Fast five funnel recipe
Why this funnel works for UX freelancers
As a UX freelancer, you juggle design, research, and client management. A simple, five-step funnel ensures you don’t lose leads in the shuffle. It guides prospects from discovering your portfolio to becoming long-term clients through targeted actions at each stage. Let’s break it down.
Stage 1: attract
Draw in your ideal clients with targeted content and outreach. Share case studies on LinkedIn, write a short blog post on Medium, or post design tips with relevant hashtags on Twitter. The goal is to appear in front of decision makers, product managers, startup founders, or marketing leads looking for UX expertise.
Stage 2: capture
Once they’re interested, collect their contact info. Add a simple lead magnet, like a free UX checklist or a one-page heuristic review template, behind a Mailchimp signup form. Embed the form on your personal site or portfolio so visitors trade an email address for immediate value.
Stage 3: nurture
Send a short email sequence (2–3 messages) to your new subscribers. Start with the promised checklist, then follow up with a one-minute video explaining how you solved a common UX problem. End the sequence with a clear call to action: “Reply to this email to schedule a free 15-minute UX audit.” Automate this in ConvertKit Free or Mailchimp’s free tier.
Stage 4: convert
When a prospect books your audit call, using Calendly Free, you’re ready to close. Deliver a concise audit, highlight quick wins, then propose a paid engagement. Use a simple proposal template in Google Docs with scope, timeline, and pricing so you can generate professional quotes in minutes.
Stage 5: delight
After project delivery, exceed expectations. Send a personalized summary of results in a Trello board or Notion page. Offer a small bonus, like a 30-minute follow-up call, to ensure they see ROI. Satisfied clients refer others and often become repeat customers for new features or iterations.
Tools and extensions to use
- Mailchimp Free Tier
For lead capture forms and basic email automation. - ConvertKit Free
For simple nurture sequences and tagging subscribers. - Calendly Free
To automate booking your audit and discovery calls. - Google Docs templates
For quick proposal and checklist creation. - Trello or Notion Free
To deliver results interactively and track client feedback.
Measuring and optimizing your funnel
- Opt-in rate
Percentage of site visitors who subscribe for your UX checklist. - Email engagement
Open and click rates on your nurture sequence emails. - Audit booking rate
Number of leads who schedule a call via Calendly. - Conversion rate
Percentage of audit calls that convert into paid projects. - Referral rate
How many clients refer you after being delighted.
This fast five funnel recipe gives your UX freelance business a clear, repeatable path from first touch to loyal clients. Which stage will you implement first to simplify your operations and boost your win rate?
How can you refine each step of this funnel to match your unique UX expertise and audience?