A conversion funnel or sales funnel, is the series of steps prospective customers undergo before making a purchase or taking any desired action on a website.
Usually comprising stages like awareness, consideration, and conversion – users become aware of a product or service through marketing efforts at the top of the funnel; in the consideration stage they research available products or services; finally in the conversion stage, they take a desired action such as purchasing something or subscribing for the newsletter.
Understanding the conversion funnel helps businesses optimize each stage to optimize conversion rates and customer retention.