A Simple Guide to Building a Sales Funnel That Feels Human

(+ AI Prompts to Help You Create It Fast, Even If You’re Not a Marketer)

Have you ever heard someone say, “You just need a good funnel,” and felt completely lost?

You’re not alone.

For small business owners, freelancers, and creatives—funnels can feel like one more complicated thing on an already overwhelming to-do list.

But here’s what most people don’t tell you: A funnel doesn’t have to be techy, forceful, or expensive. It just needs to be intentional.

When done right, your funnel becomes a simple system that gently leads your audience from “I’m curious” to “I’m ready.”

Let’s walk through what that actually looks like—and how AI can help you build it.

First, What Is a Sales Funnel?

A sales funnel is simply the journey someone takes from discovering your business to becoming a paying customer—and potentially, a loyal fan.

Think of it like this:

• The top of the funnel is about attracting people.

• The middle is about nurturing and building trust.

• The bottom is where they take action (buy, book, join).

It’s not about pressure—it’s about guidance.

Each part of the funnel should help your audience solve a problem or make a decision, one step at a time.

Why Most Funnels Don’t Work (and How to Avoid That)

If you’ve tried to build a funnel before and it didn’t work, chances are it:

• Was too complicated

• Wasn’t tailored to your audience

• Didn’t clearly guide people from one step to the next

• 
  

Funnels that work feel like conversations, not campaigns. And they don’t require tech wizardry—just clarity, care, and consistency.

The Human Funnel: 5 Stages That Actually Work

(With AI Prompts to Help You Create Each One)

Let’s build a simple, powerful funnel—step by step.

1. The Lead Magnet (Attract Stage)

A lead magnet is a free, valuable resource you give in exchange for someone’s email.

The goal: Give your ideal customer a quick win. Help them solve a small but real problem.

Examples:

• “5 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Coaching Business” (PDF checklist)

• “How to Write Your First Sales Page” (mini course)

• “What’s Your Brand Style?” (interactive quiz)

AI Prompt:

“Suggest 5 simple, valuable lead magnet ideas to attract [who you help] and solve [a common problem they have]. Keep the ideas easy to deliver.”

2. The Tripwire (Convert Stage)

A tripwire is a low-cost, high-value product that builds trust and turns a subscriber into a buyer.

The goal: Help them take a low-risk first step toward your bigger offer.

Examples:

• £7 resource bundle

• £15 video training

• £9 printable toolkit

This shows you’re legit and builds purchase confidence.

AI Prompt:

“What’s a great £7–£17 tripwire product I could offer to [audience] who just downloaded my [lead magnet]? Make it something they’d say yes to quickly.”

3. The Core Offer (Deliver Stage)

Your core offer is your main product or service—the thing that brings the big transformation.

The goal: Clearly show how you help them solve their bigger problem.

Examples:

• Your signature program

• A service package or done-for-you solution

• A membership or course with ongoing support

Focus on outcomes. What will their life look like after using your offer?

AI Prompt:

“Help me outline a clear, benefit-focused core offer for [audience]. It should help them go from [pain point] to [desired result], and include features, format, and price range.”

4. The Upsell or Downsell (Support Stage)

These are optional offers that help buyers go deeper—or choose a simpler path.

• Upsell = a premium upgrade (VIP support, extended version, more access)

• Downsell = a smaller, more affordable option (lite version, self-paced, intro guide)

The goal: Offer support at every level of readiness.

AI Prompt (Upsell):

“Suggest a premium upsell I could offer after someone buys my [main product]—something that enhances their experience or gets faster results.”

AI Prompt (Downsell):

“What’s a helpful, low-cost downsell I could offer to people who didn’t buy my [main offer], but still need help with [problem]?”

5. The Nurture & Retargeting (Relationship Stage)

Nurture = staying in touch with non-buyers. Retargeting = gently reminding people who showed interest but didn’t buy. This is where most funnels fall short. People need time, reminders, and proof. Keep showing up.

Nurture ideas:

• Weekly tip or “behind the scenes” email

• Case study spotlight

• Q&A emails

Retargeting ideas:

• “Hey, still thinking about this?” follow-up email

• Abandoned cart reminder with a bonus

• Social media ad that says, “Let’s try again”

AI Prompt (Nurture):

“Write a 3-part email sequence for new subscribers that introduces my brand and builds trust, leading up to my [main offer]. Make it friendly and helpful.”

AI Prompt (Retargeting):

“Write a non-pushy follow-up email for someone who clicked on my [product page] but didn’t buy. Mention benefits and include a soft CTA.”

Funnel Truth: It's Not About the Tools. It’s About the Flow.

You don’t need fancy software to build this so you need a plan. You need heart. And now—you have prompts. The real power of a funnel is that it walks people toward clarity.

Your job isn’t to convince. It’s to guide.

Ready to Begin?

Pick just one AI prompt from this post. Use ChatGPT, Jasper, or your favourite tool—and start writing. You don’t have to build the whole funnel today.✨ Just start with the first door.

Here’s a door. Walk through when you’re ready.

Would you like this post turned into a:

• Free printable funnel planner?

• Instagram carousel or Reels breakdown?

• Plug-and-play Notion funnel builder with all prompts preloaded?

Let me know, and I’ll create it for you.

Would you like me to now turn this into:

• A matching carousel

• A one-page PDF worksheet

• A funnel-building mini-course?