itcan't be underestimated.
My first course I did notvalidate very well and I don't
think the messaging hit becauseI didn't validate well and I
think that it's such anunderestimated part of building
(12:57):
out sales offers.
Carrie Saunders (13:00):
And I think that some people might be a
little bit scared to validate.
But it's better to validateahead of time and then put the
course out there and then get,because you might your, your big
idea might be mostly on pointbut you just need to shift it
just a tiny bit and thatvalidation steps as you go to it
(13:27):
helps you shift it that tinybit to really land the target a
bit better.
Shannon Gaither (13:31):
Yes, yes, when I was building out the, when I
was validating my lap, thecourse I just recently built and
what I did was I did validationcalls with folks and I recorded
the calls.
I took the transcript.
I used Fathom and I took thetranscript into ChatGPT and had
(13:53):
it extract out all the painpoints they said and all the
recommendations they said andall the things that they said
that they needed to have in acourse for it to make sense for
them and it and I used it on mysales page.
I used those wording on myselfand I felt like that was changed
.
Everything for me that changedthe game the fact that we have
ai.
We can take the validation andreally like turn it into
(14:16):
something that benefits us in away that's a little bit faster
than we used to.
We used to validate right.
Carrie Saunders (14:22):
Right, that's a very smart move to do that that
way.
So then, for those that arelistening and they want to build
a simple yet as effective salesfunnel, what are some of those
essential components that youneed on one of those you know?
First, simple, effective salesfunnels that you have.
Shannon Gaither (14:39):
Well, let's see .
First thing I would think thatcomes to mind is super clear
messaging Messaging that spellsout exactly what someone's going
to walk away with and ideallywhen, even because sometimes
people say things like you know,their type of business is
(14:59):
online business coaching.
Well, instead of saying that,maybe say something like book
your first three clients in 30days, that tells me what I'm
getting and how long it'll take.
And I feel like that buildsthat clarity, builds trust
faster and helps peopleself-identify, which is super
important and allows them tojust, you know, quickly say yes,
(15:19):
because they've they'veconnected that that offers for
them and they know the how longit'll take and they can see how
much it is and what the outcomeis, and so it's just all laid
out for them in a way that ifyou're, if you say things like
online business coaching,they're like that could mean a
million things to a milliondifferent people.
We all have.
You know, if you've ever heardof a business coach, you know
that they all think slightlydifferent, you know.
Carrie Saunders (15:44):
Yeah, and that's a really good point,
cause we talk a lot on thepodcast about being clear and
not clever with our messaging onour websites and with our call
to action.
So you know, our offermessaging needs to be very clear
, just like the example you gaveus.
I mean, it's very clear whatthat outcome is, and talking to
the benefits rather than thefeatures is something else I'm
sure you help your clients do ontheir funnels too, right?
Shannon Gaither (16:07):
Yes, oh, it's all about transformation.
Because people buytransformation.
They buy the end result of whatthey're, and often it is not
the price that sways them.
It is the transformation thatthey're going to accomplish that
sways them more than price.
You know that's a misnomer in alot of ways, because I think
we'll come up with the money ifthe transformation is worth it
(16:28):
for us.
So other things that people cando that are essential
components.
Let me think people can do thatare essential components.
Let me think Another one Iwould say is your lead magnet is
often something that peoplewill build first, but it's
something that you shouldconsider building after your
(16:51):
offer if possible, or review andsee if you can tweak it,
because, because your leadmagnet leads needs to.
I have to take a big deep breathbecause I feel like this is
creating work for people.
But your lead magnet needs tolead directly to your sales
(17:12):
offer, and that's sometimessomething we discover after the
fact and sometimes that's okay,and it's okay to scrap a first
lead magnet if it just totallyis not in alignment anymore.
It's important to make it aboutgiving them the first step
towards the result, and thatresult is your paid offer.
(17:34):
So it's the first step toward aresult that your paid offer
will actually achieve.
So once you're clear on youroffer, you know what you're
helping people do and in whattime frame, and then you can
back up and say, like what wouldsomeone need to know, believe
or do before they're actuallyready to buy this?
(17:54):
And then that answer becomesyour lead magnet.
Carrie Saunders (18:00):
And that's a little tough for people to
swallow.
Shannon Gaither (18:02):
I think sometimes.
Carrie Saunders (18:03):
No, I know, and I completely agree there
because you know, we're told,you know, especially in the
online course coach, you knowcourse creator coach, you know
service provider that you had tocreate that lead magnet first
and I completely agree with you.
There's a first initial leadmagnets I created.
I either need to go revise themor trash them because they
(18:26):
weren't quite aligned with theoffer.
I ended up landing on myselfand I think that even if you
have created those and they'renot quite aligned, I feel like
the fact that you created themis good, just because you've
gotten the experience, and it'sokay, and then we should give
ourselves permission to eitherrevise it or or create new with
(18:49):
something a bit more aligned yes, I mean, my first ones are not.
Shannon Gaither (18:54):
They were not aligned anymore, you know, not
at all like I remember.
I mean, I think I think I madea morning routine thing, like I
don't know what I was thinking.
It's probably something you weredealing with at the time, you
know exactly Lack of validationallows you to create, makes you
(19:14):
create things that you're notnecessarily going to use long
term.
But when you're a freebie andyour offer align, then your
funnel works so much better.
You build trust and you guidethem naturally towards the next
step and it just becomes anatural next step as opposed to
a big jump.
Carrie Saunders (19:32):
Right, right Makes a lot of sense.
So when entrepreneurs aretrying to build their first
funnel, how can they overcomethis tech overwhelm when setting
up their first funnel?
Because I know we can getreally down in the weeds with
the tech I know I have myself,even though I'm a tech person.
So how do we help overcome themwith that tech?
Shannon Gaither (19:54):
Yeah.
So let's see, tech is one ofthe biggest reasons people don't
build.
They put off building a funnelor they don't build a funnel,
they feel like they have to hireto do it and stuff.
And but when you're thinkingthat's because, like, you hear
these components like landingpage, email, automations,
checkout links and integrationsand you go nope, and but try to
(20:20):
simplify it, start with strategy, not the software Super
important.
I always say this in my courseand everywhere.
Really, that is one of themistakes I see people make.
They start with software, notstrategy.
And if you start with strategy,then you can go with the
simplest platforms If possible.
Stick with one platform and tryto simplify the step steps a
(20:44):
little bit.
So like, if you're using like akajabi, if you have a kajabi or
a go high level or somethinglike that, then build everything
in the same thing the landingpages, emails, check out all
those things.
But uh, and that's becausetrying to duct tape five tools
together is where people getstuck.
So simplify your tools firstand stick with strategy first.
(21:05):
Then simplify your tools.
Choose the simplest tools youcould build one step at a time.
Don't try to write all youremails and design your pages and
figure out all your automationsin one sitting.
Break it down.
Just do day one.
Day one, you could craft youropt-in page, build your opt-in
page and then day two, you canwrite your first email.
That's how you can do itwithout frying your brain, and
(21:32):
also, don't try to inventeverything from scratch.
Use templates and checklistsand go to somebody's whether
it's mine or someone else's justuse a roadmap that tells you
exactly what to do and in whatorder, and ask for help.
Ask for help?
Yes, like I find that Sorry.
You know, I was going to say.
Carrie Saunders (21:50):
when you said ask for help, I'm like that's
something we many times don'tgive ourselves permission to do
as business owners, and so Ithink that's a really good point
.
I want to make sure people herego ask for help.
There's other business ownersthat want to help.
Shannon Gaither (22:04):
I added a 45 minute strategy call to my
offers because of that veryreason.
People wouldn't ask for helpbecause they thought they needed
to like sign up for a longcoaching and I I added a 45
minute because sometimes peoplejust need me to look at their
landing page and figure outwhat's not, what's wrong, like
what's what's or or what's theintegration and help me fix this
integration so you don't haveto do it alone it totally makes
(22:28):
sense and I I do remember whenwe started creating our first
lead magnets, I did keep itsimple.
Carrie Saunders (22:34):
I mean, I kept them just in my email service
provider, only I didn't have itin some fancy funnel type of
software or anything like that.
So I think giving peoplepermission to you know, use your
email service provider, becausethat can typically do a funnel,
a simple funnel, and just startthere, so that you're starting
simple.
Shannon Gaither (22:55):
Yes, yeah, some people skip a fancy sales page
and go straight to like acheckout page using Stripe.
We'll set up a Stripe accountand they'll just use the Stripe
checkout.
Or there's services that aresmall that are doing a really
good job of this for people whoaren't ready for the big
solution.
They don't need a website oranything yet.
So that's like the Stan store,and there's companies out there
(23:20):
that are making it really simpleto set up offers, and I think
it's important to just giveyourself permission to keep it
simple at first and let it bemessy a little bit, like the
goal isn't to build a perfectfunnel, it's just to build one
that's live and working andstarting to make you money.
Carrie Saunders (23:39):
And right for sure, and I've seen people even
use just a Google Doc like forbasically their, their funnel,
so like when you're listeningand you're new to funnels, like
it really can be that simple andthey can be effective.
I purchased from people withjust a simple Google Doc before.
Shannon Gaither (23:54):
Yes, I've seen high-end coaches sell their
sales page is a Google andthat's it.
And in an application form oror just literally a checkout,
and it's, that's it.
Amazing, and so it is reallycan.
It's really about what is the?
What is the offer, how?
(24:15):
When's the timeframe?
What's the transformation?
What you know?
Do you really get what I'm?
You know where I'm at and canyou really help me get to where
I'm trying to get?
And if that is all there andthat is all nailed in, you know
the, just the messaging alone, Idon't think that the format is
going to sway as many people aswe think it is.
Carrie Saunders (24:37):
I completely agree, because if you get the
things right you were justtalked about, you build trust,
and trust is what creates thepurchase.
Shannon Gaither (24:44):
Yes.
Carrie Saunders (24:47):
Yes.
So then for listeners that arelistening today and they want to
, you know, either build theirfirst sales funnel or they want
to improve one of their salesprocesses.
What are some quick wins theycan do?
What can they look at and whatcan they change and adjust?
Shannon Gaither (25:02):
Okay, let's see .
I'd start with the headline.
Look at your headline.
Is your headline tight?
Does it really talk abouttransformation?
You could do that by like.
If you have a sales page, lookat your sales page.
If you don't and you don't haveanything built yet look at your
Instagram bio.
Like, look where your peopleare getting their next step from
(25:23):
you and make sure that thatsays something that is ideally
like results focused.
I love results focusedheadlines and so, instead of
coaching program or onlinecourse, you know, make it.
Create your first digitalproduct in 30 days or book your
(25:43):
first three clients with, evenwithout a website.
Doesn't that sound like so muchbetter than than a coaching
program?
So just make it super clear andmake sure that what you do and
how you help them and, ifpossible, in what time frame,
(26:04):
and then check your lead magnetalignment See if that is aligned
.
So does your freebie actuallyattract someone who's actually
ready for your paid offer?
I mean, if your offer helpssell on etsy, for example, your
freebie um shouldn't be aboutgrowing on instagram.
You know, like we were talkingabout, like the first freebies
(26:25):
we made, we're like not, not,not it not.
Next.
The next step wasn't natural.
Think like natural next step,what is the natural next step?
And if you're thinkingbackwards, like creating a
freebie, after you think, whatdoes somebody need to do?
Think, believe, feel to beready for this next step, for
that to be the natural next step.
(26:46):
And then I would look at yourCTAs.
You know, make sure your CTA.
Look at your CTA.
Are you including them on likeblog posts in your website?
Are you including them in youremails?
Are you putting them in yourInstagram?
How many times are you actuallybringing it up?
Do you feel like you're talkingabout it all the time?
Or do you feel like you'retalking about it here and there?
(27:07):
Because people need to hear ita lot more than we think they do
and they read a lot less of ourstuff than we think they do.
So it's okay to repeat and youknow your CTAs and really make
sure that you're you'recontinuing to put it out in the
world and giving people theopportunity.
And then some other small winslet's see like you could reach
(27:29):
out to warm, warm leads Likesomebody who's replied to your
Like you could reach out to warmleads Like somebody who's
replied to your story.
You could reach out to them.
Or and just send like afriendly check, you know
check-in message or somethinglike hey, just wondering if
you're still looking for helpwith this, here's a resource you
know, use your voice.
(27:49):
Use your voice or your face.
If you're comfortable on video,record something.
If you're not comfortable onvideo, record a video like an
audio you know make.
I think that that's the fastestway to build trust.
I don't think we do it, I don'tthink enough of us do that,
take the time to do thosemethods, but it is the fastest
way to build trust is to addvideo.
(28:10):
And because we can like like Iwas thinking about this last
night I was watching somethingand I was thinking about like
how, how I got how into a fewepisodes into a show, how
attached I'll get to certaincharacters.
I'm like wow, that's so fastthat I'm all of a sudden like
vested in this person and I'mlike it's just the power of
(28:32):
video really.
It's like you really do getconnected to people and without
that you can't build trust asfast.
Carrie Saunders (28:41):
Yeah, and I think it's video and
storytelling, because, likestorytelling comes through video
and voice a lot better, so weconnect people you know, better.
When we're doing this, you knowwe have the story behind it too,
absolutely yes.
Those are some really greattips and actually I feel like I
(29:01):
need to go re-listen to themafter, after this podcast is
done, because I know there aresome things that I definitely
could be could improve on,especially the call to actions.
Like I know that I'm not greatat social media and putting
those call to actions in all thetime.
Like I might do it maybe onceor twice a month or so, or maybe
(29:22):
once a week, I'm not quite sure, but I need to like actually
assess and see how often am Idoing this call to actions,
because, as we talk about a loton the podcast, you would need
to guide the person to the nextstep because we're all busy, but
if we have that nudge, thatlittle guidance to that next
step, we're more likely tofollow it.
It's something I talk about andteach for website conversion,
(29:46):
but sometimes doing it yourselfis harder and you feel I feel
like we need to also have thepermission to to speak about our
businesses and our and not feelashamed, because I think some
people are sometimes feel alittle.
They feel like they're they'relike humble and they don't want
to speak about it, but that'show we help people, that's how
(30:06):
we serve people, is by tellingpeople what we do and how we can
help others, because we'reactually doing a disservice by
not offering our services.
It's something I have to tellmyself a lot and I repeat, I
have to tell myself more oftenthan I probably should, but it
is definitely true and I feellike entrepreneurs need to hear
that we are here for a reason,we have these skills for a
(30:28):
reason, we can help people, fora reason and we need.
It's a disservice not to offerour services, not to be that
helping guide.
Shannon Gaither (30:36):
Yes, 100%.
When you have the answers, youneed to share that.
Yes, I mean, if we can all worktogether to build each other's
businesses up and help eachother.
We move so much faster togetherthan we do apart, and so giving
them that natural next step isin service of that right.
Yes, that's so well said.
Carrie Saunders (30:58):
It totally is.
Yeah.
So, Shannon, I just have reallyenjoyed the conversation about
funnels and how to make thembetter and all the things.
So if somebody wants to learn abit more about you, how you can
help them, what would be somegood resources or places to go,
and we will be sure to put thelinks in the show notes too.
So don't worry about if you'relistening and you're like I
(31:20):
don't know if I can rememberthat.
You know we'll have them in theshow notes too, but let us know
a little bit more how we canconnect more with you.
Shannon Gaither (31:27):
Yes, definitely my website.
My website is shannongaithercom, and Gaither spelled gather
with an I.
That's the easiest way to do it, but of course they'll be in
the show notes.
But, and and my lead magnet is100 digital product ideas that
you can create and sell today.
So it's, it's shannongaitherforward, slash 100.
(31:48):
It's really easy to remember,so that is the best way.
And then also, just look me upon Instagram.
Instagram is I'm looking toconnect with people on Instagram
.
I'm always available in the DMs.
Carrie Saunders (32:02):
Well, and Shannon is always super friendly
, as I'm sure you can tell byour conversation.
She's just such a wonderfulperson who loves to help others,
and hopefully all that comesacross in the podcast episode,
because I feel like I've beenblessed to have fallen into your
world and your circle the pastyear or so and I just see all
the good that you do for others,so I really appreciate having
(32:24):
you on our podcast.
Shannon Gaither (32:25):
Thank you so much.
I'm so glad I got to be herewith you and I appreciate the
opportunity to get to have along conversation with you for
once.
Like you know, yes, yes.
Carrie Saunders (32:35):
Thanks again, shannon.
Thank you, what an awesomeconversation with Shannon
Gaither.
I hope you're walking away witha clear understanding of what a
sales funnel really is and howsimple it can be to start
building one that actually worksfor your business.
From validating your offer toovercoming tech overwhelm,
shannon shared so many goldennuggets that makes the sales
(32:58):
process feel a lot lessintimidating, even if you're
just getting started.
If this episode got your wheelsturning and you're ready to
start turning your ideas intoincome, be sure to check out the
show notes for links withShannon and learn more about her
and her sales funnel lab.
And if you're loving oure-commerce made easy podcast,
I'd be so grateful if you hitthat follow button and leave a
(33:19):
quick review.
It helps more business ownerslike you find the show and get
the support they need.
Thanks so much for tuning inand we will see you next week.
If the words sales funnel makes you hide
under your desk, this episode isfor you.
Whether you're stuck on what tosell, overwhelmed by tech or
just tired of spinning yourwheels, today's guest speaker,
shannon Gaither, is here tosimplify the entire process.
She's breaking down how to gofrom idea to income with a sales
funnel that's simple,sustainable and actually works,
(00:24):
even if you don't have a team ortech background.
This is the clarity andconfidence boost that every
online business owner needs andthat I wish I had early on.
So let's dive in.
Welcome to the e-commerce madeeasy podcast.
I'm your host, k Saunders.
When we started this business,all I had was a couch, a laptop
and a nine monthmonth-old.
(00:44):
My main goal To help others.
Now, with over 20 years in thee-commerce building industry,
and even more than that in webdevelopment, I have seen a lot.
I love breaking down the hardtech into easily understandable
bits to help others besuccessful in their online
business.
Whether you're a seasonede-commerce veteran or just
starting out, you've come to theright place, so sit back, relax
(01:11):
and let's dive into the worldof e-commerce together.
Welcome back to the show.
Today, we have a special guestwith us, and her name is Shannon
Gaither, and she is a sales andmarketing strategist who helps
online business owners buildsimple sales funnels through her
coaching and signature courseSales Funnel Lab.
She's all about turning ideasinto income without the tech
overwhelm, and she is a joy totalk to.
She and I are both tech people,and I always have a great
(01:33):
conversation with Shannon.
So welcome Shannon to the show.
Thank you, I'm so glad to behere.
So, shannon, tell us a littlebit more about you and who you
are, and what's your fun hobbiesto do, too, besides all the
tech things you do.
Shannon Gaither (01:47):
Well it's, I have twins.
I have 13 year old twins, boygirl.
They keep me pretty busy andgardening is my go to hobby, for
sure.
And I'm vegetable gardener,love vegetable gardening.
I've been doing it for a lot ofyears and that's my main.
I'd say that's my main hobby,other than just constantly
organizing things in my home.
Carrie Saunders (02:11):
So tell us a little bit more about your your
sales funnel business and yourhow you help other businesses
too.
Shannon Gaither (02:18):
Yes, I like to take the guesswork out of what
to sell and how to sell it, andI do that through coaching and
my course, as you mentioned,sales Funnel Lab and I've been
doing it for I don't know.
I went from, let's see, aboutfive years ago.
I switched to coaching andbuilt my first course about four
years ago Systems for Successand I love systems and that just
(02:44):
comes naturally to me.
And it took a little while towarm up to realizing that all my
business had turned into afunnel business Like it had,
just without really realizing it.
That's what I had ended up.
That's what I've been doing.
I met with a coach and she waslike what exactly is your
transformation, what do you helppeople with?
And we kept drilling into itand I was like over and over
with a coach and she was likewhat exactly is your
(03:04):
transformation?
What do you help people with?
And we kept drilling into itand I was like, over and over
and over again, it was like Ibuild offers.
I help people build offers,figure out how to launch them
into the world and how toposition them and how to
optimize, and so it's justevolved into that business and I
absolutely love it because itoften is the differentiator
between somebody making enoughmoney in their business to
(03:28):
validate their business, to makesure that it is, you know,
continuing to be something thatthey should be putting their
time and effort into.
And I see a lot of people stopat a certain point and kind of
cap off and find that they havetech challenges or just strategy
challenges.
They don't know where to whereto focus their energy next and
(03:49):
um, and it stops them fromreally getting the business that
they can they deem successful,you know, and um, without that
they're, they're they're liableto give up on their business if
they get burnout or um, or justyou know, they might just not
make enough money to for it towork, for it to make sense for
them.
And so I love seeing somebodygo from that place to successful
(04:15):
and making money and reallybringing it in and in a way that
gives them the opportunity tobuild the lifestyle that they
want for their own family andthemselves.
Carrie Saunders (04:23):
Have opportunity to build the
lifestyle that they want fortheir own family and themselves.
And I've witnessed you do thisbefore too with some business
people.
I know, some business friends Iknow, and it's just so
wonderful to see how you workwith them and the transformation
you give them and really howmuch you care and to make sure
that you're similar to me in ourbusiness and that you're
invested in their business andyou want to make sure that they
(04:46):
are, you know, seeing successand really making that next
stride, and so I think that'skind of why we're a little bit
of a kindred spirit here,because we both love to just see
the success in our clients andit really shows what you do.
Shannon Gaither (05:01):
Thank you for saying that.
I do feel like it is theirsuccess is my success.
That's literally.
It's so tied.
There's no way.
It's not, it's just.
You know, that's literally whatI live for and I think that
it's really fun and exciting tosee somebody have that click
(05:22):
happen and make that move.
That really is thedifferentiator in their business
.
It's cool.
Carrie Saunders (05:28):
Makes sense.
So, for those listening andthey're wanting to build like a
sales funnel, what are some ofthe common misconceptions about
sales funnel among the earlystage online entrepreneurs?
What are they not knowing ormissing, or along those lines?
Shannon Gaither (05:47):
Let's say that one of the biggest
misconceptions is they need a.
They think they need a hugeaudience or they need to come
really complicated tech to havea funnel that works, and you
really don't.
I mean I've had clients startwith a free checklist or a
simple thank you page or thathas an offer on it or a
three-page email sequence thatmakes their first sale, and it
(06:08):
really doesn't have to be supercomplicated.
And I'd say anothermisconception would be thinking
you have to build out like anentire course or challenge or
boot camp or a membership beforeyou start selling, and that's
putting the cart before thehorse.
I think sometimes you need topre-sell or launch a beta before
(06:30):
you you launch something big orput your time into something
large, because you need to getproof of concept first.
So, like I've had a clientlaunch a four-week workshop that
was about with just like abasic, basic sales page,
literally had a few buttonbullets on it about what she was
teaching and it sold out.
So it really doesn't have to beoverly complicated, but I think
(06:53):
a lot of folks think it shouldbe.
And then, um, the last thingI'd say is a misconception that
comes right to mind is thatpeople think it's it, it, um,
funnels are cold and pushy, andbut the best funnels are cold
and pushy, but the best funnelsare really should feel like a
conversation.
It should be like someone'sopting into your freebie and
(07:13):
then they read your story in anemail that you send in response
to that or delivery, and thenthey're like, wow, she's been
where I am.
You know the good sales funnelsare not spammy, they're
supportive.
So I'd say those are the bigmisconceptions.
Carrie Saunders (07:32):
Well, and I think that makes a lot of sense,
because I know that the salesfunnels that I am attracted to
are the ones that are that arelike that.
They're they're simpler,they're more friendly.
I feel like I am having aconversation with the person.
So I love how you help peoplesee that, because it's so easy
(07:53):
for us, as entrepreneurs, toover complicate what we're doing
and I'm talking to myself too,because I do this as well and I
sometimes have to be like wait aminute, carrie, we need to back
up and make this a littlesimpler.
You know, try it out, prove aconcept, things like that.
So I love that you help theclients, you know, see that, and
you're not.
I feel like that's showing thatyou're not taking advantage of
them as a client.
You're truly, you know, walkingside by side and and helping
(08:16):
them.
See, you know, we can do thiseasy and get some sales and get
some momentum and some reallyencouragement and more
self-confidence when we do makethose you know, little sails
along the way as we're building,whatever the thing is, and it
helps us, you know, have thatconfidence to keep going and
know that we're in the rightdirection and finish.
(08:38):
What's in our brain is thebigger, more perfection part of
it.
But we're making those manysteps along the way because done
is better than perfect, forsure.
Shannon Gaither (08:47):
Done is better than perfect Absolutely.
And you can spend a lot of time, just like you can build a
website, and you can spend a lotof time doing your branding and
your website and building allthat out and then not actually
selling anything for a while,and then you're like I should
have been selling first, Ishould have sold first and then
built those things out.
You know, and same thinghappens with a lot of course,
creators and membership peoplethey, they go to launch and they
(09:08):
don't really have, they haven'tbeen building their audience or
they haven't been warmingpeople up and you know it's,
it's um, it's always morerewarding when you have that
validation first, when you, youknow you've got the validation,
you know to put your where, toput your energy, it's way better
.
Carrie Saunders (09:25):
For sure, for sure.
So then, if somebody is wantingto do something like this, how
can a business owner identifyand validate a profitable offer
before, like, building out thefunnel and before doing all the
bigger things behind it?
Shannon Gaither (09:40):
I'd start with paying attention to what people
are asking you for.
I'd start with paying attentionto what people are asking you
for.
So, like, if you're a mindsetcoach and people are asking you,
I'm, I'm, you know, if peoplekeep saying like I know what I
should be doing but I'm notconsistent at it, then that
could be a sign for you to makesomething like a 30 day
accountability plan, you knowand?
(10:00):
Or?
Or like a a daily reset routineor some mindset reset routine
or something like that.
You know, just, you don't haveto reinvent the wheel, just
package your support around theneed that they're expressing.
So build something around whatyou hear them talking about,
they need, if you can.
(10:21):
And then also, validationdoesn't have to be super fancy.
It can be like you could post apoll on your Instagram saying
something like if I offered aquick training on on this topic,
would you be into it?
And if you get replies or DMS,then there's your green light.
You know you could also try amini version of your idea.
I love the love of gettingpeople to make like a small
(10:45):
offer.
Like, for example, if you'reyou want to create a big course,
before you do that, you build,you host a 90 minute workshop
like a paid workshop.
My one of my clients did thatwho?
She did a $37 workshop foraccounting basics for tax pros
and she totally validated heroffer and that people were
willing to pay and she turned itinto a bigger product.
Carrie Saunders (11:09):
So I love that and I feel like that that's
something we sometimes don'tgive permission to ourselves to
even do.
Yes, so I love that you givethem that permission, and
sometimes we need to hear itmore than once too, because the
other day I was actually talkingto somebody and we're at the
(11:30):
time of this recording, we'rerunning some webinars.
Well, she was like, well, areyou going to, like, save it and
record it and sell it later?
Well, I hadn't even consideredit, you know, I hadn't
considered what I was teachingand it as being like a little
mini workshop of some sort.
So sometimes we just need apartner like like you, shannon,
that, can, you know, take a lookback, look, you know, an
(11:50):
outside, look at something tosee, well, what are these little
mini offers we could do to, tobuild building blocks to that
bigger offer we want to have?
Shannon Gaither (11:58):
Yes, absolutely Absolutely.
And I think sometimes, whenwe're into our business kind of
deep, we also think we don'tneed to validate.
That also happens.
It doesn't just happen to newtimers or newcomers or whatever,
it can also happen to thosevets because you don't think you
have to validate, because youraudience says something.
(12:21):
Well, how many people in youraudience said that?
You know, was it just oneperson?
Was it one student or onecustomer who said that?
Because you might be buildingan offer around that?
One person.
So it's take that, take a fewminutes and validate it, you
know.
Carrie Saunders (12:35):
That's a very, very good point.
Shannon Gaither (12:37):
It's a whole section of my course is
validation and I go all into allthese validation techniques and
yeah, it's such an important itcan't be underestimated.
My first course I did notvalidate very well and I don't
think the messaging hit becauseI didn't validate well and I
think that it's such anunderestimated part of building
(12:57):
out sales offers.
Carrie Saunders (13:00):
And I think that some people might be a
little bit scared to validate.
But it's better to validateahead of time and then put the
course out there and then get,because you might your, your big
idea might be mostly on pointbut you just need to shift it
just a tiny bit and thatvalidation steps as you go to it
(13:27):
helps you shift it that tinybit to really land the target a
bit better.
Shannon Gaither (13:31):
Yes, yes, when I was building out the, when I
was validating my lap, thecourse I just recently built and
what I did was I did validationcalls with folks and I recorded
the calls.
I took the transcript.
I used Fathom and I took thetranscript into ChatGPT and had
(13:53):
it extract out all the painpoints they said and all the
recommendations they said andall the things that they said
that they needed to have in acourse for it to make sense for
them and it and I used it on mysales page.
I used those wording on myselfand I felt like that was changed
.
Everything for me that changedthe game the fact that we have
ai.
We can take the validation andreally like turn it into
(14:16):
something that benefits us in away that's a little bit faster
than we used to.
We used to validate right.
Carrie Saunders (14:22):
Right, that's a very smart move to do that that
way.
So then, for those that arelistening and they want to build
a simple yet as effective salesfunnel, what are some of those
essential components that youneed on one of those you know?
First, simple, effective salesfunnels that you have.
Shannon Gaither (14:39):
Well, let's see .
First thing I would think thatcomes to mind is super clear
messaging Messaging that spellsout exactly what someone's going
to walk away with and ideallywhen, even because sometimes
people say things like you know,their type of business is
(14:59):
online business coaching.
Well, instead of saying that,maybe say something like book
your first three clients in 30days, that tells me what I'm
getting and how long it'll take.
And I feel like that buildsthat clarity, builds trust
faster and helps peopleself-identify, which is super
important and allows them tojust, you know, quickly say yes,
(15:19):
because they've they'veconnected that that offers for
them and they know the how longit'll take and they can see how
much it is and what the outcomeis, and so it's just all laid
out for them in a way that ifyou're, if you say things like
online business coaching,they're like that could mean a
million things to a milliondifferent people.
We all have.
You know, if you've ever heardof a business coach, you know
that they all think slightlydifferent, you know.
Carrie Saunders (15:44):
Yeah, and that's a really good point,
cause we talk a lot on thepodcast about being clear and
not clever with our messaging onour websites and with our call
to action.
So you know, our offermessaging needs to be very clear
, just like the example you gaveus.
I mean, it's very clear whatthat outcome is, and talking to
the benefits rather than thefeatures is something else I'm
sure you help your clients do ontheir funnels too, right?
Shannon Gaither (16:07):
Yes, oh, it's all about transformation.
Because people buytransformation.
They buy the end result of whatthey're, and often it is not
the price that sways them.
It is the transformation thatthey're going to accomplish that
sways them more than price.
You know that's a misnomer in alot of ways, because I think
we'll come up with the money ifthe transformation is worth it
(16:28):
for us.
So other things that people cando that are essential
components.
Let me think people can do thatare essential components.
Let me think Another one Iwould say is your lead magnet is
often something that peoplewill build first, but it's
something that you shouldconsider building after your
(16:51):
offer if possible, or review andsee if you can tweak it,
because, because your leadmagnet leads needs to.
I have to take a big deep breathbecause I feel like this is
creating work for people.
But your lead magnet needs tolead directly to your sales
(17:12):
offer, and that's sometimessomething we discover after the
fact and sometimes that's okay,and it's okay to scrap a first
lead magnet if it just totallyis not in alignment anymore.
It's important to make it aboutgiving them the first step
towards the result, and thatresult is your paid offer.
(17:34):
So it's the first step toward aresult that your paid offer
will actually achieve.
So once you're clear on youroffer, you know what you're
helping people do and in whattime frame, and then you can
back up and say, like what wouldsomeone need to know, believe
or do before they're actuallyready to buy this?
(17:54):
And then that answer becomesyour lead magnet.
Carrie Saunders (18:00):
And that's a little tough for people to
swallow.
Shannon Gaither (18:02):
I think sometimes.
Carrie Saunders (18:03):
No, I know, and I completely agree there
because you know, we're told,you know, especially in the
online course coach, you knowcourse creator coach, you know
service provider that you had tocreate that lead magnet first
and I completely agree with you.
There's a first initial leadmagnets I created.
I either need to go revise themor trash them because they
(18:26):
weren't quite aligned with theoffer.
I ended up landing on myselfand I think that even if you
have created those and they'renot quite aligned, I feel like
the fact that you created themis good, just because you've
gotten the experience, and it'sokay, and then we should give
ourselves permission to eitherrevise it or or create new with
(18:49):
something a bit more aligned yes, I mean, my first ones are not.
Shannon Gaither (18:54):
They were not aligned anymore, you know, not
at all like I remember.
I mean, I think I think I madea morning routine thing, like I
don't know what I was thinking.
It's probably something you weredealing with at the time, you
know exactly Lack of validationallows you to create, makes you
(19:14):
create things that you're notnecessarily going to use long
term.
But when you're a freebie andyour offer align, then your
funnel works so much better.
You build trust and you guidethem naturally towards the next
step and it just becomes anatural next step as opposed to
a big jump.
Carrie Saunders (19:32):
Right, right Makes a lot of sense.
So when entrepreneurs aretrying to build their first
funnel, how can they overcomethis tech overwhelm when setting
up their first funnel?
Because I know we can getreally down in the weeds with
the tech I know I have myself,even though I'm a tech person.
So how do we help overcome themwith that tech?
Shannon Gaither (19:54):
Yeah.
So let's see, tech is one ofthe biggest reasons people don't
build.
They put off building a funnelor they don't build a funnel,
they feel like they have to hireto do it and stuff.
And but when you're thinkingthat's because, like, you hear
these components like landingpage, email, automations,
checkout links and integrationsand you go nope, and but try to
(20:20):
simplify it, start with strategy, not the software Super
important.
I always say this in my courseand everywhere.
Really, that is one of themistakes I see people make.
They start with software, notstrategy.
And if you start with strategy,then you can go with the
simplest platforms If possible.
Stick with one platform and tryto simplify the step steps a
(20:44):
little bit.
So like, if you're using like akajabi, if you have a kajabi or
a go high level or somethinglike that, then build everything
in the same thing the landingpages, emails, check out all
those things.
But uh, and that's becausetrying to duct tape five tools
together is where people getstuck.
So simplify your tools firstand stick with strategy first.
(21:05):
Then simplify your tools.
Choose the simplest tools youcould build one step at a time.
Don't try to write all youremails and design your pages and
figure out all your automationsin one sitting.
Break it down.
Just do day one.
Day one, you could craft youropt-in page, build your opt-in
page and then day two, you canwrite your first email.
That's how you can do itwithout frying your brain, and
(21:32):
also, don't try to inventeverything from scratch.
Use templates and checklistsand go to somebody's whether
it's mine or someone else's justuse a roadmap that tells you
exactly what to do and in whatorder, and ask for help.
Ask for help?
Yes, like I find that Sorry.
You know, I was going to say.
Carrie Saunders (21:50):
when you said ask for help, I'm like that's
something we many times don'tgive ourselves permission to do
as business owners, and so Ithink that's a really good point
.
I want to make sure people herego ask for help.
There's other business ownersthat want to help.
Shannon Gaither (22:04):
I added a 45 minute strategy call to my
offers because of that veryreason.
People wouldn't ask for helpbecause they thought they needed
to like sign up for a longcoaching and I I added a 45
minute because sometimes peoplejust need me to look at their
landing page and figure outwhat's not, what's wrong, like
what's what's or or what's theintegration and help me fix this
integration so you don't haveto do it alone it totally makes
(22:28):
sense and I I do remember whenwe started creating our first
lead magnets, I did keep itsimple.
Carrie Saunders (22:34):
I mean, I kept them just in my email service
provider, only I didn't have itin some fancy funnel type of
software or anything like that.
So I think giving peoplepermission to you know, use your
email service provider, becausethat can typically do a funnel,
a simple funnel, and just startthere, so that you're starting
simple.
Shannon Gaither (22:55):
Yes, yeah, some people skip a fancy sales page
and go straight to like acheckout page using Stripe.
We'll set up a Stripe accountand they'll just use the Stripe
checkout.
Or there's services that aresmall that are doing a really
good job of this for people whoaren't ready for the big
solution.
They don't need a website oranything yet.
So that's like the Stan store,and there's companies out there
(23:20):
that are making it really simpleto set up offers, and I think
it's important to just giveyourself permission to keep it
simple at first and let it bemessy a little bit, like the
goal isn't to build a perfectfunnel, it's just to build one
that's live and working andstarting to make you money.
Carrie Saunders (23:39):
And right for sure, and I've seen people even
use just a Google Doc like forbasically their, their funnel,
so like when you're listeningand you're new to funnels, like
it really can be that simple andthey can be effective.
I purchased from people withjust a simple Google Doc before.
Shannon Gaither (23:54):
Yes, I've seen high-end coaches sell their
sales page is a Google andthat's it.
And in an application form oror just literally a checkout,
and it's, that's it.
Amazing, and so it is reallycan.
It's really about what is the?
What is the offer, how?
(24:15):
When's the timeframe?
What's the transformation?
What you know?
Do you really get what I'm?
You know where I'm at and canyou really help me get to where
I'm trying to get?
And if that is all there andthat is all nailed in, you know
the, just the messaging alone, Idon't think that the format is
going to sway as many people aswe think it is.
Carrie Saunders (24:37):
I completely agree, because if you get the
things right you were justtalked about, you build trust,
and trust is what creates thepurchase.
Shannon Gaither (24:44):
Yes.
Carrie Saunders (24:47):
Yes.
So then for listeners that arelistening today and they want to
, you know, either build theirfirst sales funnel or they want
to improve one of their salesprocesses.
What are some quick wins theycan do?
What can they look at and whatcan they change and adjust?
Shannon Gaither (25:02):
Okay, let's see .
I'd start with the headline.
Look at your headline.
Is your headline tight?
Does it really talk abouttransformation?
You could do that by like.
If you have a sales page, lookat your sales page.
If you don't and you don't haveanything built yet look at your
Instagram bio.
Like, look where your peopleare getting their next step from
(25:23):
you and make sure that thatsays something that is ideally
like results focused.
I love results focusedheadlines and so, instead of
coaching program or onlinecourse, you know, make it.
Create your first digitalproduct in 30 days or book your
(25:43):
first three clients with, evenwithout a website.
Doesn't that sound like so muchbetter than than a coaching
program?
So just make it super clear andmake sure that what you do and
how you help them and, ifpossible, in what time frame,
(26:04):
and then check your lead magnetalignment See if that is aligned
.
So does your freebie actuallyattract someone who's actually
ready for your paid offer?
I mean, if your offer helpssell on etsy, for example, your
freebie um shouldn't be aboutgrowing on instagram.
You know, like we were talkingabout, like the first freebies
(26:25):
we made, we're like not, not,not it not.
Next.
The next step wasn't natural.
Think like natural next step,what is the natural next step?
And if you're thinkingbackwards, like creating a
freebie, after you think, whatdoes somebody need to do?
Think, believe, feel to beready for this next step, for
that to be the natural next step.
(26:46):
And then I would look at yourCTAs.
You know, make sure your CTA.
Look at your CTA.
Are you including them on likeblog posts in your website?
Are you including them in youremails?
Are you putting them in yourInstagram?
How many times are you actuallybringing it up?
Do you feel like you're talkingabout it all the time?
Or do you feel like you'retalking about it here and there?
(27:07):
Because people need to hear ita lot more than we think they do
and they read a lot less of ourstuff than we think they do.
So it's okay to repeat and youknow your CTAs and really make
sure that you're you'recontinuing to put it out in the
world and giving people theopportunity.
And then some other small winslet's see like you could reach
(27:29):
out to warm, warm leads Likesomebody who's replied to your
Like you could reach out to warmleads Like somebody who's
replied to your story.
You could reach out to them.
Or and just send like afriendly check, you know
check-in message or somethinglike hey, just wondering if
you're still looking for helpwith this, here's a resource you
know, use your voice.
(27:49):
Use your voice or your face.
If you're comfortable on video,record something.
If you're not comfortable onvideo, record a video like an
audio you know make.
I think that that's the fastestway to build trust.
I don't think we do it, I don'tthink enough of us do that,
take the time to do thosemethods, but it is the fastest
way to build trust is to addvideo.
(28:10):
And because we can like like Iwas thinking about this last
night I was watching somethingand I was thinking about like
how, how I got how into a fewepisodes into a show, how
attached I'll get to certaincharacters.
I'm like wow, that's so fastthat I'm all of a sudden like
vested in this person and I'mlike it's just the power of
(28:32):
video really.
It's like you really do getconnected to people and without
that you can't build trust asfast.
Carrie Saunders (28:41):
Yeah, and I think it's video and
storytelling, because, likestorytelling comes through video
and voice a lot better, so weconnect people you know, better.
When we're doing this, you knowwe have the story behind it too,
absolutely yes.
Those are some really greattips and actually I feel like I
(29:01):
need to go re-listen to themafter, after this podcast is
done, because I know there aresome things that I definitely
could be could improve on,especially the call to actions.
Like I know that I'm not greatat social media and putting
those call to actions in all thetime.
Like I might do it maybe onceor twice a month or so, or maybe
(29:22):
once a week, I'm not quite sure, but I need to like actually
assess and see how often am Idoing this call to actions,
because, as we talk about a loton the podcast, you would need
to guide the person to the nextstep because we're all busy, but
if we have that nudge, thatlittle guidance to that next
step, we're more likely tofollow it.
It's something I talk about andteach for website conversion,
(29:46):
but sometimes doing it yourselfis harder and you feel I feel
like we need to also have thepermission to to speak about our
businesses and our and not feelashamed, because I think some
people are sometimes feel alittle.
They feel like they're they'relike humble and they don't want
to speak about it, but that'show we help people, that's how
(30:06):
we serve people, is by tellingpeople what we do and how we can
help others, because we'reactually doing a disservice by
not offering our services.
It's something I have to tellmyself a lot and I repeat, I
have to tell myself more oftenthan I probably should, but it
is definitely true and I feellike entrepreneurs need to hear
that we are here for a reason,we have these skills for a
(30:28):
reason, we can help people, fora reason and we need.
It's a disservice not to offerour services, not to be that
helping guide.
Shannon Gaither (30:36):
Yes, 100%.
When you have the answers, youneed to share that.
Yes, I mean, if we can all worktogether to build each other's
businesses up and help eachother.
We move so much faster togetherthan we do apart, and so giving
them that natural next step isin service of that right.
Yes, that's so well said.
Carrie Saunders (30:58):
It totally is.
Yeah.
So, Shannon, I just have reallyenjoyed the conversation about
funnels and how to make thembetter and all the things.
So if somebody wants to learn abit more about you, how you can
help them, what would be somegood resources or places to go,
and we will be sure to put thelinks in the show notes too.
So don't worry about if you'relistening and you're like I
(31:20):
don't know if I can rememberthat.
You know we'll have them in theshow notes too, but let us know
a little bit more how we canconnect more with you.
Shannon Gaither (31:27):
Yes, definitely my website.
My website is shannongaithercom, and Gaither spelled gather
with an I.
That's the easiest way to do it, but of course they'll be in
the show notes.
But, and and my lead magnet is100 digital product ideas that
you can create and sell today.
So it's, it's shannongaitherforward, slash 100.
(31:48):
It's really easy to remember,so that is the best way.
And then also, just look me upon Instagram.
Instagram is I'm looking toconnect with people on Instagram
.
I'm always available in the DMs.
Carrie Saunders (32:02):
Well, and Shannon is always super friendly
, as I'm sure you can tell byour conversation.
She's just such a wonderfulperson who loves to help others,
and hopefully all that comesacross in the podcast episode,
because I feel like I've beenblessed to have fallen into your
world and your circle the pastyear or so and I just see all
the good that you do for others,so I really appreciate having
(32:24):
you on our podcast.
Shannon Gaither (32:25):
Thank you so much.
I'm so glad I got to be herewith you and I appreciate the
opportunity to get to have along conversation with you for
once.
Like you know, yes, yes.
Carrie Saunders (32:35):
Thanks again, shannon.
Thank you, what an awesomeconversation with Shannon
Gaither.
I hope you're walking away witha clear understanding of what a
sales funnel really is and howsimple it can be to start
building one that actually worksfor your business.
From validating your offer toovercoming tech overwhelm,
shannon shared so many goldennuggets that makes the sales
(32:58):
process feel a lot lessintimidating, even if you're
just getting started.
If this episode got your wheelsturning and you're ready to
start turning your ideas intoincome, be sure to check out the
show notes for links withShannon and learn more about her
and her sales funnel lab.
And if you're loving oure-commerce made easy podcast,
I'd be so grateful if you hitthat follow button and leave a
(33:19):
quick review.
It helps more business ownerslike you find the show and get
the support they need.
Thanks so much for tuning inand we will see you next week.
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