Most marketers blame their funnel when sales are slow. But according to John Parkes, the man behind ClickFunnels' explosive traffic growth, the real problem usually starts at the top: your ad.
In this episode, John breaks down how to diagnose funnel failure and where to start fixing. He explains why curiosity fuels conversions, how open loops improve webinar attendance, and why video is non-negotiable if you want to build trust fast.
With over $150M in ad spend under his belt, John delivers battle-tested wisdom that can help anyone selling online—whether you’re running a challenge, webinar, or high-ticket funnel.
Key Takeaways:
- 1.5%+ click-through rate is your first green light
- Why video builds instant trust with cold traffic
- The secret behind high webinar attendance
- How curiosity converts better than clarity alone
- The truth about scaling your ad strategy
----
Guest Bio:
John Parkes is the Chief Traffic Architect at Prime Mover and the digital strategist behind hundreds of millions in online sales. With over a decade of experience managing more than $150 million in ad spend, John has helped scale some of the most influential brands in digital marketing, including ClickFunnels, where he remains an equity partner. Known for his ability to decode ad performance, diagnose funnel bottlenecks, and engineer conversion breakthroughs, John is also a sought-after speaker and coach. At heart, he's a family man devoted to God, country, and his wife and six kids.
Paul Povolni, the founder of Voppa Creative, has been a creative leader for over 30 years, with clients around the world. He’s led teams in creating award-winning branding and design as well as equipping his clients to lead with Clarity, Creativity and Culture.
Headsmack Website
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com