Social media's impact on the sales funnel. Social media is dramatically influencing the way we view the sales funnel. As social media transforms the relationship consumers have with the brand, the product, and each other, the game is definitely changing.

2. Social media is dramatically influencing the
way we view the sales funnel. Cold calls?
Collecting business cards? All old hat.
As social media transforms the relationship
consumers have with the brand, the product,
and each other, the game is definitely changing.

3. Let’s start with
the bare-bones
version:

4. The first stage is
Companies begin to attract
prospects by building
awareness.

5. The second stage is
Companies educate
prospects by demonstrating
the benefits of their
product or service and
piquing interest.

6. During this third stage,
brands can demonstrate
that what they’re selling will
satisfy desired needs.

7. The fourth stage is
"Action." Here, the
customer completes the
purchase or takes action.

8. What happens when social media
is added to the mix?

10. A combination of SEO and social media marketing
can help clients gain visibility of your brand. With its
amount of users, social networking sites offer a
wealth of potential in this stage.
Facebook: More than 500 million active users.
Twitter: More than 106 million users.
LinkedIn: More than 100 million users.

12. After prospects enter the funnel, the company
can build trust by providing information and help.
Depending on how the brand leverages its online
presence, one can see existing company-client
dialogues that demonstrate solid relationships.
54% of small businesses monitor
positive or negative feedback about
their product on social networks.

14. From user reviews on Yelp to interactive customer
communities, prospects will see testimonial proof
confirming the quality of the product or service
they’re seeking.
In fact, consumer reviews are almost
12 times more trusted than descriptions
that come from manufacturers.

16. After prospects transform into paying
clients, it will prove that the brand
has used its channels successfully.

18. When customers engage actively and spread
the word, they can continue the brand’s sales
cycle automatically. The addition of this new
stage to the funnel illustrates the true power
of social media.
Number of brand impressions created
by word of mouth on social media sites
each year: 500 billion!