How to Build a Sales Funnel for Your Newsletter Business (ft. ClickFunnels)

You’ve built an audience. People actually read your newsletter, engage with your social posts, and maybe even reply to your emails. That’s awesome — but if all that attention isn’t turning into revenue, you’re leaving serious money on the table.

That’s exactly why we brought in Ben Harris, marketing pro and revenue wizard from Clickfunnels, to close out the Creator Growth Summit. In this post, we’ll break down Ben’s simple (but wildly effective) funnel strategy to help you turn your audience into paying customers — without feeling spammy or salesy.

Key Timestamps

Getting started 👇

00:00 - What we'll be covering

04:59 - The 3 levels of selling

07:00 - Who is Ben Harris?

09:45 - Tradition websites are dead

14:01 - Funnel example

17:07 - The 5 steps of click funnels

25:18 - Your next funnel

Q&A 🙋‍♂️

28:35 - How do funnels even work?

31:53 - Can click funnels aesthetically compare to tradition websites?

Top 6 Takeaways and Next Steps

1. Own Your Audience (Don’t Rely on Social Alone)

Next Step: If you don’t have an email list, start one today. Your social accounts could vanish tomorrow — your email list is yours forever.

2. Funnels Beat Websites Every Time

Next Step: If your “shop page” looks like a confusing buffet, scrap it. Use a single-product funnel page with one clear call to action.

3. Sell Like This: One to One → One to Many → Automated

Next Step: Start with live offers (webinars, DMs), then graduate to offers you can pitch to your whole list at once, and finally build an automated funnel.

4. Use Upsells (Your Funnel Isn’t Done After the First Sale)

Next Step: After someone buys your ebook, offer them a complementary product (a course, coaching, templates). Don’t be afraid to sell more!

5. Track Your Greatest Hits

Next Step: Use Twitter Advanced Search or beehiiv’s analytics to find your top-performing content. Build your funnel around what already resonates.

6. Automate the Follow-Up

Next Step: Every funnel should trigger an email sequence. Whether they buy or not, they should stay in your world with helpful follow-up content.

Key Resources & Tools Mentioned

• ClickFunnels

• beehiiv

• Twitter Advanced Search

• Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson

• Typefully (for writing social threads that drive funnel traffic)

Closing Note

Ben’s message is simple: Every creator needs a funnel. Whether you’re selling a book, a coaching package, a course, or even a digital product, you can’t just drop a link and hope people buy. Funnels take your audience on a journey — from curious followers to loyal buyers — with clear steps along the way.

The good news? You already have what you need. Your newsletter audience is gold. They’re already warm, they know you, they trust you. Now, it’s about giving them something to buy — and making it easy to say yes.

Ben also reminded us that funnels aren’t just for “internet marketers.” Everyone from authors to fitness coaches to fashion designers can build a funnel. The key is one clear offer, a few smart upsells, and a little automation magic.

If you’re ready to stop leaving money on the table, go check out ClickFunnels and start mapping out your first funnel today. And if you want a copy of Expert Secrets (the funnel playbook that started it all), Ben’s giving away free copies to anyone who attended the Creator Growth Summit — just email him after you start your trial.

The bottom line: You’re just one funnel away from turning your audience into income. So what’s your first offer going to be?