Business 101: Every organization needs a website. Wrong assumption. Just as wrong is the guru being obssessed with funnels.
There is a need, however to have a working solution. Actionable solutions. Something that resonates with the current phase of the business.
However, if you’re battling with the question “does my business require a website or a sales funnel”? Don’t stress. Trust us, you aren’t alone in this boat.
In this guide, we’ll demarcate the ‘both’, and look at how the most astute businesses out there are mixing the two tools without unnecessary expenses.
The Website of the 21st Century: What Can It Do, and Cannot Do?
Websites are a company’s digital front. Clients have access to a wide range of information on the website which gives them an idea on the company’s credibility. Customers get instant access to:
- Homepage
- Pages that describe your service or products
- An About us Section
- Articles in the Blog
- A contact page
- Web Chat possible option
- Brand recognition
- Traffic through an SEO strategy and traffic from search engines
- Strengthen company image
- Share information regarding the company
- Long-term hosting of content
In a nutshell, businesses are building websites to serve the primary purpose – to enhance information accessibility.
They are designed for people who are browsing, researching or know you already.
But Here’s the Catch…
Websites aren’t always great at conversion – especially when they’re visited by users you acquired through ads.
Why?
Because traditional websites:
- Have an excess of links to pages
- Spread visitor attention across several pages
- Have no straightforward means of reaching conversion
- Discuss the business rather than address the visitor’s problem
Websites are similar in nature to being presented with 20 various shop signs simultaneously, lacking guidance in conversation:
“What were you looking for today? How can I assist?”
Introducing: The Funnel
A sales funnel focuses on:
- A single entry gateway
- A single united concept
- A distinct purpose
- Clear next actions
Enter: Funnels
These can include but are not limited to:
- Consultation booking
- Product purchase
- Registering for a webinar
Everything in the funnel intends to steer the user toward that single goal.
Here’s Why Funnels Are Better For Ads
They eradicate other factors competing for attention. Funnels focus on one group of users containing the same pain points or goals. The user flow is unidirectional. The action that needs to be taken is straightforward.
For instance, rather than redirecting prospects after clicking on “Free Marketing Audit,” you can send them to your website:
“Struggling with wasted ad spend? Claim your free performance audit — we’ll show you what’s leaking and how to fix it.”
There is no menu bar. No About section. No blog. It’s only the message, the offer, and a form. That is a funnel. It is targeted. And it works.
So Which One Should You Use? Let’s Break It Down.
Use a Website when:
- You require a sustained digital presence
- Your focus is on organic traffic (search engines)
- You wish to teach and inform
- You focus on a combination of warm and cold audiences
- You have multiple services, offers, or use cases
Use a Funnel when:
- You’re running paid ads
- You need a lead to take a specific action
- You are testing a new offer or deal
- You’re promoting a limited-time deal or event
- You want a clear performance metric (clicks, opt-ins, sales)
Can You Use Both?
Absolutely – and you should. The most effective businesses don’t choose one or the other — they build both and leverage each for what it is best suited for.
Here’s a basic setup we frequently create for clients at Ray-D Media:
- Website: the “hub” for SEO, blog posts, About page, and social proof
- Funnels: the “entry points” for campaigns — specific offers tailored to target particular demographics
The website assists in establishing brand legitimacy. The funnels drive sales.
This is the combination that wins.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Regardless if you are starting with funnel-first or web focused, avoid these blunders:
❌ Sending paid traffic to your homepage
This is a common step that can be avoided. Your homepage is likely too broad. Make use of a funnel or a dedicated landing page.
❌ Cramming multiple offers on one page
Make each offer a distinct one to avoid page clutter. One page = one offer. One offer = one CTA.
❌ Overdesigning before testing
It’s simple to get lost in choosing the right fonts and obsessing over logos, but in a funnel the offer and message are a way higher priority.
❌ Ignoring tracking
Don’t forget tracking. Funnels shine because of how elementary-basic each step of the funnel can be tracked, but only if set up properly. Basic= UTM tags, conversion events, and any analytics tools.
And What If You’re Just Beginning?
If you have no traffic yet:
- Build your website on a funnel focused on your core offer.
- For now, use Zapier with Tally, Carrd, or Webflow.
- Get feedback, perform, iterate, and do it all in a ridiculously fast manner.
- Add your whole website later — when your funnel is converting.
It’s faster, cheaper, and more effective than a standalone 10-page site that collects dust and stares silently at a nonexistent audience.
A Closing Remark
- Website shows the world you have a presence.
- Funnel converts leads and customers into traffic.
You require both, but not at the same time, and certainly not for the same reason.
Understand what job each one is designed to do, and when they should be performed.
- Website builds credibility.
- Funnel builds momentum.
Your marketing achieves profitability, rather than just being “active.”
Contact us if you need assistance creating the right funnel to grow your business.
Fostering growth businesses to move past “just having a site” with high converting funnels is what Ray-D Media specializes in. Campaigns that drive results and matter — that’s our forte.
Let’s construct something that converts. 📩 For a free strategy call message us.
