Let’s be honest – marketing your biz online can feel like a full-time job in itself.

You’re trying to be visible, consistent, strategic… but also not chained to your laptop 24/7 while spinning 45 other plates (school runs, client work, content creation, actual life).

The truth? It’s not about doing more.
It’s about building a system that does the work with you — and sometimes, without you.

That’s where your marketing funnel comes in.

But let me say this straight:
– You don’t need to be techy.
– You don’t need fancy software.
– And you definitely don’t need to be “on” all the time for it to work.

What’s a Marketing Funnel, Really?

A marketing funnel is just the journey someone takes from:

“Who’s this?” → “Ooh, I like her” → “I’m in. Take my money!”

It starts wide at the top – with loads of potential customers discovering you – and gradually narrows down to the 1–2% who are the right fit and ready to buy.

That’s normal. That’s human behaviour.

And your job isn’t to convert everyone.
It’s to support the right people through each stage – with the right content, at the right time – so they’re nurtured, empowered and excited to work with you.

When I Caught a Bug Recently…

I was in bed for a week.
No school runs (silver lining 😅), a bit of Netflix and yes… I snuck into the back end of my funnels because I don’t do still very well (hello, ADHD brain 👋).

But even if I’d done nothing, this still happened:

✔️ My Pinterest pins (posted months ago) were still attracting new people to my email list
✔️ My nurture emails were welcoming them and guiding them through my funnel
✔️ Sales came in — directly from those automations

That’s not hustle. That’s a system that works.
Even when you don’t.

So What Is a Marketing Funnel?

A marketing funnel is the customer journey from not knowing you at all → to buying from you.

And it’s not about fancy tech or complicated automations.
It’s about giving people what they need — in the right order.

There are 3 simple stages:

1️⃣ Top of Funnel (TOFU): Attract New People

This is where strangers become aware of you.
You’re not asking them to buy — you’re helping them see that you understand their problems.

🧠 Think: searchable, discoverable, “Hey, I’ve seen her before!” content.

Great platforms for this:

• Pinterest
• Blog posts
• SEO-friendly website pages
• Instagram Reels or carousel posts
• Podcast interviews

📚 Build this step out with these resources:

👉 Build Your Brand – start here to define who you are, who you help, and why it matters

👉 Simple SEO for Biz Owners – how to get found online with content that keeps working

2️⃣ Middle of Funnel (MOFU): Build Trust

This is where the magic happens.
Someone’s joined your list or followed you — but they’re not ready to buy (yet). Now’s the time to connect and give them a reason to stick around.

🎯 Your goal here: warm them up.

What works here:

• Email welcome sequences
• Lead magnets (checklists, downloads, free trainings)
• Weekly newsletters or nurture content
• Social media content that tells stories + adds value

📚 Helpful reads:

👉 Mastering Social Media – without burning out or feeling like a content machine

👉 Email Marketing Strategies That Drive Sales – build trust and show up in people’s inboxes with purpose

This stage is where most people drop the ball — so they end up with a following that’s not ready to buy. Let’s fix that.

3️⃣ Bottom of Funnel (BOFU): Convert & Sell

This is where people say “yes.”
But only if your offer is clear, visible, and feels right for them.

Don’t overthink this part. You don’t need a massive launch – just a strong message and a clear next step.

🧰 Tools for this stage:

• Simple sales pages
• Personal email offers
• Sales email sequences
• Calls or DMs for 1:1 offers

If this stage feels hard or scary — that’s OK.

Usually it just means your offer needs tweaking or your warm-up strategy needs refining.

Putting It All Together: The Whole Picture

Here’s why this matters: if you only focus on what’s trending or what’s urgent — like “What do I post today?” — you’ll stay stuck in a cycle of constantly chasing attention.

But when you zoom out and work on all three parts of your funnel?

✨ You start attracting new people without chasing them.
✨ You build trust with the right people (while you sleep).
✨ You make sales – without needing to constantly “launch.”

Want to Go Deeper? Here’s Your Funnel Reading List

f you’re ready to start putting your funnel together step-by-step, here are some free resources to help you build out each stage with clarity and confidence:

• 👉 Building Your Brand – the first step to everything
• 👉 Mastering Social Media – a practical, pressure-free approach
• 👉 SEO for Biz Owners – your long-game marketing strategy
• 👉 Email Marketing Tips – strategies that actually work

Need the full picture pulled together in one place?

Grab my free Digital Marketing Essentials Guide — it walks you through the key foundations you need to market your biz online with confidence and consistency.
👉 Download it here

Want Support Putting This Into Practice?

If this blog has you thinking, “Right, I actually need this in place” — you’re not alone. And you’re not expected to figure it all out on your own.

That’s exactly why I created the Thriving Biz Club.

It’s my step-by-step marketing membership that teaches women how to build a sustainable online business using smart strategy, content that converts, and systems that support your life — not compete with it.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Clear strategy – no fluff, no trends, just what actually works
• Practical systems – funnels, emails, lead magnets, social media (done simply)
• Supportive community – of women who get what it’s like to build a biz around life, family, hormones and all the things

Whether you’re just getting started or refining what you’ve already built, you’ll get the tools, templates, and guidance to create a funnel that works for you.

👉 Find out more about the Thriving Biz Club

You don’t need to hustle harder.
You just need a system that gives you space to breathe.

Know a biz friend stuck in the “post and hope” cycle? Share this blog with her — let’s stop guessing and start building marketing that actually works.

About the Author

Wendy Griffith is a digital marketing consultant, strategist and coach, helping women build sustainable online businesses with smart systems, simple strategy and content that actually works.

A former corporate marketing girl turned self-employed multi-passionate entrepreneur, Wendy brings 13+ years of experience across brand, email, content, and automation. She’s also the founder of the Thriving Biz Club — a marketing membership for women who want to grow their biz without burning out.

She lives in a Norfolk with her family (and many dogs), loves strong coffee, a solid funnel, and a good laugh with real women doing real business.

Disclaimer

All content shared on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only.
While these strategies have worked for many women I’ve supported, results aren’t guaranteed — they depend on your individual effort, consistency, and application. There’s no such thing as overnight success, but with the right strategy and support, sustainable progress is absolutely possible.