{"id":20585,"date":"2022-05-12T10:00:40","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T10:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/?p=20585"},"modified":"2022-05-17T04:52:50","modified_gmt":"2022-05-17T04:52:50","slug":"pipeline-funnel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/pipeline-funnel\/","title":{"rendered":"Sales Pipeline vs Sales Funnel (Key Differences &amp; Benefits)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a href=\"#pipeline\"><b>sales pipeline<\/b><\/a> and <a href=\"#funnel\"><b>sales funnel<\/b><\/a> are two sales models that represent the buyer journey as leads turn into prospects and customers.<\/p>\n<p>While both give you a clear picture of the sales process, they serve different purposes.<br \/>\nAnd understanding the <a href=\"#pipeline-funnel\"><b>pipeline funnel differences<\/b><\/a> is essential to utilizing them efficiently.<\/p>\n<p>In this article, I\u2019ll make a quick comparison between the two models and delve into their unique benefits to help you understand which one best serves your business needs.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 4px solid #000080; background-color: #d3d3d3d3; padding: 10px;\">\n<p><b>Further Reading:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Check out <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/sales-goals\/\"><b>useful examples and<\/b><b> best practices<\/b><b> for setting<\/b><b> sales goals<\/b><b>.<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b id=\"contents\">Learn the <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/lead-vs-prospect\/\"><b>key differences between leads and prospects<\/b><\/a><b>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>This Article Contains:<\/h2>\n<p>(Click on the links to jump to specific sections)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#pipeline\">What Is a Sales Pipeline?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#funnel\">What Is a Sales Funnel?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#pipeline-funnel\">Sales Pipeline Funnel: a Quick Comparison<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#benefits\">Key Benefits of Sales Pipelines and Sales Funnels<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#pipeline-vs-funnel\">Should You Use a Sales Pipeline or Sales Funnel?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n<p><b id=\"pipeline\"><i>Note<\/i><\/b><i>:<\/i> <i>To understand the differences between pipelines and funnels, it&#8217;s integral to first know <\/i><b><i>what <\/i><\/b><i>they are. That\u2019s why I\u2019ll briefly go over each model first.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>However, feel free to<\/i> <a href=\"#pipeline-funnel\"><i>skip ahead to the comparison<\/i><\/a><i> if that\u2019s all you\u2019re looking for<\/i><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<h2>What Is a Sales Pipeline?<\/h2>\n<p>A <b>sales pipeline<\/b> is a holistic visual representation of the sales stages a prospect goes through as they move from being a new lead to a customer.<\/p>\n<p>It highlights the customer\u2019s journey from a <b>sales<\/b><b> viewpoint<\/b>, helping you visualize the sales process and identify potential customers at each stage.<\/p>\n<p>A salesperson can use the pipeline chart to direct prospects along the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil\/2020\/07\/06\/developing-an-effective-customer-journey-map-16-tips-for-sales-pros\/\">ideal customer journey<\/a> and improve their sales strategy.<\/p>\n<p>But just like how a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/sales-cycle\/\"><b>sales cycle<\/b><\/a> is unique to a business, a sales pipeline will be unique too.<\/p>\n<p>Ideally, a pipeline chart should be tailored to a business\u2019s sales process. This will help you discover opportunities for improvements, reduce the time it takes to close deals, and accurately forecast revenue.<\/p>\n<p>Generally, sales pipeline management involves six key stages:<\/p>\n<h3>1. Lead Generation<\/h3>\n<p>The first stage in a typical sales pipeline is <b>lead generation<\/b>, which sets the ball rolling for the rest of your sales efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Lead generation involves finding people who need your business\u2019s products or services \u2014 your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbesagencycouncil\/2019\/09\/20\/how-to-learn-more-about-a-target-audience-13-secrets-from-digital-agencies\/\">target audience<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You can generate leads through:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/cold-email\">Cold emails<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Digital marketing, including content marketing, social media marketing, and ads.<\/li>\n<li>Referral programs.<\/li>\n<li>Cold calling, and so on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><i>Want to improve your <\/i><\/b><b><i>lead generation<\/i><\/b><b><i> strategy?<\/i><\/b><b><i><br \/>\n<\/i><\/b><b><i>Check out these <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/sales-leads\/\"><b><i>no-nonsense tips to generate <\/i><\/b><b><i>sales<\/i><\/b> <b><i>leads<\/i><\/b><b><i> effectively<\/i><\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<h3>2. Lead Qualification<\/h3>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve generated leads, you need to <b>qualify <\/b>them using relevant sales qualifiers.<\/p>\n<p>Qualifying leads helps you determine if the generated leads match your:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Ideal customer profile<\/b><b>: <\/b>essential requirements that a sales lead must meet to qualify as a potential customer.<\/li>\n<li><b>Buyer persona<\/b><b>: <\/b>characteristic buyer qualities like behavior, demographic and unique needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As a result, a sales qualified lead has a higher probability of converting into a customer.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some popular methods marketers and sales teams use to qualify leads:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Questionnaires.<\/li>\n<li>Surveys.<\/li>\n<li>Opt-in forms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Qualifying leads will help boost your average conversion rates as it\u2019ll save you time and effort from pursuing poor-fit leads.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Prospect Outreach<\/h3>\n<p>Once you qualify leads using your ideal customer profile and buyer persona, it\u2019s time to <b>reach out <\/b>to them via sales calls, in-person meetings, or emails. Here, you discuss your business\u2019s offerings and position them as solutions for the prospects\u2019 unique needs.<\/p>\n<p>Ideally, you should choose a mode of communication that is familiar and comfortable for your target audience. This will help you convey the message more effectively.<\/p>\n<p>I recommend using email to reach out to prospects as it\u2019s less intrusive, professional, and a cost-effective medium.<\/p>\n<p>And with powerful email outreach and marketing automation software like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/\"><b>GMass<\/b><\/a>, you can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/mail-merge-personalization\/\"><b>Auto-personalize<\/b><\/a> your outreach emails with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/how-to-include-personalized-image-in-email-marketing-campaign\/\">images<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/mass-email-with-personalized-attachments\/\">attachments<\/a>, and more.<\/li>\n<li>Increase conversion rates by refining your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/email-marketing-tips\/\">email marketing<\/a> strategies based on insights from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/reports\/\"><b>detailed analytics reports<\/b><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Adapt strategies based on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/new-campaign-based-on-subscriber-engagement\/\"><b>behavior-based insights<\/b><\/a> from how a prospective customer interacts with your email updates.<\/li>\n<li>Utilize <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/auto-follow-up-emails-until-reply\/\"><b>automated follow-up emails<\/b><\/a> from ready templates to engage with prospects and build a better relationship with customers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Once a prospect indicates interest, you can further develop your relationship with them, send them a product demo, and move on to the next stage.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Proposal<\/h3>\n<p>If the demo goes well, your salesperson can submit a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/sales-proposal\/\"><b>sales proposal<\/b> <\/a>\u2014 outlining how your business is uniquely positioned to tackle the prospect\u2019s goals and challenges.<\/p>\n<p>A typical sales proposal should provide detailed information on:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Scope of work.<\/li>\n<li>Deliverables.<\/li>\n<li>Associated costs.<\/li>\n<li>Terms and conditions, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You should aim to provide information that will aid the conversion of leads to customers.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Sales Close<\/h3>\n<p>The <b>sales close<\/b> is the penultimate sales pipeline stage.<\/p>\n<p>You conduct negotiations with decision-makers, iron out the details, and close the deal here. The prospect you\u2019ve nurtured makes the purchase, becomes your customer, and your business increases its revenue.<\/p>\n<p>But if you genuinely want to improve your sales potential, there\u2019s one more sales stage you need to address.<\/p>\n<h3>6. Post-sales Management and Retaining Customers<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s not enough to simply close a deal \u2014 customers must also receive <b>post-sales management<\/b>. That\u2019s why this stage of the pipeline is about retaining customers.<\/p>\n<p>A great sales process will ensure that customers have a great onboarding experience and receive care and benefits that garner loyalty to the business.<\/p>\n<p>Just like lead nurturing, it\u2019s essential to reinforce relationships with customers, even if you\u2019ve already won their approval.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>For more information on <\/i><\/b><b><i>sales pipelines<\/i><\/b><b><i>, read my <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/sales-pipeline\/\"><b><i>in-depth guide<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><b id=\"funnel\">Go back to Contents<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve explored the sales pipeline, let\u2019s move on to the sales funnel.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is a Sales Funnel?<\/h2>\n<p>The <b>sales funnel<\/b> (sometimes also called the sales <b>and <\/b>marketing funnel) visualizes the customer\u2019s journey or the buying process.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the sales process from the <b>prospect\u2019s viewpoint<\/b> and consists of stages that they go through \u2014 from becoming aware of a business to buying its product or service.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, the funnel <b>doesn\u2019t look at the actions taken by a business or seller.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Instead, it focuses on the number of leads and prospects at every sales stage. This helps you track conversion rates and identify areas of improvement quickly.<\/p>\n<p>As a representation, it\u2019s like a funnel chart or inverted pyramid, with the volume of leads decreasing as you go further down the funnel.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the six common stages you can expect to see in a basic sales funnel:<\/p>\n<h3>1. Awareness<\/h3>\n<p>This funnel stage is where leads first hear about your business.<\/p>\n<p>They could become naturally <b>aware <\/b>of a business through targeted marketing efforts or when they search for solutions to their pain points.<\/p>\n<p>Some ways businesses can gain a lead\u2019s attention at the awareness stage are through:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Social media and blog posts.<\/li>\n<li>Product videos.<\/li>\n<li>Advertisements.<\/li>\n<li>Limited offers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After entering the awareness stage, the impression you make will influence whether a potential customer will continue down the subsequent sales funnel stages.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Discovery<\/h3>\n<p>The <b>discovery <\/b>stage of the funnel has a greater potential for conversion.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s where a lead starts learning more about your business through an internet search, social media, or reading up on your website landing page. They begin to show more interest in your products\/services if it\u2019s relevant to their goals and challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Publishing a white paper, utilizing SEO and SEM, curating educational content, or even creating a LinkedIn page can positively influence the discovery phase.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Note<\/i><\/b><i>: The awareness and discovery stages are considered to be the <\/i><b><i>top <\/i><\/b><i>of the funnel<\/i><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3>3. Evaluation<\/h3>\n<p>At this funnel stage, a sales qualified lead views your services as a viable solution to their problems. They <b>evaluate <\/b>whether your product is a good fit by comparing your offerings with competitors.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of the sales pipeline, this stage would come after you\u2019ve qualified leads \u2014 when you start with outreach.<\/p>\n<p>During the evaluation phase, you can engage with a prospective customer via a sales call, email, or sales meeting to help them understand how your business is uniquely positioned to solve their issues.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what can improve your standings during customer evaluation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Word of mouth.<\/li>\n<li>A detailed landing page.<\/li>\n<li>Product reviews.<\/li>\n<li>Influencer marketing.<\/li>\n<li>Case studies.<\/li>\n<li>Competitor comparisons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>4. Intent<\/h3>\n<p>At the intent stage, buyers are in a decision-making phase and <b>intend <\/b>to purchase your service or product.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s when your sales person submits a proposal, initiates negotiations, and finalizes costs and inclusions.<\/p>\n<p>And if all goes successfully, you\u2019ll have new customers. If not, you\u2019ll have the opportunity to see what didn\u2019t work and nurture those prospects to win them over in the future.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Note<\/i><\/b><i>: The evaluation and intent stages usually form the <\/i><b><i>middle <\/i><\/b><i>of the funnel<\/i><i>.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<h3>5. Purchase<\/h3>\n<p>This stage is when you acquire a new customer \u2014 a potential buyer decides to go through with the <b>purchasing <\/b>decision and closes the deal.<\/p>\n<p>Congratulations!<br \/>\nIt indicates that your B2C or B2B <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/sales-strategy\/\">sales strategy<\/a> is working.<\/p>\n<p>But it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that your strategy is <i>perfect<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p>An overview of how many prospects moved from the intent to the purchase stage, which you will find in a funnel report, will clearly show <b>which <\/b>stages in the marketing funnel need improvement.<\/p>\n<h3>6. Loyalty<\/h3>\n<p>Parallel to the retain stage in the sales pipeline, the <b>loyalty <\/b>stage is where you\u2019ll see the effectiveness of your onboarding process.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond securing new customers, it\u2019s vital to ensure that they continue to receive value and benefits from your business. Features like loyalty programs, discount codes, and exclusive offers go a long way in fostering a deeper relationship and enabling customer retention.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Note<\/i><\/b><i>: The purchase and loyalty phases are considered to be the <\/i><b><i>bottom <\/i><\/b><i>of the funnel<\/i><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><b>Go back to Contents<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p>By now, you may have a basic understanding of how sales pipelines and sales funnels are <strong id=\"pipeline-funnel\">two<\/strong> different things.<\/p>\n<p>But if you\u2019re still confused about their differences, here\u2019s a handy sales pipeline vs sales funnel chart to help you out.<\/p>\n<h2>Sales Pipeline Funnel: a Quick Comparison<\/h2>\n<p>Here are the key differences between a sales pipeline and a sales funnel:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 8.64321%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 48.8442%;\"><b>Sales Pipeline<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 41.7085%;\"><b>Sales Funnel<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 8.64321%;\"><b>Focus<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 48.8442%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Improving the sales process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.7085%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Improving the customer\u2019s journey.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 8.64321%;\"><b>Purpose<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 48.8442%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Highlights the quantity and quality of leads generated in the sales process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.7085%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Highlights the efficiency of your lead generation and customer acquisition strategies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 8.64321%;\"><b>Tracking<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 48.8442%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Tracks the active leads and deals in each stage of the sales process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.7085%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Tracks the conversion rate at each stage of the buying process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 8.64321%;\"><b>Reports<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 48.8442%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Pipeline reports display lead activity across stages, which helps marketing and sales reps identify where to concentrate their efforts and resources to improve sales and pipeline velocity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.7085%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Funnel reports elaborate on the effectiveness of sales efforts at each stage, providing insights into the ROI (return on investment) at the sales stages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 8.64321%;\"><b>Analysis<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 48.8442%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Sales pipeline metrics pinpoint weaknesses in the sales process \u2014 what stage is taking too long and where leads are getting stuck.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.7085%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Funnel analysis pinpoints weaknesses in the customer journey \u2014 which areas are losing potential customers and need help.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><b>Go back to Contents<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But wait, do you <i id=\"benefits\">really <\/i>need a sales pipeline or a sales funnel?<br \/>\nLet\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Benefits of Sales Pipelines and Sales Funnels<\/h2>\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick look at the benefits of the two models:<\/p>\n<h3>1. Sales Pipeline Benefits<\/h3>\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2015\/01\/companies-with-a-formal-sales-process-generate-more-revenue\">Harvard Business Review study<\/a>, businesses with effective sales pipeline management display an increase in their average growth rate by 15%.<\/p>\n<p>However, there are many more benefits to building a sales pipeline for your business, such as:<\/p>\n<h4>A. Comprehensive Lead and Deal Tracking<\/h4>\n<p>A pipeline helps businesses track <b>every <\/b>sales lead and deal in <b>real-time<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>It provides vital information on the value of leads at each sales pipeline stage and helps identify reliable sources for qualified leads.<\/p>\n<h4>B. Accurate Sales and Revenue Forecasting<\/h4>\n<p>Sales pipeline metrics offer information on how much business each sales rep generates.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the data on closed deals allow sales leaders to determine the pipeline velocity (aka the speed at which leads pass through the pipeline) and accurately <b>forecast <\/b>the business\u2019s monthly, quarterly, and yearly revenue.<\/p>\n<h4>C. Detailed Analysis of Sales Performance<\/h4>\n<p>Sales pipeline reports provide insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the sales process.<\/p>\n<p>You can identify hold-ups in the pipeline, which help determine if your pipeline management needs to be improved or if a sales person needs additional help and sales resources.<\/p>\n<p>Training a sales manager in pipeline management can help businesses achieve greater revenue growth and meet annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/sales-goals\/\">sales goals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s now move on to the benefits of sales funnels.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Sales Funnel Benefits<\/h3>\n<p>Both a B2C and B2B sales funnel will help you generate more leads.<br \/>\nHere\u2019s an in-depth look at the key benefits of utilizing a sales funnel:<\/p>\n<h4>A. Gain Insights from a Customer\u2019s Perspective<\/h4>\n<p>Sales funnels provide insights into the sales process from the <b>customers\u2019 <\/b><b>point of view<\/b>. This will help your sales manager identify obstructions or drop-off points in a buyer\u2019s journey.<\/p>\n<h4>B. Accurate Tracking of Conversion Rates<\/h4>\n<p>Data from your sales funnel provides information on each stage\u2019s conversion rate and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).<\/p>\n<p>These sales funnel metrics give sales managers valuable insights into what can help with the conversion of leads into customers and where changes need to be made.<\/p>\n<h4>C. Analysis of Low Performing Stages<\/h4>\n<p>A sales funnel report offers details on which sales process stages give a low return on investment. It helps sales leaders identify weak zones and determine if they need to review the effort a sales rep puts into that stage.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><b>Go back to Contents<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now, you might be wondering: if both the sales pipeline and sales funnel are useful, <b id=\"pipeline-vs-funnel\">which <\/b>one should I use? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n<h2>Should You Use a Sales Pipeline or a Sales Funnel?<\/h2>\n<p>Generally, if you have an intricate sales process that needs to be optimized, a <b>sales pipeline<\/b> could be useful.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, if you want your sales team or marketing team to increase conversion rates and be more customer-driven, you could use a <b>sales funnel<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>However, there\u2019s more to it than just that.<br \/>\nHere are a few more things to consider when deciding which model is best for you:<\/p>\n<h3>A. You Need a Sales Pipeline if:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>You want to see what parts of your sales process work and what doesn\u2019t.<\/li>\n<li>You want to streamline your sales process and identify hold-ups in conversion.<\/li>\n<li>You want more detailed insights on the current deals.<\/li>\n<li>You want to accurately forecast your sales revenue and meet your sales quota or sales goals.<\/li>\n<li>You want to improve the performance of each sales representative.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>B. You Need a Sales Funnel if:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Your business needs to be more customer-focused.<\/li>\n<li>Your leading platforms for sales include e-commerce and social media.<\/li>\n<li>You need to increase lead conversion.<\/li>\n<li>You want to see which individual stages effectively convert prospects into customers.<\/li>\n<li>You want to know when specific sales techniques are most effective.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>C. You Need a Sales Funnel and a Sales Pipeline If:<\/h3>\n<p>If you want aspects from <b>both <\/b>models, such as a smooth sales process and an ideal customer experience, then you could use both.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, these sales concepts offer value that applies to more than just the sales team. The marketing team, product development team, and the whole business stand to benefit from it too.<\/p>\n<p>Now, <b>there\u2019s no such thing as a <\/b><b>pipeline funnel<\/b><b>.<br \/>\n<\/b>But it\u2019s still possible to integrate both.<\/p>\n<p><b>How?<br \/>\n<\/b>You\u2019ll need to connect the pipeline and funnel to your sales process with the help of a sales CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software.<\/p>\n<p>It will simplify the process of tracking active leads, sales performance, and conversion rates across different stages of your sales cycle. Moreover, it will make all your customer data accessible in one place.<\/p>\n<p>You may also need additional sales reps to manage both a sales pipeline and funnel.<\/p>\n<p>However, regardless of which model you choose, you need to optimize them to your company\u2019s unique sales process. Only then can you reduce the churn rate (the rate at which you lose customers) and boost business revenue.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><b>Go back to Contents<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n<p>Whether your business focuses on B2B or B2C sales, optimizing your sales process is never a bad idea. That\u2019s why it\u2019s crucial to understand the pipeline funnel differences to determine what works best for you.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll also need an actionable tool, like GMass or a sales CRM tool, to integrate and optimize your sales processes with ease.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, GMass makes email marketing, sales email automation, and client outreach so much easier.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Why not <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/gmass-powerful-mail-merge\/ehomdgjhgmbidokdgicgmdiedadncbgf\"><b><i>try GMass today<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> and see how it helps streamline your sales and <\/i><\/b><b><i>marketing efforts<\/i><\/b><b><i>?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The sales pipeline and sales funnel are two sales models that represent the buyer journey as leads turn into prospects and customers. While both give you a clear\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20637,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9154,9153],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prospecting","category-sales"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\r\n<title>Sales Pipeline vs Sales Funnel (Key Differences &amp; Benefits)<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore the key differences between a sales pipeline and a sales funnel to determine which strategy best suits your needs.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/pipeline-funnel\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sales Pipeline vs Sales Funnel (Key Differences &amp; 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