I Was Building “Good Websites” That Didn’t Convert — So I Switched to Funnels
Source: Dev.to
What Was Broken (Even Though Nothing Looked Broken)
My site had everything you’re supposed to have:
- Homepage
- About
- Services
- Blog
- Contact
Technically solid. Visitors landed, scanned, hesitated… and left. No next step.
The Moment Funnels Finally Clicked
A funnel forces you to answer one brutal question:
What is the ONE action this person should take next?
Not:
- “Explore the site”
- “Learn more”
- “Click around”
But one clear outcome. That single constraint changed how I build everything.
My First Funnel Failed (And Why)
My first funnel looked polished — but it didn’t work. Because I:
- Explained too much
- Led with tools instead of outcomes
- Tried to sound like an expert instead of a human
What fixed it wasn’t better copy formulas. It was story.
What Actually Started Working
I stopped opening with:
“I help businesses optimize funnels.”
And started with:
“I built websites that didn’t convert — here’s what I learned.”
That shift did three things:
- Made me relatable
- Built trust before asking for anything
- Positioned experience over theory
Especially on dev.to, honesty beats hype.
Funnels Aren’t Just a “Marketing Thing”
This surprised me. Funnels work incredibly well for:
- Freelancers
- Solo developers
- Consultants
- Indie builders
Because you’re not selling features. You’re reducing decision friction. A good funnel answers:
- Is this for me?
- Does this person get my problem?
- What happens if I take the next step?
Authority Isn’t Claimed — It’s Shown
I used to think authority meant:
- Big numbers
- Fancy logos
- Buzzwords
What I’ve learned instead: authority comes from explaining how you think, not how good you say you are. That’s why I document my process openly now — including mistakes.
This is the funnel I’m currently refining:
https://bennietay.com/funnel
(It’s not “perfect”. It’s real.)
If You’re Stuck Where I Was
Ask yourself this:
“If a stranger lands here, do they know exactly what to do next?”
If the answer is no, you don’t need another redesign. You need a funnel.
Soft CTA (dev.to‑friendly)
If you’re:
- A developer building your own site
- A freelancer struggling with conversions
- Someone experimenting with funnels
I’d genuinely love to hear:
- What isn’t converting for you
- Or what you’ve learned the hard way
Drop a comment or DM — no pitch, just builders comparing notes.