I remember a coaching call where I was explaining what funnels are and the thought came to me that the funnel is as old as people shouting about their wares in a crowded marketplace. It's just getting people to pay attention to you and what you have to offer, and letting them see the value so they can decide for themselves (or hard selling if you don't believe in your offer or trust your potential customers). I like your simplified funnel that focuses on creating value, building trust, and letting people decide for themselves when they're ready to buy.
I think people react negatively to the word “funnel” because it sounds mechanical and hustle bro-ish. But the process you describe is basically just how relationships and commerce have always worked.
You meet someone → build trust → eventually do business.
Thanks, Neela. I think you’re probably right about a visceral reaction to the word “funnel” by the crowd o’ folks here (and there and everywhere) who disdain marketing while not entirely understanding it.
I am training myself to break away from thinking of funnel as the stereotypical inbound funnel of asset in exchange for email and then a nurture sequence of emails nudging towards a sale. Cuz, yeah, a funnel is just whatever process you’ve got to get customers to hand money over. Filthy lucre!
I enjoyed my Book Thing so much that, since the line for the hour after I went was short enough to not fill the place (110 folks at a time, 1 hour limit) I just went back in. 42 books, some of which I’ll actually read — including Mind of a Killer, a 1950s detective/noir novel which is freaking excellent and something I normally wouldn’t read. Beers were great, sitting at the bar with Knox, but lead to dehydration which led to two days of monstrous gout-related right foot pain (hence the delayed response here!).
Going back in for a second round of books feels like a very on-brand decision. And discovering something you wouldn’t normally read that turns out excellent? That’s a win. I am glad you had a fun time.
Devout believer in the power of Tsundoku (which I will learn how to spell from memory one day)!
And a Jack Reacher novel I don’t have (have a theory that these types of books are the male equivalent of Harlequin Romances), a flier on a Lustbader novel, a few grammar/language reference books, and a grab bag of history. Always a good trip!
Still tender, but Knox was happy with at least a slower-and-shorter-than normal walk today after 2 days of nope. Back to our normal 2 to 3 miles tomorrow, knock wood. My trigger is dehydration — too may beers, not enough water on back to back days. Was stupid. I’m smart, just not all the time or on consecutive days.
Tsundoku is one of those words that feel like they were invented specifically to keep us honest.
Actually, come to think about it. Jack Reacher could be the bro-Harlequin of thrillers. Glad Knox is back on the slow-and-short train! 🐾 Happy Wednesday, Bryant.
HAHAHAHAHA; Brolequin. I kinda like that. My first exposure was two grocery sacks of Mack Bolin books my stepmom brought back from a garage sale — similar framework to Reacher. Drifts into a town. Discovers through sheer chance some fuckery going on. Investigates said fuckery. Gets beat up/warned off. Meets an ally. Wrecks shit up for the bad guys. Drifts on. There may/may not be a brief sexcapade in there.
Aw, man, thank you. Appreciate that. Still not sure how the antlion entered into this, but sometimes having a Maggie "ooooh, shiny!" brain collecting random tidbits works in my favor 😀
I remember a coaching call where I was explaining what funnels are and the thought came to me that the funnel is as old as people shouting about their wares in a crowded marketplace. It's just getting people to pay attention to you and what you have to offer, and letting them see the value so they can decide for themselves (or hard selling if you don't believe in your offer or trust your potential customers). I like your simplified funnel that focuses on creating value, building trust, and letting people decide for themselves when they're ready to buy.
Lol, I honestly thought of the market scene in Aladdin as I was writing that -- pretty necklace for a pretty lady!
Funnels catching undeserved hate from folks. Heaven forbid someone tries to make a living.
Thanks, Nathan.
I love the breakdown, Bryant.
I think people react negatively to the word “funnel” because it sounds mechanical and hustle bro-ish. But the process you describe is basically just how relationships and commerce have always worked.
You meet someone → build trust → eventually do business.
Did you enjoy Books and Beer on Saturday?
Happy Monday!
Thanks, Neela. I think you’re probably right about a visceral reaction to the word “funnel” by the crowd o’ folks here (and there and everywhere) who disdain marketing while not entirely understanding it.
I am training myself to break away from thinking of funnel as the stereotypical inbound funnel of asset in exchange for email and then a nurture sequence of emails nudging towards a sale. Cuz, yeah, a funnel is just whatever process you’ve got to get customers to hand money over. Filthy lucre!
I enjoyed my Book Thing so much that, since the line for the hour after I went was short enough to not fill the place (110 folks at a time, 1 hour limit) I just went back in. 42 books, some of which I’ll actually read — including Mind of a Killer, a 1950s detective/noir novel which is freaking excellent and something I normally wouldn’t read. Beers were great, sitting at the bar with Knox, but lead to dehydration which led to two days of monstrous gout-related right foot pain (hence the delayed response here!).
Happy Tuesday!
Happy Tuesday, Bryant,
Going back in for a second round of books feels like a very on-brand decision. And discovering something you wouldn’t normally read that turns out excellent? That’s a win. I am glad you had a fun time.
The gout, however… not so much.
Are you feeling better?
Devout believer in the power of Tsundoku (which I will learn how to spell from memory one day)!
And a Jack Reacher novel I don’t have (have a theory that these types of books are the male equivalent of Harlequin Romances), a flier on a Lustbader novel, a few grammar/language reference books, and a grab bag of history. Always a good trip!
Still tender, but Knox was happy with at least a slower-and-shorter-than normal walk today after 2 days of nope. Back to our normal 2 to 3 miles tomorrow, knock wood. My trigger is dehydration — too may beers, not enough water on back to back days. Was stupid. I’m smart, just not all the time or on consecutive days.
Tsundoku is one of those words that feel like they were invented specifically to keep us honest.
Actually, come to think about it. Jack Reacher could be the bro-Harlequin of thrillers. Glad Knox is back on the slow-and-short train! 🐾 Happy Wednesday, Bryant.
HAHAHAHAHA; Brolequin. I kinda like that. My first exposure was two grocery sacks of Mack Bolin books my stepmom brought back from a garage sale — similar framework to Reacher. Drifts into a town. Discovers through sheer chance some fuckery going on. Investigates said fuckery. Gets beat up/warned off. Meets an ally. Wrecks shit up for the bad guys. Drifts on. There may/may not be a brief sexcapade in there.
Happy Wednesday and thanks for the new word!
A brilliant post. Thank you Bryant. Really appreciate how you cut through the BS and the inclusion of the HussleBro as Antlion was genius. 🤩
Aw, man, thank you. Appreciate that. Still not sure how the antlion entered into this, but sometimes having a Maggie "ooooh, shiny!" brain collecting random tidbits works in my favor 😀