Hello! I'm Samuel Chapman. 

I'm on a mission to show you that every product based business can flourish and grow, no matter the challenges. Regardless what you sell, or whether you have a physical or online location.

With the right knowledge, tools, and a bit of inspiration, you can achieve amazing results.

Turning Browsers Into Buyers: 8 Key Stages of the Customer Journey

You’ve got an amazing product, a beautifully designed website, and a passion for your business—but how do you get people to do more than just browse? How do you turn those curious visitors into actual paying customers?

The answer lies in understanding the key stages of the customer journey and knowing exactly how to influence each one. Every customer goes through a process before they make a purchase, and it’s your job to guide them smoothly through these stages so they’re not just looking, but buying.

In today’s episode of The Abundant Business Podcast, I’m walking you through the 8 key stages of the customer journey and sharing proven strategies on how to influence each one to increase your sales.

1. Making Your Customers Aware of Your Brand

The journey begins when a potential customer becomes aware of your brand. Whether through social media, a search engine, or a referral, they learn about your product or service for the first time. This is your opportunity to capture their attention.

How to Influence This Stage:

• Focus on creating engaging, shareable content.
• Use social media platforms, blogs, and paid ads to get in front of your target audience.
• Be consistent in your messaging and branding to build recognition.

2. Capturing Their Curiosity

Once a potential customer is aware of your product, the next step is to capture their interest. This is when they start to explore your offerings more deeply, checking out your website, reading reviews, or engaging with your social media.

How to Influence This Stage:

• Make sure your website is user-friendly and visually appealing.
• Offer valuable content, such as product demonstrations, tutorials, or customer testimonials, to keep them engaged.
• Create a compelling email opt-in or lead magnet that invites visitors to learn more.

3. Nurturing Their Decision-Making Process

At this point, your potential customer is evaluating their options and deciding whether your product is the right fit for their needs. They may compare your offering with similar products or look for more detailed information before making a decision.

How to Influence This Stage:

• Provide clear product descriptions, high-quality images, and videos that show your product in action.
• Offer detailed customer reviews and testimonials to build credibility.
• Create comparison charts or FAQ sections to help address any concerns.

4. Triggering Their Desire to Buy

This is the stage where the customer’s intent to purchase starts to take shape. They may have added your product to their cart, signed up for your newsletter, or shown other buying signals.

How to Influence This Stage:

• Offer discounts or promotions to encourage immediate action.
• Use urgency tactics, such as limited-time offers or low stock notifications, to motivate customers to buy now.
• Send abandoned cart emails or retargeting ads to remind them of the product they’ve shown interest in.

5. Addressing Objections and Building Trust

Before making the final decision, customers will evaluate their options and weigh the pros and cons of purchasing from you. They may have concerns about the price, product quality, or shipping times.

How to Influence This Stage:

• Offer risk-reduction tactics like free returns, a money-back guarantee, or secure payment options.
• Showcase your brand’s trustworthiness through social proof, such as reviews, testimonials, and partnerships.
• Highlight any certifications, guarantees, or awards that validate the quality of your product.

6. Closing the Sale

At this stage, the customer has made the decision to buy. Your goal is to make the checkout process as seamless and easy as possible to prevent any last-minute hesitations.

How to Influence This Stage:

• Offer multiple payment options and a smooth, user-friendly checkout process.
• Send a clear confirmation email with all relevant details (shipping, delivery date, etc.).
• Provide upsell or cross-sell opportunities that enhance the value of their purchase.

7. Nurturing Long-Term Relationships

The journey doesn’t end after the sale. This is where you can turn one-time customers into repeat buyers by continuing to engage them after their purchase.

How to Influence This Stage:

• Send personalised follow-up emails to thank them for their purchase and ask for feedback.
• Provide helpful post-purchase content, such as care instructions, tips, or related products.
• Offer loyalty rewards or discounts for future purchases to keep them coming back.

8. Turning Customers into Brand Ambassadors

The final stage is when your customers become loyal advocates for your brand. They are not only likely to return for future purchases but also to recommend your product to others.

How to Influence This Stage:

• Encourage customers to leave reviews, share photos of their products on social media, or refer friends.
• Create a referral program that rewards customers for bringing in new business.
• Keep your communication open and personalised, making them feel valued as part of your brand community.

Got questions or want to chat?

Drop me a message on Instagram @productcoachsam. I’m here to help you succeed!

Samuel Chapman