Design a Digital Product Funnel: Free + Paid
Blog post description.
Design a Digital Product Funnel: Free + Paid
TOC — Jump to:
1) Who this is for & the promised outcome · 2) Core transformation · 3) Step-by-step implementation · 4) Structure & templates · 5) Formats & compatibility · 6) Packaging & delivery · 7) Pricing & tiers (INR) · 8) Marketing plan · 9) SEO checklist · 10) Legal, licensing, and refunds · 11) Metrics that matter · 12) Common mistakes & fast fixes · 13) 7-day production & launch plan · 14) FAQs · 15) Internal resources · 16) CTA
Who this is for & the promised outcome
You sell PDFs, templates, toolkits, mini-courses, or workshops and want steady sales—not random spikes. This guide shows you how to design a free → paid funnel that collects leads, nurtures trust, and converts to purchases in 7–14 days with UPI/Razorpay + cards checkout.
Core transformation
You’ll move from one-off launches to a repeatable, always-on funnel. You’ll define one audience, one outcome, one free win, one core product, and a short nurture that sells without pressure.
Primary formats: lead magnet PDF / mini-template, email/WhatsApp drips, Lesson Zero video, core product (course, template pack, workshop replay), optional order bump.
ANGLE (one-sentence block):
For creators and small teams who struggle with inconsistent sales, a focused free-to-paid funnel helps you turn visitors into buyers in 7–14 days without long webinars or heavy ad spend.
Step-by-step implementation (tools, setup, workflow)
1) Pick one core product and one quick-win freebie.
Core = the full system (template library, flagship mini-course, or planner bundle). Freebie = a 60-minute win that previews the system (one worksheet, a mini template, a 2-page cheat sheet, or a sampler). Write your promise in plain English.
2) Map the buyer’s path in four moves.
Discover → Download → Do → Decide. Your content must help them do the first step and see momentum fast. That’s what sells the next step.
3) Build the landing page for the freebie.
H1: outcome + timeframe + who it’s for.
Subhead: what happens after download.
Form: name + email (optional WhatsApp).
Proof: one short quote or realistic result (no hype).
CTA: “Download and start in 5 minutes.”
4) Make the freebie actually work.
Keep it light (≤ 15 MB PDF). Include one filled example, a checklist, and a link to a 2-minute “how to use” clip. Place CTAs in three spots: header (soft), after the win (medium), and the final page (strong).
5) Record Lesson Zero (7–10 minutes).
Show how to complete the freebie step and tee up the core product. End with: “If this worked, enroll to get templates, feedback, and a week-one plan.”
6) Build a 7-day nurture.
Day 0: deliver freebie + 2-minute clip.
Day 1: quick tip + screenshot.
Day 3: mini case (how someone used just the freebie).
Day 5: tiny lesson + gap it leaves.
Day 7: offer the core product, add urgency (bonus ends Sunday 8 pm IST), and state a plain refund.
7) Wire payments.
Use UPI/Razorpay + cards. Add a clear invoice line and GSTIN if registered. Post-payment redirect to access page. Tokenized downloads.
8) Add the tiny order bump and one upsell.
Bump at checkout: a related template for ₹299–₹999.
Post-purchase upsell: a workshop replay or advanced pack ₹1,499–₹3,999. Keep it relevant.
9) Tag and trigger.
Tags: Downloaded, LZ-Watched, Checkout-Started, Purchased.
If LZ-Watched but not Purchased in 48 hours → send a 1-page case.
If Checkout-Started but not Paid in 24 hours → send a friendly reminder with Razorpay link.
10) Support rails.
Promise replies within 24–48 hours (Mon–Sat). Save quick replies for access, refunds, and device issues. Offer a re-download promise.
Quick Start (3 steps)
Write a 60-minute win PDF and record a 2-minute clip.
Build a 7-day nurture with Day-7 invite + refund note.
Enable UPI/Razorpay + cards, add a ₹299–₹999 order bump, and publish.
Structure & templates (repeatable outline & scripts)
Freebie PDF structure (copy this):
Cover with the promise and time estimate.
Page 1: one-screen checklist to start now.
Pages 2–4: one worked example (screenshots if needed).
Page 5: worksheet or template slice.
Footer on each page: soft CTA + short URL.
Final page: strong CTA, “Week-1 inside the course,” refund note, QR to Starter Page.
Course/Pack sales page outline:
Hero: outcome + timeframe.
What you’ll build/do in Week-1.
What’s inside (modules/templates with counts).
Who it’s for / who it’s not for.
License summary, support SLA, UPI/Razorpay + cards, refund note.
Email/DM scripts you can paste:
Delivery (Day 0): “Here’s your PDF. Open Page 1 and do Steps 1–2 now—it takes 10 minutes. Short walkthrough here.”
Tip (Day 1): “Most people get stuck on [step]. Do this instead: [micro-tip]. Screenshot inside.”
Invite (Day 7): “If Page 1 worked, you’re ready. Join the course to finish the full system. UPI/Razorpay + cards. 7-day ‘not as described / couldn’t access’ refund.”
F → B → So-that bullets (use on both pages):
One-hour win PDF → finish step one → so momentum starts today
Lesson Zero video → see it done → so you avoid rookie mistakes
Templates + checklists → apply faster → so results show up sooner
UPI/Razorpay + cards → frictionless pay → so enrollment doesn’t stall
Plain refund note → low risk → so your decision is easy
Formats & compatibility (what to ship, files/sizes, accessibility, mobile/print notes)
Your CMS doesn’t display tables well—use these line-broken specs.
Freebie PDF — screen and print variants; each ≤ 15 MB; live links; real text for screen readers.
Lesson Zero — MP4, 1080p, captions on; keep the teaser ≤ 40 MB for mobile.
Core product — videos (1080p), templates (Notion/Google/Canva/fillable PDFs), and a Start-Here.
Previews — 1200–1600 px JPG/PNG with light watermarks; purchased files clean.
Checkout — mobile-first form; large buttons; success redirect to access.
Color/profile — sRGB for consistency across devices.
Accessibility & UX — body 16–18 px on screen / 11–12 pt for print; line height 1.4–1.6; contrast ≥ 4.5:1; focus styles visible; alt text on images; tap targets ≥ 40 px.
Mobile notes — put your strongest CTA within two scrolls on landing and sales pages. Avoid auto-play hero videos on 4G.
Packaging & delivery (ZIP layout or access model; Quick Start doc; support & SLAs)
Ship a predictable structure that reduces questions.
Lead_[Topic]Pack[Brand]/
01-Start-Here.pdf (how to use, where Lesson Zero lives, license, support)
02-Guide_Screen.pdf
03-Guide_Print.pdf
04-LessonZero_Link.txt
License.pdf
Changelog.txt
Delivery is instant via tokenized link after form fill or payment. If you gate the freebie on email/WhatsApp, show the link on the thank-you screen and send it via email as backup.
Quick Start (3 steps)
Download and open Page 1 now.
Complete the 10-minute task; watch the 2-minute clip.
If it worked, visit the Starter Page and enroll this week.
Pricing & tiers (INR) with anchors and license notes (plain-English summary)
No tables—your CMS doesn’t render them well. Keep ranges simple.
Tripwire (optional) — a mini pack or micro-workshop unlocked after freebie download. ₹99–₹299. Purpose: commitment and segmentation.
Core Product
Mini Course (self-paced, 60–120 minutes) ₹799–₹1,499.
Template Pack / Toolkit ₹999–₹2,999.
Full Course or Premium Pack ₹4,999–₹14,999.
Add-ons
Order bump at checkout ₹299–₹999.
Upsell (replay/advanced pack) ₹1,499–₹3,999.
Cohort/live clinic add-on ₹3,999–₹9,999.
License summary
Personal: your own use; no public redistribution.
Team (up to 5 seats): internal use only.
Pro/Client (if offered): use in paid client projects; never resell source files.
Payments via UPI/Razorpay + cards. If GST-registered, display GSTIN and tax treatment.
Marketing plan (organic + partnerships + simple paid tests)
Organic loop
Publish a 20–30 sec reel: do Page 1 with you on screen; show the before/after. Pin a short “how this funnel works” highlight. Post one process proof per week (screenshot of a filled step).
Partnerships that move units
Offer micro-creators a 30% affiliate on first sale. Send a swipe kit: 2 posts, 1 story, 3 screenshots, your Starter Page link, and a coupon. Demo the freebie live on a niche podcast or X Space.
Simple paid tests
Meta: ₹400–₹800/day for 5–7 days to interest buckets aligned to your topic; send to the freebie landing page.
Google: ₹300–₹600/day exact match around the job-to-be-done (“proposal template pdf india”, “study plan pdf india”).
Retarget: a short Lesson Zero clip to downloaders who didn’t buy.
Three-post social sequence
Post 1 — Pain: put the problem in their words.
Post 2 — Micro-win: Page-1 GIF and the checklist.
Post 3 — Offer: “Enroll by Sunday 8 pm IST. UPI/Razorpay + cards. 7-day ‘not as described / couldn’t access’ refund.”
SEO checklist (titles, meta ≤165 chars, alt text, tags, internal links)
Title formula — Outcome + format + India cue: “Design a Free-to-Paid Funnel — PDF Lead Magnet + Course (India).”
Meta — keep ≤ 165 characters; include the outcome, formats, and UPI/Razorpay.
Headings — verbs first: download, complete, watch, enroll.
Alt text — describe previews and mention the outcome once.
Internal links — link related posts to the freebie landing page and the Starter Page; include the two internal resources below exactly once each.
Schema — Product/Course schema with INR pricing for paid items.
Speed — compress previews and the free sample; lazy-load images.
Legal, licensing, and refunds (India-friendly, ethical claims, privacy basics)
Keep claims ethical: say “can help” and “designed to,” not guaranteed income, marks, or jobs.
Use only original or properly licensed assets; don’t embed premium fonts or stock you can’t redistribute.
Privacy: collect minimal data (name, email, transaction ID); store securely; provide unsubscribe in emails.
Refunds: 7-day “not as described / couldn’t access.” Process refunds in 3–5 business days to the original method.
Anti-piracy/trust: watermarked previews; purchased files clean; tokenized links; re-download promise during the update window.
GST: if registered, display GSTIN and whether prices include tax.
Metrics that matter (what to track weekly; target ranges)
Landing conversion to download: 30–60% with a strong promise.
PDF → Lesson Zero watch rate: 35–60%.
Lesson Zero → Checkout clicks: 20–40%.
Checkout conversion: 2–6% cold; 5–10% warm.
AOV: push ₹600–₹1,200 with the order bump/upsell.
Refund rate: < 3% with clear previews and access that works.
Time to first result: ≤ 24 hours post-download.
Email open rate (Day 0–7): 35–55%; click rate 5–15%.
Common mistakes & fast fixes (5–8 pairs)
Freebie tries to teach everything → Keep it to a one-hour win; let the course deliver the system.
CTA only at the end → Add soft and medium CTAs earlier; many never reach the last page.
Heavy or unclickable PDFs → Keep ≤ 15 MB; use real text and hyperlinks.
Vague landing promise → State outcome + timeframe + who it’s for in one line.
No Lesson Zero → Record a 7–10 minute walkthrough; it bridges free to paid.
One payment option → Offer UPI/Razorpay + cards; drop-offs fall.
Confusing refund → One line, specific; put it on the sales page and checkout.
No follow-ups → Run the 7-day sequence; most buyers decide on Day 5–7.
7-day production & launch plan (daily checklist)
Day 1 — Scope
Choose the core product and a 60-minute freebie. Write the one-line promise.
Day 2 — Build
Create the freebie PDF + 2-minute clip. Add three CTAs.
Day 3 — Pages
Publish the landing (freebie) and the Starter Page (sales). Wire the form and tokenized delivery.
Day 4 — Lesson Zero
Record the 7–10 minute walkthrough. Embed on the Starter Page.
Day 5 — Nurture
Write and schedule the 7-day sequence with tags/triggers.
Day 6 — Checkout
Enable UPI/Razorpay + cards, add the order bump, test success redirect and access.
Day 7 — Launch
Run the three-post social sequence, DM two partners with a 30% affiliate link, answer DMs fast in the first hour.
FAQs (4–6)
What if people only want the freebie?
That’s fine. Design it to deliver a win and reveal the next step. The course sells the complete system, templates, and feedback.
Do I need a webinar?
No. A 7–10 minute Lesson Zero plus a 7-day nurture is enough. Add live Q&A later if your audience asks.
How soon should I pitch the paid product?
Place soft CTAs inside the freebie. Give the formal invite on Day 7 with a clear refund note.
Should I add a tripwire?
If your niche responds to low-stakes purchases, yes—₹99–₹299 proves intent and improves email quality.
Can I sell on WhatsApp?
Use WhatsApp for questions, but take payments via UPI/Razorpay + cards for reliability and receipts.
Internal resources
Free Planner Templates — https://www.sankulahub.com/free-planner-templates
Logo Design Services — https://www.sankulahub.com/logo-design-services
Clear CTA to take the next step today
Ship a one-hour win PDF, record Lesson Zero, and set a 7-day nurture. Add UPI/Razorpay + cards, a ₹299–₹999 order bump, and publish your Starter Page this week.
Meta description
Design a free-to-paid funnel in 7–14 days. Create a one-hour win PDF, Lesson Zero, 7-day nurture, INR pricing with UPI/Razorpay, clean packaging, and ethical refunds.
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