The Funnel Stack

The Funnel Stack: How to Combine Lead Gen, Sales, and Email Funnels

Funnelstak Review
July 08, 2025•5 min read

What the Heck Is a Funnel Stack (and Why You Need One)

Most people treat funnels like single-use gadgets—build it, launch it, hope it works. But the pros? We stack funnels like LEGOs. Each piece is built for a specific job, and when they’re layered right, they create a sales system so smooth it practically runs itself.

A Funnel Stack is a layered, integrated system of multiple funnels, each designed for a different stage of the buyer journey. Instead of putting all the pressure on one funnel to do everything, each one plays its part—efficiently, automatically, and profitably.

Why stack funnels?
Because stacking means:

  • More automation (less manual follow-up)

  • More scale (you’re not bottlenecked by one offer)

  • More revenue (each funnel catches and converts at a different level)

Here’s the simple three-part stack to start with:

  1. Lead Generation Funnel
    This one’s all about attracting and capturing leads. Usually with a freebie (checklist, quiz, mini-training) that solves one burning problem.
    Goal: Build your list and qualify your audience.

  2. Sales Funnel
    This is where the magic happens—your main offer is presented, trust is built, and conversions roll in. Think webinars, VSLs, or product pages with upsells.
    Goal: Convert cold leads into paying customers.

  3. Email Funnel
    Often the most overlooked piece, but the one that keeps the cash flowing. It nurtures leads, re-engages cold ones, and promotes future offers.
    Goal: Build long-term trust and increase lifetime value.

Instead of trying to cram everything into one clunky funnel, stack them smart. Lead Gen feeds Sales. Sales activates Email. Email brings people back or moves them up.

When done right, your Funnel Stack becomes a living, breathing sales engine—and you? You finally get to work on your business instead of babysitting it.

Funnel #1: The Lead Generation Funnel (Your Front Door)

Before they buy, they need to know you exist. This funnel is your digital bait—the handshake, the “hey, I can help,” and the first step to building trust. It’s not about hard selling. It’s about attracting, qualifying, and starting the conversation.

Key Ingredients:

  • Scroll-stopping Lead Magnet: A juicy freebie like a checklist, quiz, template, or mini-guide that solves a very specific pain point.

  • High-Converting Opt-In Page: Clean design, killer headline, and one clear call-to-action. No distractions.

  • Thank You Page with Next Step: A mini-offer, a video message, or a simple ask to take action—don’t waste this screen.

Goal: Turn strangers into leads—daily and on autopilot.
Pro Tip: Add a low-ticket tripwire offer (like a $7–$27 product) on the thank you page to cover ad spend or create instant ROI. It’s like getting paid to grow your list.

Funnel #2: The Sales Funnel (Where the Magic Happens)

Now that you’ve got their attention, it’s time to turn that curiosity into cold, hard cash. This is the revenue engine of your funnel stack—the moment where value meets wallet.

Core Structure:

  • Sales Page or VSL: Tell a story, address objections, and showcase transformation. Keep it compelling and benefits-first.

  • Order Form + Payment Processing: Make it seamless. No friction, no confusion. The fewer clicks, the better.

  • Upsells/Downsells: Offer upgrades or complementary products immediately after checkout. Increase the cart value without extra traffic.

    Funnel #3: The Email Funnel (The Follow-Up Fortune)

    Let’s get one thing straight: most leads won’t whip out their wallets on day one. But that doesn’t mean they’re dead weight. Enter: the Email Funnel—the unsung hero of your funnel stack and the place where real profits are forged over time.

    This is where you build trust, handle objections, and turn fence-sitters into raving buyers.

    Must-Have Emails:

    • Welcome Sequence: Deliver the lead magnet, set expectations, and show them you’re more than just another promo machine.

    • Education Series: Break down misconceptions, answer “Yeah, but…” objections, and position your offer as the obvious next step.

    • Promo Sequences: Timed campaigns with urgency, bonuses, and crystal-clear calls to action.

    Goal: Warm up leads, boost lifetime value, and recover lost sales.
    Pro Tip: Use segmentation tags (based on what they clicked, downloaded, or ignored) so your emails feel like they’re written just for them. Personal = powerful.

    How to Stack Them for Seamless Conversions

    You don’t just toss these funnels into your tech stack and hope they play nice. Funnel stacking is about crafting a strategic flow that guides your prospect step-by-step—without confusion, friction, or overwhelm.

    Here’s a simple, seamless flow that works across almost any niche:

    1. Lead Magnet Funnel → Captures attention and collects email
    2. Thank You Page → Delivers the freebie AND softly introduces a tripwire or next step
    3. Sales Funnel → Converts the warmed-up lead into a paying customer
    4. Email Funnel → Nurtures the relationship, recaptures abandoned carts, upsells, and sets up your next launch or offer

    Each funnel feeds the next like gears in a machine. Miss one? You’ve got a leaky system. Stack them right, and you’ve got a self-fueling revenue engine running day and night.

    This isn’t just automation—it’s conversion choreography. And it’s where the scaling starts.

    Funnel Stack in Action: Real-World Example

    Let’s bring this funnel stack theory to life. Here’s how a real estate pro went from “posting and praying” to pulling in qualified leads and consistent sales—without ads, without burnout.

    Example Breakdown:

    Lead Magnet: “5 Steps to Buy Your First Rental Property”
    Simple, clear, and targeted. Perfect for attracting newbie investors.

    Tripwire Offer: $7 Property Analysis Spreadsheet
    Low-risk, high-value tool that instantly positions the seller as the expert—and pays for lead generation.

    Core Offer: $497 Real Estate Investing Course
    Delivered after warming up the lead with value and trust. Solves the big problem they opted in for.

    Email Series:
    10-day “deal flow” training packed with tips, templates, and insights. Wrapped with a soft pitch to a $97 coaching session for personalized strategy.

    The Result?

    • 1,200 leads in 30 days

    • 23% tripwire conversion

    • $15K in course sales

    • Dozens of coaching calls booked

    • All with ONE funnel stack, running on autopilot

    And that’s just month one.

    Tools to Build Your Funnel Stack (Without Losing Your Mind)

    You don’t need 47 logins, 6 devs, and a PhD in tech to pull this off. Use simple, proven tools that do exactly what you need—nothing more, nothing less.

    Funnels:

    Email:

    • ActiveCampaign

    • ConvertKit

    • MailerLite

    Integrations:

    • Zapier (connect it all)

    • Calendly (book calls)

    • Stripe (collect payments)

    Stack these right, and you’ll be selling while you sleep—without duct-taping your sanity to a dashboard.

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