What does the term "sales funnel" mean?

The term "sales funnel" refers to a visual representation of the customer journey from awareness to purchase. This concept illustrates the stages that potential customers go through as they interact with a brand, beginning with their first awareness of a product or service and leading up to the decision to purchase.

The stages typically include awareness, interest, consideration, intention, evaluation, and finally, purchase. Each stage in the funnel narrows down the audience, representing the decreasing number of leads as they progress through the journey. Understanding the sales funnel helps sales and marketing teams tailor their strategies to effectively engage customers at each phase, optimize conversions, and ultimately drive revenue.

The other options may relate to important aspects of sales, but they do not capture the comprehensive nature of the sales funnel as a depiction of the customer experience through the various stages leading to a purchase decision.