Most emails are sent, opened, and deleted in seconds. But a well-designed funnels email marketing system is different: it delivers the right message to the right subscriber at exactly the right moment, turning a list of contacts into a predictable revenue engine. According to Statista, the average ROI for email marketing is $36 for every dollar spent. The businesses getting those returns are not blasting the same newsletter to everyone. They are running structured email funnels that guide subscribers from first contact to loyal customer.
This guide covers what an email marketing funnel is, how its stages work, what content to send at each point, and how to build one that converts.
Key Takeaways
Automated emails drove 37% of all email-generated sales in 2024, despite representing just 2% of total email volume.
Companies that excel at lead nurturing generate 50% more sales-ready leads at 33% lower cost.
Lead nurturing emails generate an 8% click-through rate, compared to 3% for general email sends.
According to DMA.org, 77% of email marketing ROI comes from segmented, targeted, and triggered campaigns, and businesses that segment their email lists have reported up to 760% more email marketing revenue.
Brands that apply a full-funnel strategy gain 45% higher ROI than competitors that focus on a single stage.
What Is an Email Marketing Funnel?
An email marketing funnel is a structured sequence of emails designed to move subscribers through the buyer's journey, from awareness to purchase and beyond. A marketing funnel maps the journey customers take from discovering your brand to their first purchase. As customers move through the funnel, you provide assets that nudge them along, such as emails, SMS, and ads. Marketers use a marketing funnel to categorize each step of a buyer's journey, from gaining awareness of a product to making a purchase.
The core idea is simple: different subscribers have different levels of intent. Sending a sales pitch to someone who just discovered your brand is just as wasteful as sending educational content to someone ready to buy. A funnel segments that intent and matches your messaging to it.
The Three Core Stages of a Funnels Email Marketing System
Most email marketing funnels map to three stages, often called TOFU, MOFU, and BOFU.
TOFU: Top of Funnel (Awareness)
Top-of-funnel content is designed for the awareness stage. Buyers do not yet know about your business, and you want to get their attention.
At this stage, a new subscriber has just opted in. They may have downloaded a lead magnet, signed up for a webinar, or entered a giveaway. Your job is not to sell. Your content should focus on awareness and education. Your efforts should revolve around giving prospects access to high-quality content that helps them, not you. You do not want anything from leads at this stage; you only want to interest them in the content you have in relation to their needs.
Most emails are sent, opened, and deleted in seconds. But a well-designed funnels email marketing system is different: it delivers the right message to the right subscriber at exactly the right moment, turning a list of contacts into a predictable revenue engine. According to Statista, the average ROI for email marketing is $36 for every dollar spent. The businesses getting those returns are not blasting the same newsletter to everyone. They are running structured email funnels that guide subscribers from first contact to loyal customer.
This guide covers what an email marketing funnel is, how its stages work, what content to send at each point, and how to build one that converts.
Key Takeaways
Automated emails drove 37% of all email-generated sales in 2024, despite representing just 2% of total email volume.
Companies that excel at lead nurturing generate 50% more sales-ready leads at 33% lower cost.
Lead nurturing emails generate an 8% click-through rate, compared to 3% for general email sends.
According to DMA.org, 77% of email marketing ROI comes from segmented, targeted, and triggered campaigns, and businesses that segment their email lists have reported up to 760% more email marketing revenue.
Brands that apply a full-funnel strategy gain 45% higher ROI than competitors that focus on a single stage.
What Is an Email Marketing Funnel?
An email marketing funnel is a structured sequence of emails designed to move subscribers through the buyer's journey, from awareness to purchase and beyond. A marketing funnel maps the journey customers take from discovering your brand to their first purchase. As customers move through the funnel, you provide assets that nudge them along, such as emails, SMS, and ads. Marketers use a marketing funnel to categorize each step of a buyer's journey, from gaining awareness of a product to making a purchase.
The core idea is simple: different subscribers have different levels of intent. Sending a sales pitch to someone who just discovered your brand is just as wasteful as sending educational content to someone ready to buy. A funnel segments that intent and matches your messaging to it.
The Three Core Stages of a Funnels Email Marketing System
Most email marketing funnels map to three stages, often called TOFU, MOFU, and BOFU.
TOFU: Top of Funnel (Awareness)
Top-of-funnel content is designed for the awareness stage. Buyers do not yet know about your business, and you want to get their attention.
At this stage, a new subscriber has just opted in. They may have downloaded a lead magnet, signed up for a webinar, or entered a giveaway. Your job is not to sell. Your content should focus on awareness and education. Your efforts should revolve around giving prospects access to high-quality content that helps them, not you. You do not want anything from leads at this stage; you only want to interest them in the content you have in relation to their needs.
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Effective TOFU email content includes:
Welcome sequences that introduce your brand and set expectations
Educational newsletters and blog roundups
Quick-win guides relevant to your niche
A strong welcome email sequence is the foundation of every successful TOFU email strategy. Getting it right from the first send sets the tone for the entire subscriber relationship.
MOFU: Middle of Funnel (Consideration)
In the middle-of-funnel phase, subscribers already know your brand and are looking to understand how you can solve their specific need or problem. The goal is to earn their trust.
These subscribers are comparing options. They are reading reviews, asking peers, and evaluating whether your solution fits their situation. Leads at this stage are not quite ready to evaluate vendors, but they are focused on researching all the ways they can solve their problem. You are still working on building trust, so do not go in for the sale or come on too strongly. Continue to nurture them until they are ready to move to the next stage.
Effective MOFU email content includes:
Case studies and customer success stories
Webinar invitations and live Q&A announcements
Comparison guides (solution-focused, not vendor-focused)
Free trials or demo offers for high-intent behavior
BOFU: Bottom of Funnel (Decision)
Bottom-of-funnel prospects are ready to make a purchase. They understand your offerings and the value they provide, and they are looking for a compelling reason to take action.
This is where you can be direct. With BOFU content, speak directly to the value of your products, how they solve customer pain points, why your offerings are better than competitors, and why now is the time to buy. This is the stage where it is appropriate to push the sale.
Effective BOFU email content includes:
Limited-time discount or offer emails
Testimonials and social proof sequences
Cart abandonment and browse abandonment emails
Direct comparison or "why us" emails
How to Build Your Email Marketing Funnel: Step by Step
1. Define your subscriber entry points
Every funnel starts with list growth. A subscriber enters your funnel through an opt-in: a lead magnet, a signup form, a content upgrade, or a product page. The entry point determines their intent level. Someone who downloads a pricing guide is further along in the buyer journey than someone who signs up from a blog post.
Map each entry point to a funnel stage. This tells you which sequence to enroll them in immediately.
2. Segment from the start
Segmentation is not optional. Segmenting your contact list according to the stage of the funnel they are in allows you to send specific and personalized messages, significantly increasing the effectiveness of your campaigns.
An easy starting point is three segments: new subscribers (TOFU), engaged non-buyers (MOFU), and hot leads or cart abandoners (BOFU). As your list grows, you can layer in behavioral signals like link clicks, page visits, and purchase history.
The biggest mistake most marketers make in funnels email marketing is sending the wrong content at the wrong time. Leads at the top of the funnel can be quickly turned off by offers of a demo or free trial because that might feel too pushy. Leads in the middle of the funnel are getting more sophisticated, so you do not want to send them beginner content; that might feel patronizing.
Match your message to the stage:
Funnel Stage
Email Goal
Content Type
TOFU
Build familiarity and trust
Welcome series, educational guides
MOFU
Overcome objections, deepen engagement
Case studies, webinars, comparisons
BOFU
Drive conversion
Discount offers, testimonials, urgency emails
4. Automate the sequences
Manual email sends are not a funnel. A real funnel runs automatically based on triggers. Email marketing automation uses software and tools to send personalized, targeted, and timely emails based on predefined triggers, user behaviors, or specific actions. Unlike traditional email marketing, where emails are sent manually, automation allows for a scalable approach to communication. By setting up workflows, businesses can nurture leads, engage customers, and deliver content that resonates with their audience at the right time.
Common automation triggers include:
New subscriber opt-in (starts a welcome sequence)
Link click on a specific topic (moves subscriber into a relevant MOFU sequence)
Pricing page visit (triggers a BOFU sequence)
Cart abandonment (fires a cart recovery sequence)
No purchase after 14 days (triggers a re-engagement or incentive email)
5. Optimize subject lines for every stage
Open rates are the gateway to everything else. A subscriber who never opens your email never moves through the funnel. If people are downloading your lead magnet but not opening the follow-up emails, your subject lines could be the issue.
Subject lines need to match the intent of the stage. TOFU subject lines build curiosity. MOFU lines speak to a specific problem. BOFU lines create urgency or highlight a direct benefit. For a complete breakdown of what works, read our article on email subject line best practices that boost open rates.
The Role of Personalization in Email Funnels
Personalization is what separates a funnel that feels like a conversation from one that feels like a broadcast. Research shows that 75% of consumers prefer customized emails, with personalized subject lines boosting open rates by up to 20 to 29%.
Beyond inserting a first name, effective personalization in funnels means tailoring content based on behavior: what a subscriber clicked, which pages they visited, and how long they have been on your list. True personalization adapts content, timing, and offers based on individual recipient characteristics and behaviors, delivering 29% higher open rates and compound benefits throughout the funnel.
Track conversion rates for each funnel stage to identify where subscribers drop off. A strong open rate at TOFU with a low click rate at MOFU tells you the content is failing to drive action. A high MOFU click rate with a low BOFU conversion rate points to a landing page or offer problem.
Here are the metrics that matter at each stage:
TOFU metrics:
Open rate (benchmark: 20 to 25% across industries)
Unsubscribe rate (flag anything above 0.5% per send)
MOFU metrics:
Click-through rate (aim for above 2%)
Email forward or share rate
BOFU metrics:
Conversion rate (purchase, trial signup, or demo booked)
Revenue per recipient
Revenue per recipient provides a comprehensive view of email marketing value. Calculate it by dividing total revenue generated by an email campaign by the number of recipients. This metric accounts for both conversion rates and average order values, giving you a single number to track campaign effectiveness.
Common Funnels Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced teams make avoidable errors when building email funnels. Here are the most common:
Treating all subscribers the same. Sending the same email to a day-one subscriber and a 90-day engaged lead will underperform for both.
Skipping MOFU entirely. Neglecting any stage can create content gaps that cause leads, conversions, or sales to drop off. Attracting TOFU traffic without MOFU comparison or BOFU action paths will lead to a drop in conversion.
Sending too frequently. 44% of subscribers cite excessive emails as their primary unsubscribe reason, and 47% leave due to poor frequency management.
Ignoring post-purchase. The funnel does not end at conversion. Post-purchase sequences drive repeat orders, referrals, and lifetime value.
Not testing. Testing without methodology wastes resources and produces misleading conclusions. Effective testing requires statistically significant sample sizes and testing one variable at a time for clear results, whether that is subject line length, CTA button color, send time, or content format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an email marketing funnel?
An email marketing funnel is a series of automated, segmented emails that guide subscribers from initial awareness through to purchase. Each stage of the funnel, awareness (TOFU), consideration (MOFU), and decision (BOFU), uses different content and messaging matched to where the subscriber is in their decision-making process.
How many emails should each funnel stage include?
There is no universal answer, but a practical starting point is three to five emails for a TOFU welcome sequence, two to four emails for MOFU nurture sequences, and two to three emails for a BOFU conversion push. High-performing welcome sequences often span three to five emails over one to two weeks. The first email delivers immediate value and sets expectations. The second might highlight your best content or most popular resources. Subsequent emails gradually introduce offers while continuing to deliver value.
What triggers should I use to move subscribers between funnel stages?
Behavioral triggers are the most effective. If a subscriber clicks a link about pricing, move them into a BOFU sequence. If they click a link about a specific problem you solve, enroll them in a relevant MOFU sequence. Other strong triggers include visiting your pricing page, downloading a product-specific resource, or hitting a lead score threshold based on cumulative engagement.
How do I measure if my email funnel is working?
Track stage-specific metrics: open rate at TOFU, click-through rate at MOFU, and conversion rate plus revenue per recipient at BOFU. These metrics help you understand how each stage of your funnel is performing, so you can see what is working and where you are losing potential customers. If one stage is underperforming, isolate the problem, whether it is the subject line, the content, the offer, or the landing page, before testing a fix.
Effective TOFU email content includes:
Welcome sequences that introduce your brand and set expectations
Educational newsletters and blog roundups
Quick-win guides relevant to your niche
A strong welcome email sequence is the foundation of every successful TOFU email strategy. Getting it right from the first send sets the tone for the entire subscriber relationship.
MOFU: Middle of Funnel (Consideration)
In the middle-of-funnel phase, subscribers already know your brand and are looking to understand how you can solve their specific need or problem. The goal is to earn their trust.
These subscribers are comparing options. They are reading reviews, asking peers, and evaluating whether your solution fits their situation. Leads at this stage are not quite ready to evaluate vendors, but they are focused on researching all the ways they can solve their problem. You are still working on building trust, so do not go in for the sale or come on too strongly. Continue to nurture them until they are ready to move to the next stage.
Effective MOFU email content includes:
Case studies and customer success stories
Webinar invitations and live Q&A announcements
Comparison guides (solution-focused, not vendor-focused)
Free trials or demo offers for high-intent behavior
BOFU: Bottom of Funnel (Decision)
Bottom-of-funnel prospects are ready to make a purchase. They understand your offerings and the value they provide, and they are looking for a compelling reason to take action.
This is where you can be direct. With BOFU content, speak directly to the value of your products, how they solve customer pain points, why your offerings are better than competitors, and why now is the time to buy. This is the stage where it is appropriate to push the sale.
Effective BOFU email content includes:
Limited-time discount or offer emails
Testimonials and social proof sequences
Cart abandonment and browse abandonment emails
Direct comparison or "why us" emails
How to Build Your Email Marketing Funnel: Step by Step
1. Define your subscriber entry points
Every funnel starts with list growth. A subscriber enters your funnel through an opt-in: a lead magnet, a signup form, a content upgrade, or a product page. The entry point determines their intent level. Someone who downloads a pricing guide is further along in the buyer journey than someone who signs up from a blog post.
Map each entry point to a funnel stage. This tells you which sequence to enroll them in immediately.
2. Segment from the start
Segmentation is not optional. Segmenting your contact list according to the stage of the funnel they are in allows you to send specific and personalized messages, significantly increasing the effectiveness of your campaigns.
An easy starting point is three segments: new subscribers (TOFU), engaged non-buyers (MOFU), and hot leads or cart abandoners (BOFU). As your list grows, you can layer in behavioral signals like link clicks, page visits, and purchase history.
The biggest mistake most marketers make in funnels email marketing is sending the wrong content at the wrong time. Leads at the top of the funnel can be quickly turned off by offers of a demo or free trial because that might feel too pushy. Leads in the middle of the funnel are getting more sophisticated, so you do not want to send them beginner content; that might feel patronizing.
Match your message to the stage:
Funnel Stage
Email Goal
Content Type
TOFU
Build familiarity and trust
Welcome series, educational guides
MOFU
Overcome objections, deepen engagement
Case studies, webinars, comparisons
BOFU
Drive conversion
Discount offers, testimonials, urgency emails
4. Automate the sequences
Manual email sends are not a funnel. A real funnel runs automatically based on triggers. Email marketing automation uses software and tools to send personalized, targeted, and timely emails based on predefined triggers, user behaviors, or specific actions. Unlike traditional email marketing, where emails are sent manually, automation allows for a scalable approach to communication. By setting up workflows, businesses can nurture leads, engage customers, and deliver content that resonates with their audience at the right time.
Common automation triggers include:
New subscriber opt-in (starts a welcome sequence)
Link click on a specific topic (moves subscriber into a relevant MOFU sequence)
Pricing page visit (triggers a BOFU sequence)
Cart abandonment (fires a cart recovery sequence)
No purchase after 14 days (triggers a re-engagement or incentive email)
5. Optimize subject lines for every stage
Open rates are the gateway to everything else. A subscriber who never opens your email never moves through the funnel. If people are downloading your lead magnet but not opening the follow-up emails, your subject lines could be the issue.
Subject lines need to match the intent of the stage. TOFU subject lines build curiosity. MOFU lines speak to a specific problem. BOFU lines create urgency or highlight a direct benefit. For a complete breakdown of what works, read our article on email subject line best practices that boost open rates.
The Role of Personalization in Email Funnels
Personalization is what separates a funnel that feels like a conversation from one that feels like a broadcast. Research shows that 75% of consumers prefer customized emails, with personalized subject lines boosting open rates by up to 20 to 29%.
Beyond inserting a first name, effective personalization in funnels means tailoring content based on behavior: what a subscriber clicked, which pages they visited, and how long they have been on your list. True personalization adapts content, timing, and offers based on individual recipient characteristics and behaviors, delivering 29% higher open rates and compound benefits throughout the funnel.
Track conversion rates for each funnel stage to identify where subscribers drop off. A strong open rate at TOFU with a low click rate at MOFU tells you the content is failing to drive action. A high MOFU click rate with a low BOFU conversion rate points to a landing page or offer problem.
Here are the metrics that matter at each stage:
TOFU metrics:
Open rate (benchmark: 20 to 25% across industries)
Unsubscribe rate (flag anything above 0.5% per send)
MOFU metrics:
Click-through rate (aim for above 2%)
Email forward or share rate
BOFU metrics:
Conversion rate (purchase, trial signup, or demo booked)
Revenue per recipient
Revenue per recipient provides a comprehensive view of email marketing value. Calculate it by dividing total revenue generated by an email campaign by the number of recipients. This metric accounts for both conversion rates and average order values, giving you a single number to track campaign effectiveness.
Common Funnels Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced teams make avoidable errors when building email funnels. Here are the most common:
Treating all subscribers the same. Sending the same email to a day-one subscriber and a 90-day engaged lead will underperform for both.
Skipping MOFU entirely. Neglecting any stage can create content gaps that cause leads, conversions, or sales to drop off. Attracting TOFU traffic without MOFU comparison or BOFU action paths will lead to a drop in conversion.
Sending too frequently. 44% of subscribers cite excessive emails as their primary unsubscribe reason, and 47% leave due to poor frequency management.
Ignoring post-purchase. The funnel does not end at conversion. Post-purchase sequences drive repeat orders, referrals, and lifetime value.
Not testing. Testing without methodology wastes resources and produces misleading conclusions. Effective testing requires statistically significant sample sizes and testing one variable at a time for clear results, whether that is subject line length, CTA button color, send time, or content format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an email marketing funnel?
An email marketing funnel is a series of automated, segmented emails that guide subscribers from initial awareness through to purchase. Each stage of the funnel, awareness (TOFU), consideration (MOFU), and decision (BOFU), uses different content and messaging matched to where the subscriber is in their decision-making process.
How many emails should each funnel stage include?
There is no universal answer, but a practical starting point is three to five emails for a TOFU welcome sequence, two to four emails for MOFU nurture sequences, and two to three emails for a BOFU conversion push. High-performing welcome sequences often span three to five emails over one to two weeks. The first email delivers immediate value and sets expectations. The second might highlight your best content or most popular resources. Subsequent emails gradually introduce offers while continuing to deliver value.
What triggers should I use to move subscribers between funnel stages?
Behavioral triggers are the most effective. If a subscriber clicks a link about pricing, move them into a BOFU sequence. If they click a link about a specific problem you solve, enroll them in a relevant MOFU sequence. Other strong triggers include visiting your pricing page, downloading a product-specific resource, or hitting a lead score threshold based on cumulative engagement.
How do I measure if my email funnel is working?
Track stage-specific metrics: open rate at TOFU, click-through rate at MOFU, and conversion rate plus revenue per recipient at BOFU. These metrics help you understand how each stage of your funnel is performing, so you can see what is working and where you are losing potential customers. If one stage is underperforming, isolate the problem, whether it is the subject line, the content, the offer, or the landing page, before testing a fix.
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Inbound Marketing Email: Convert Leads Into Customers
Learn how inbound marketing email converts leads into customers. Discover strategies for nurturing prospects with relevant content at every stage.
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Learn how inbound marketing email converts leads into customers. Discover strategies for nurturing prospects with relevant content at every stage.
