The term “marketing funnel” sounds complicated, like something you need a business degree to understand. In reality, it’s just a simple way to describe how people go from not knowing who you are to becoming your customer, and hopefully sticking around.

At the top of the funnel is awareness. This is where people first discover you. They might find you through Google, social media, an ad, a recommendation from a friend, or a blog post. At this stage, they’re not shopping yet. They’re just learning that you exist. Your job here isn’t to sell hard. It’s to be helpful, visible, and interesting enough that they remember you or want to learn more.

Think about the last time you bought something from a brand you hadn’t used before. You probably didn’t wake up and instantly buy from them. First, you noticed them. Then you looked them up. Then you compared them to other options. And only after that did you decide to buy. That whole journey is the funnel.

In the middle of the funnel is consideration. Now people are curious. They’re reading your website, checking reviews, looking at your social media, or comparing you to competitors. They’re asking themselves, “Is this right for me?” This is where trust is built. Clear explanations, helpful content, testimonials, and examples of your work all matter a lot here. You’re not pushing them to buy yet. You’re helping them feel confident.

At the bottom of the funnel is the decision stage. This is where they finally take action. They buy, book, sign up, or contact you. Your job at this point is to make that step feel easy and safe. Complicated forms, confusing checkout processes, or unclear next steps can stop someone right at the finish line. The smoother you make it, the more people will follow through.

But the funnel doesn’t really end there. After someone becomes a customer, there’s a whole new phase that many businesses forget about: keeping them happy. A good experience, helpful follow-up, and staying in touch can turn a one-time buyer into a repeat customer, and a repeat customer into someone who recommends you to others.

The marketing funnel isn’t about tricking people or pushing them into something they don’t want. It’s about understanding where someone is in their decision process and giving them what they need at each step. Some people need to learn. Some need reassurance. Some just need the path to be made simpler

In many businesses, this is where the real growth happens.

Once you see it this way, marketing becomes a lot less mysterious. Instead of wondering why one post or ad didn’t immediately bring in sales, you start asking a better question: “Where does this help someone move to the next step?” When your marketing starts answering that question, all the pieces begin to work together instead of feeling random.

And that’s the funnel in plain English!