Glossary
What is a sales funnel, with stages and an example
Every business has a sales funnel, even if nobody drew it. Putting the funnel on paper, or in a system, is what shows where sales are stalling.
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The short answer
A sales funnel is a picture of the stages a customer goes through, from first contact with the company to purchase. It has that name because many people enter at the top and fewer reach the bottom. It tells you how many deals are in each stage and where they get lost the most.
The three parts of the funnel
| Part | Customer moment | What the company does |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Discovers the company and makes first contact | Replies fast and learns what the person is looking for |
| Middle | Compares options and asks questions | Presents the solution, sends a proposal, qualifies |
| Bottom | Is ready to decide | Negotiates, closes and schedules delivery or the service |
Sales funnel example
The stages change from company to company. A common funnel for anyone selling over WhatsApp follows this sequence:
- 1New contactThe person sent a first message or came from an ad.
- 2In conversationSomeone has replied and is learning the need.
- 3Proposal sentThe customer received a price, quote or plan.
- 4NegotiationAdjustments to price, timing or payment method.
- 5ClosedSale made. From here on it is after-sales and relationship.
Why the funnel matters
- Shows where sales get stuck, for example many proposals sent and little negotiation
- Helps forecast the month, because you see how many deals are close to closing
- Organizes the team: each salesperson knows the next step for every customer
- Measures the conversion of each stage, not only the final result
Funnel in a spreadsheet and funnel in a CRM
In a spreadsheet, the funnel depends on someone updating it row by row. In a CRM, each deal is a card you drag from one stage to the next, and the conversation with the customer stays linked to the card. That way the funnel is always up to date, because it follows the work the team already does.
How atendIA does it
In atendIA the sales funnel is visual, drag and drop, with the stages your company defines, on every plan. Each card is linked to the customer's conversation on WhatsApp, Instagram or Messenger, with the full history. The report shows inbound contacts, closings and conversion, and atendIA tags which Facebook or Instagram ad brought each conversation, so you know where the top of the funnel comes from.
Plans and pricing
The sales funnel comes on every plan, starting at $49 a month, with an unlimited team. Try it 7 days free.
See all plansFrequently asked questions
How many stages should a sales funnel have?
Enough to show the real progress of the sale, with no stage nobody uses. Four to six stages are usually enough, from first contact to close.
What is the difference between a sales funnel and a pipeline?
They are almost the same thing. Funnel usually refers to the customer journey and conversion between stages. Pipeline usually refers to the list of open deals the team tracks. In a CRM, both show up on the same screen.
Will my team be able to use it?
Yes. The dashboard works like WhatsApp with more features: conversations on the left, the open conversation next to them and the pipeline as a drag and drop board. Your team starts answering the same day, with no formal training.
Do I need a credit card to try it?
No. Signing up only asks for your company details, phone, email and password. The 7 days are free, and billing only starts if you decide to continue. You cancel from the dashboard itself.
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