Every successful brand has a marketing funnel. Most have never drawn it out. They do “some TikTok, some Google Ads, and email” without defining how a stranger becomes aware, what moves them to consideration, what triggers purchase, and what keeps them. AG1’s funnel: podcast clips (awareness) -> creator UGC (consideration) -> website (decision) -> subscription (revenue) -> email (loyalty). $1.2B funnel. Cal AI’s: creator demo clips -> App Store -> download -> premium upgrade. $40M funnel. This guide builds yours. Start with the content distribution framework for the channel layer and the budget guide for spend per stage.
Build your funnel. Create your Reach.cat business account.
The 5 Funnel Stages (2026 Version)
Stage 1: Discovery. First encounter via short-form clips on TikTok, Reels, Shorts. Not looking for you. The clip appears via algorithm. Reach matters most. Content clipping at $1 to $6 CPM is the most efficient discovery channel.
Stage 2: Recognition. Second, third, fourth exposure. Multi-account distribution creates omnipresence. By the third exposure, they recognize the brand. Volume (200 to 500 clips/month) matters more than any individual clip.
Stage 3: Consideration. Active evaluation. Visit website, read reviews, watch longer content, compare alternatives. Reels drives the most consideration behavior (saves, profile visits, clicks). SEO catches evaluation queries. Retargeting reminds.
Stage 4: Conversion. Purchase, signup, desired action. Website, TikTok Shop, Instagram Shop, App Store. Path should be 1 to 3 clicks. Google Ads captures high-intent search. Email re-engages drop-offs.
Stage 5: Retention. Repeat purchase, subscription renewal, advocacy. Email sequences, loyalty, community. $0 acquisition cost on repeat purchases. One retained customer = 3 to 5 new customers in LTV.
Channel per Stage
| Stage | Primary Channel | Key Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | Content clipping (Reach.cat) | CPM |
| Recognition | Clipping volume + founder social | Branded search volume |
| Consideration | Reels, SEO, Meta retargeting | Saves, website visits |
| Conversion | Website / Shop / App Store, Google Ads | CPA |
| Retention | Email / SMS | Repeat rate, churn |
Build Your Funnel (Step-by-Step)
Week 1: Stage 1 (Discovery). Launch clipping on Reach.cat. $500 to $1,000. 166K to 333K views. Without this, nothing else works.
Week 2: Stage 4 (Conversion). Optimize landing page: clear headline, value prop, one CTA. Or set up TikTok/IG Shop. Conversion must work before scaling awareness.
Week 3: Stage 3 (Consideration). Set up UTM tracking. Create 1 to 2 SEO articles for evaluation queries. Set up Meta retargeting pixel.
Week 4: Stage 5 (Retention). Email capture on website. Welcome sequence (3 emails, 7 days). Abandoned cart email if e-commerce.
Month 2: Connect and scale. All 5 stages built. Scale Stage 1 ($2K to $5K/month). Activate retargeting ($500 to $1K/month). Monitor all stages weekly. The funnel is operational. The content ROI framework covers full measurement setup.
What is a marketing funnel?
The journey from stranger to customer. In 2026: Discovery (clips), Recognition (repeated exposure), Consideration (evaluation), Conversion (purchase), Retention (loyalty). Each stage has specific channels, content, and metrics.
Do I need all 5 stages at once?
No. Start with Stage 1 (Discovery) and Stage 4 (Conversion). People need to find you, and you need a way to convert them. Add the other stages over 4 to 8 weeks.
Where do most funnels break?
Between Discovery and Consideration. Brands generate views but do not capture viewers as website visitors. Fix: ensure clips include brand identifier, CTA in final seconds, and UTM-tracked link in bio.
Can I build a funnel without paid ads?
Yes. Content clipping ($1 to $6 CPM) is performance-based organic distribution. Combined with organic social, SEO, and email, you can build a complete funnel without Meta/Google/LinkedIn Ads. Cal AI, Tabs, and Justin Welsh all did it.