Maximize your revenue with intelligent upsell sequences that convert first-time buyers into repeat customers. Learn how to set up and optimize sales funnels in AffiliatePro SaaS to increase your average order value by 30-50%.
This comprehensive sales funnel guide will show you how to create automated upsell sequences, set special pricing, and implement proven funnel strategies that boost conversions and revenue for your affiliate marketing business.
📋 Table of Contents
- What are Sales Funnels?
- How It Works
- Key Benefits
- Getting Started – Setup Guide
- Best Practices
- Example Funnel Strategies
- Frequently Asked Questions
🎯 What are Sales Funnels?
Sales funnels are automated upsell sequences that present additional offers to customers immediately after they make a purchase. This powerful e-commerce feature in AffiliatePro SaaS helps you increase your average order value by strategically offering relevant products at special pricing.
Think of it as having a smart sales assistant that automatically suggests complementary products to your customers right after they’ve made a purchase – when they’re most likely to buy more. This funnel marketing strategy is proven to boost revenue without requiring additional traffic.
📍 Where to Find It
Location: Dashboard → Business → Store → Sales Funnels
Available For: Admin and Vendors
Requirement: Store Mode must be set to “Sales” (configured in Store Settings)
⚙️ How It Works
The Customer Journey:
- Customer Buys Frontend Product – Customer purchases your initial product (the entry point)
- First Upsell Appears – After purchase, they see the first upsell offer with special pricing
- Customer Decides – They can accept (one-click purchase) or decline to see the next offer
- Next Upsells in Sequence – Process continues for all upsells you’ve configured
- Order Complete – Customer sees final confirmation with all their purchases
Visual Flow:
Frontend Product ($19) → Upsell 1 ($39) → Upsell 2 ($29) → Final Page
✨ Key Benefits
1. 📈 Increase Revenue
Boost your average order value by 30-50% with strategic upsells presented at the perfect moment when customers are already in buying mode.
2. 🤖 Fully Automated
Set it up once and let the system automatically present upsells to every customer who makes a purchase. No manual work required.
3. 💰 Special Pricing
Offer exclusive funnel-only discounts that incentivize customers to add more products to their order without affecting regular pricing.
4. 📚 Unlimited Upsells
Create complex funnel sequences with as many upsell products as you want in any order that makes sense for your business.
5. 👥 Better Customer Experience
Customers appreciate relevant product recommendations right after their purchase decision. It adds value to their shopping experience.
6. ⚡ Easy to Manage
Simple click-and-select interface makes it easy to build and modify funnels without any technical knowledge required.
💡 Want to see it in action? Try the AffiliatePro SaaS demo and explore the Sales Funnels feature with real data.
🚀 Getting Started – Setup Guide
Step 1: Access Sales Funnels
Navigation Path: Dashboard → Business → Store → Sales Funnels
Who Can Access:
- Admin: Full access to the Sales Funnels feature
- Vendors: Full access to the Sales Funnels feature
⚠️ Important Requirement: The Sales Funnels feature is only available when Store Mode is set to “Sales”.
Understanding the Two-Store Modes:
- Cart Mode: Traditional e-commerce with shopping cart functionality
- Sales Mode: Direct sales with funnel and upsell capabilities
How to Enable Sales Mode:
- Go to Store Settings
- Find the Store Mode option
- Switch from “Cart Mode” to “Sales Mode”
- Save settings
- The Sales Funnels menu will now appear under Business → Store
- You can now create sales products and configure funnels
📝 Note for Admins: When you change the store mode to “Sales”, all vendors will also see and have access to the Sales Funnels feature in their dashboard.
Step 2: Create Sales Products
Before setting up funnels, you need to have sales products created. These are the products that will be used in your funnel sequences.
📝 Understanding Store Modes:
- Cart Mode: Traditional shopping cart with add-to-cart functionality
- Sales Mode: Direct sales of products with funnel capabilities
Important: Sales products can only be created and used when your store is in Sales Mode. Make sure you’ve switched to Sales Mode in Store Settings before creating products for your funnels.
💡 Tip: Create at least 3-5 sales products before building your first funnel to have good options for upsells.
Step 3: Configure Your First Funnel
A. Select Frontend Product
Choose the product that customers will purchase first. This is the entry point to your funnel.
- Use the dropdown menu to select from your available sales products
- This should be your main offer or entry-level product
B. Add Upsell Products
Click on products from the available products list to add them as upsells. They will be shown in the order you add them.
- Simply click on any product to add it to your upsell sequence
- Products appear in the right panel, showing your funnel flow
- You can add multiple upsells in sequence
⚠️ Important Notes:
- You cannot add the frontend product as an upsell to itself
- Choose complementary products that add value to the initial purchase
- Each product can only appear once in a funnel sequence
C. Review the Flow
The right panel shows a visual preview of your funnel sequence:
- Step 1 shows your frontend product
- Steps 2, 3, 4… show your upsells in order
- You can remove upsells by clicking the X button on each card
D. Save Configuration
Click the “Save Funnel Configuration” button to activate your funnel. It will start working immediately for all new purchases of that frontend product.
Step 4: Set Funnel Pricing (Important!)
Navigation: Sales Funnels → Pricing
Set special prices for products when they appear in funnels:
- Find the product in the pricing table
- Enter a Funnel Price lower than the regular price
- The system automatically calculates the discount percentage and savings
- Click “Save” for each product
💡 Pro Tip: Offer 20-40% discounts on upsells to maximize conversion rates while maintaining healthy profit margins.
Step 5: Edit Existing Funnels
In the “Current Funnel Configurations” section:
- View all your active funnels
- Click the edit button to modify any funnel
- The configuration will load into the form above
- Make changes and save again
💡 Best Practices
✅ DO These Things:
- Choose complementary products – Products should naturally fit together and add value
- Start with 1-3 upsells – Don’t overwhelm customers with too many offers
- Offer significant discounts – 20-40% off the regular price creates urgency
- Test different sequences – Try different product orders to see what converts best
- Use clear descriptions – Make the value proposition obvious
- Monitor and update – Review performance and adjust based on data
- Make it relevant – Upsells should relate to the initial purchase
❌ DON’T Do These Things:
- Add too many upsells – More than 3-4 can cause customer fatigue
- Offer unrelated products – Keep it relevant to the initial purchase
- Set prices too high – Funnel prices should be noticeably discounted
- Use frontend as upsell – The system won’t allow this anyway
- Create confusing sequences – Keep the flow logical and natural
- Forget to test – Always test your funnel before promoting it
- Ignore performance data – Update funnels that aren’t converting well
📚 Example Funnel Strategies
Example 1: Digital Products Funnel
Best For: eBooks, Courses, Templates, Digital Downloads
Funnel Structure:
- Frontend: eBook – “Beginner’s Guide to [Topic]” – $19
- Upsell 1: Video Course – “Advanced [Topic] Training” – $39 (35% off, regular $60)
- Upsell 2: Template Pack – “Done-for-You Resources” – $29 (40% off, regular $49)
Why It Works: Each product builds on the previous one, creating a natural progression from beginner to advanced. Customers who buy the guide are likely interested in going deeper.
Example 2: Software/Tools Funnel
Best For: Software Licenses, Plugins, Tools, SaaS Products
Funnel Structure:
- Frontend: Basic License – $47
- Upsell 1: Pro License Upgrade – $77 (30% off, regular $110)
- Upsell 2: Developer License – $127 (25% off, regular $169)
- Upsell 3: Priority Support Package – $97 (40% off, regular $162)
Why It Works: Upgrades are offered while the customer is already in buying mode. Each tier offers clear additional value. Support package adds peace of mind.
Example 3: Services Funnel
Best For: Web Design, Marketing, Consulting, Freelance Services
Funnel Structure:
- Frontend: Website Design Package – $499
- Upsell 1: SEO Optimization Add-on – $199 (30% off, regular $285)
- Upsell 2: 6-Month Maintenance Plan – $299 (35% off, regular $460)
Why It Works: Additional services complement the main purchase and solve related customer needs. SEO makes the website more valuable, maintenance ensures long-term success.
Example 4: Membership Funnel
Best For: Membership Sites, Subscription Services, Communities
Funnel Structure:
- Frontend: Monthly Membership – $27/month
- Upsell 1: Annual Membership (Save 30%) – $229/year (normally $324)
- Upsell 2: VIP Mastermind Access – $97/month (25% off, regular $129)
Why It Works: Immediate upgrade to annual saves money long-term. VIP access offers exclusivity and additional value.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Where do I find the Sales Funnels feature?
Answer: Navigate to Dashboard → Business → Store → Sales Funnels. The feature is available for both Admin and Vendors when the store mode is set to “Sales”.
Q2: Why don’t I see the Sales Funnels menu?
Answer: The Sales Funnels feature only appears when your Store Mode is set to “Sales”. Your store has two modes: Cart Mode (traditional shopping cart) and Sales Mode (direct sales with funnels). To enable Sales Funnels, go to Store Settings, switch the Store Mode from “Cart” to “Sales”, and save. The Sales Funnels menu will immediately appear under Business → Store. If you’re an Admin, this change will also make the feature available to all your vendors.
Q3: What’s the difference between Cart Mode and Sales Mode?
Answer: Your store can operate in two different modes:
- Cart Mode: Traditional e-commerce setup where customers add products to a cart and checkout. No funnel features available.
- Sales Mode: Direct sales setup where customers buy products immediately, and you can configure sales funnels with upsell sequences.
Sales products and Sales Funnels features are only available when you’re in Sales Mode. You can switch between modes anytime in Store Settings.
Q4: Can vendors use Sales Funnels?
Answer: Yes! Both Admin and Vendors have full access to the Sales Funnels feature. When the Admin sets the store mode to “Sales”, all vendors will automatically see the Sales Funnels option in their Business → Store menu and can create their own sales products and funnels.
Q5: Can I have multiple funnels for different products?
Answer: Yes! Each frontend product can have its own unique funnel with different upsell sequences. This allows you to customize the customer journey based on what they initially purchased. You can create as many different funnels as you have frontend products.
Q6: What happens if a customer declines an upsell?
Answer: If a customer clicks “No Thanks” or declines an upsell, they’re automatically shown the next upsell in the sequence. After all upsells are shown (whether accepted or declined), they’re taken to the final order confirmation page showing all their purchases.
Q7: Can customers see all upsells at once?
Answer: No, upsells are shown one at a time in sequence. This creates a more focused buying experience and increases conversion rates by not overwhelming the customer with too many choices at once. It’s the same strategy used by major online retailers.
Q8: How do I change an existing funnel?
Answer: Go to the Sales Funnels page and scroll to the “Current Funnel Configurations” section at the bottom. Click the edit button (pencil icon) next to any funnel. This will load it into the configuration form at the top, where you can modify the upsell sequence, add or remove products, and save your changes.
Q9: Is the funnel pricing mandatory?
Answer: No, but it’s highly recommended. Products will use their regular pricing if no funnel price is set. However, offering special funnel-only discounts significantly increases upsell conversion rates – often by 2-3x compared to regular pricing.
Q10: Can I use the same product in multiple funnels?
Answer: Yes! A product can be used as an upsell in multiple different funnels. For example, a popular add-on or complementary product might be a relevant upsell for several different frontend products. It can also be a frontend product in one funnel and an upsell in another.
Q11: How many upsells should I add to a funnel?
Answer: We recommend starting with 1-3 upsells per funnel. While you can technically add unlimited upsells, too many can lead to customer fatigue and lower conversion rates. Focus on quality over quantity – choose the most relevant and valuable products that truly complement the initial purchase.
Q12: Do upsell purchases require separate payments?
Answer: No! When a customer accepts an upsell, it’s automatically added to their existing order and charged to the same payment method they used for the initial purchase. This creates a seamless one-click buying experience with no need to re-enter payment information.
Q13: Can I track which upsells are converting best?
Answer: Yes, you can monitor your order history and product sales to see which upsells are being purchased most frequently. Use this data to optimize your funnels – move high-converting products earlier in the sequence and replace or remove low-converting upsells.
Q14: What if I don’t have enough products for a funnel?
Answer: You can start with just one frontend product and one upsell – that’s a perfectly valid funnel! Even a single upsell can significantly increase your average order value. As you create more products, you can expand your funnel sequences.
Q15: Can I test different funnel configurations?
Answer: Absolutely! You can edit and change your funnel configurations anytime. Try different product sequences, adjust pricing, add or remove upsells, and monitor the results. Testing and optimization are key to maximizing your funnel performance.
Q16: Will customers who already bought an upsell product see it again?
Answer: This depends on your system settings. Typically, smart systems will skip products the customer has already purchased. Check your specific platform documentation for details on duplicate purchase prevention.
📊 Quick Tips for Success
Pricing Strategy
- Low Ticket Frontend: $7-$27 (easy impulse buy)
- Mid Ticket Upsells: $37-$97 (real value, good discount)
- High Ticket Upsells: $127-$297+ (premium offerings)
- Discount Range: 20-40% off for funnel pricing
Product Selection Tips
- Upsell 1 should be closely related to the frontend
- Upsell 2 can be slightly broader but still relevant
- Final upsells can be services (support, maintenance, upgrades)
- Consider ascending price points (each upsell slightly higher)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not offering any discount on upsells
- Making customers re-enter payment info
- Offering unrelated or random products
- Too many upsells are causing decision fatigue
- Not testing the funnel from the customer perspective
- Forgetting to update product descriptions for the funnel context
🎯 Action Steps to Get Started Today
- Review Your Products – List all your sales products and identify which work well together
- Plan Your First Funnel – Choose 1 frontend product and 1-2 complementary upsells
- Set Funnel Pricing – Calculate attractive discount prices (20-40% off)
- Create the Funnel – Use the Sales Funnels page to set it up
- Test It – Make a test purchase to experience the customer journey
- Launch and Monitor – Activate it and watch your order values increase
- Optimize – After 10-20 sales, review and adjust as needed
📈 Expected Results
When properly implemented, sales funnels typically deliver:
- 30-50% increase in average order value
- 15-25% upsell acceptance rate on first upsell
- 10-15% acceptance rate on second upsell
- 5-10% acceptance rate on third+ upsells
- Overall revenue boost of 25-40% without needing more traffic
Note: Results vary based on product quality, pricing, relevance, and target audience.
🎓 Advanced Strategies
The Downsell Technique
If a customer declines an upsell, consider offering a “downsell” – a less expensive alternative:
- Customer declines $97 Pro Version
- Offer $47 Lite Version instead
- This recovers some revenue from the “no” response
The Order Bump
Before the funnel even starts, add a small checkbox offer on the checkout page itself:
- Small add-on for $7-$17
- Simply check the box to add to the order
- The funnel begins after purchase
The Tripwire Funnel
Use a very low-priced frontend to get customers in, then profit on upsells:
- Frontend: $7 mini-course
- Upsell 1: $47 full course
- Upsell 2: $97 coaching package
- High conversion on the frontend, profit from upsells
✅ Checklist: Before Launching Your Funnel
Before you activate your funnel, make sure:
- ☑️ All products are active and available
- ☑️ Product descriptions are compelling and clear
- ☑️ Funnel pricing is set for all upsell products
- ☑️ Discounts are attractive (20-40% off)
- ☑️ Upsells are relevant to the frontend product
- ☑️ Sequence is logical (progression makes sense)
- ☑️ You’ve tested the funnel flow yourself
- ☑️ Payment processing is working correctly
- ☑️ Thank you page displays correctly
- ☑️ Customer receives proper order confirmation
🚀 Ready to Increase Your Revenue?
Start creating your first sales funnel today and watch your average order value increase!
Remember: Even a simple funnel with just one frontend product and one upsell can make a significant difference to your bottom line. Don’t overthink it – start simple, test, and optimize as you go.
Access the Sales Funnels feature now from your dashboard: Business → Store → Sales Funnels
📞 Need Help?
Questions about this feature? Contact our support team