Selling digital products online is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to earn passive income. But here’s the truth: creating the product is only half the battle. The bigger challenge lies in building a system that can sell it for you automatically, even when you’re not working.
That’s exactly where an email funnel comes in.
An email funnel is a sequence of automated emails that guide potential customers from showing interest in your product to actually buying it. The best part? You can set one up for free if you know the right tools and strategy.
In this detailed guide, I’ll show you step by step how to create a free email funnel to sell your digital products in 2025.
Related Reading: If you’re just getting started, don’t miss our beginner-friendly guide on How to Make Your First $100 with Affiliate Marketing. The same funnel strategies you’ll learn here also apply to selling affiliate offers.
Step 1: Understand How an Email Funnel Works
Before we dive into tools and setup, you need to understand the flow of a successful funnel. Think of it as a guided journey for your subscribers.
The Four Main Stages of an Email Funnel
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Attract: Get visitors to sign up for your email list through a lead magnet.
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Nurture: Send valuable and trust-building emails that position you as an expert.
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Convert: Recommend your digital product as the solution to a specific problem.
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Follow-up: Send additional tips, bonuses, or upsells after the sale.
When done right, this entire process runs on autopilot, generating sales while you focus on creating more content or products.
Related: Learn more about increasing blog visibility in our guide on How to Write Blog Posts That Rank on Google. The more traffic you attract, the more subscribers you’ll add to your funnel.
Step 2: Choose a Free Email Marketing Tool
To build your funnel, you need a platform that can send emails automatically. Luckily, there are several free email marketing tools available in 2025 that are beginner-friendly.
Best Free Email Marketing Platforms
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MailerLite: Free for up to 1,000 subscribers. Includes automation, landing pages, and easy drag-and-drop builders.
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Mailchimp: Free plan covers the first 500 subscribers. Good for simple campaigns, but automation is limited on free plans.
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Systeme.io: One of the most popular free options. The free plan includes sales funnels, landing pages, and automation.
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ConvertKit: Free for up to 1,000 subscribers. Excellent for creators, course sellers, and bloggers.
Pro Tip: If you’re completely new, start with MailerLite or Systeme.io because they have the simplest setups for automation and landing pages.
Related Resource: See our comparison guide on Best Free Email Marketing Platforms for New Bloggers.
Step 3: Create a Lead Magnet to Attract Subscribers
No one will join your list just because you ask. People need a reason to give you their email address. That’s where a lead magnet comes in.
A lead magnet is a free resource you give away in exchange for an email. The more valuable and relevant it is, the faster your list will grow.
Examples of Effective Lead Magnets for Digital Product Sellers
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Free eBook or Guide: Example: “10 Productivity Hacks for Online Entrepreneurs”
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Templates or Worksheets: Example: Canva templates, journaling worksheets, or budgeting spreadsheets
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Mini Email Course: Example: “5-Day Challenge: Learn to Create Your First Digital Product”
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Free Sample of Your Product: Example: A preview chapter of your eBook or the first template from your paid bundle
Important: Your lead magnet should be directly related to the product you want to sell. This ensures your subscribers are already pre-qualified and interested in your niche.
Related Reading: Need more ideas? Check out 10 Lead Magnet Ideas That Attract Blog Subscribers.
Step 4: Build a Landing Page
Once you’ve created your lead magnet, you need a place to showcase it; this is your landing page. Most free email platforms include a landing page builder.
Landing Page Tips for Higher Conversions
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Headline: Make it clear and benefit-driven.
Example: “Get My Free Guide: 7 Steps to Sell Your First Digital Product Online.” -
Preview: Add an image of your eBook, template, or course to make it more tangible.
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Simplicity: Only ask for essential info (name + email).
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Strong Call-to-Action (CTA) – Use persuasive language like “Get Instant Access” or “Send Me the Free Guide.”
Pro Tip: Avoid distractions. Don’t add menus or links that pull visitors away.
Step 5: Write Your Email Sequence
Your email sequence is the heart of the funnel. This is where you build trust and guide subscribers toward buying your product.
Example 5-Day Email Funnel
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Day 1 – Welcome + Deliver Lead Magnet
Thank them for joining and give instant access to the freebie. Add a short intro about who you are. -
Day 2 – Provide Value
Share a tip, strategy, or insight that helps them immediately. No selling yet. -
Day 3 – Highlight a Problem
Talk about a challenge your audience faces. Hint at your product as the solution. -
Day 4 – Introduce Your Product
Share benefits, testimonials, or case studies. Show how it solves the problem. -
Day 5 – Make an Offer
Add urgency: a discount, bonus, or limited-time deal.
Pro Tip: Keep your emails short, personal, and solution-focused. Write as if you’re speaking directly to a friend.
Related Reading: Our guide on How to Set Up a Free Email Funnel to Sell Digital Products expands further on structuring email copy.
Step 6: Connect Your Funnel to a Payment Page
Once people are ready to buy, they need an easy way to pay. The good news is you don’t need an expensive checkout system to start.
Free/Low-Cost Payment Options
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PayPal Buttons: Simple way to add a buy button to your email or landing page.
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Gumroad: Popular for creators selling eBooks, templates, and courses.
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Payhip: Great for beginners. Includes free hosting for your digital product files.
Simply add your sales page link inside your email sequence so subscribers can buy with one click.
Step 7: Automate the Process
Here’s where the magic happens. Instead of manually sending emails, use your email tool’s automation feature.
Automation ensures every new subscriber receives the same sequence in the right order—without you lifting a finger.
Pro Tip: Set delays (like 1 day between each email) so your audience doesn’t feel overwhelmed.
Step 8: Drive Traffic to Your Funnel
Even the best funnel won’t work if no one sees it. That’s why you need to send traffic to your landing page consistently.
Free Traffic Sources in 2025
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SEO Blogging: Publish keyword-rich posts on your blog. For example, a post about “Best Digital Product Ideas for Beginners” could naturally link to your lead magnet.
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Social Media: Share quick tips and link to your funnel on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, or Pinterest.
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YouTube: Record tutorials and add your landing page link in the description.
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Guest Blogging: Write for other websites in your niche and include your lead magnet link in your bio.
Related Resource: Read our guide on How to Build an Email List From Your Blog for step-by-step methods.
Step 9: Test and Improve Your Funnel
Your first funnel won’t be perfect, and that’s okay. Successful marketers constantly optimize.
Key Metrics to Track
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Open Rate: Do people open your emails? If not, improve your subject lines.
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Click-through Rate (CTR): Are they clicking your product links? If not, improve your call-to-action.
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Conversion Rate: Are they buying? If not, tweak your sales page or email copy.
Quick Fixes for Low Conversions
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Rewrite your subject lines to be more curiosity-driven.
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Add more value before making the pitch.
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Include social proof like testimonials or case studies.
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Create urgency with limited-time bonuses.
Bonus Tips for Higher Conversions
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Use Storytelling: Share personal stories in your emails. People connect with real experiences.
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Add Scarcity: Example: “This bonus is only available for 48 hours.”
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Show Proof: Share reviews or screenshots from happy customers.
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Segment Your List: Send different emails to beginners vs. advanced subscribers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Sending only sales emails without value.
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Writing long, complicated emails.
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Using a generic lead magnet unrelated to your product.
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Ignoring mobile-friendly designs.
Remember: The goal of your funnel is to build trust first and sell second.
Conclusion
Setting up a free email funnel to sell digital products is one of the smartest moves you can make as a blogger, content creator, or online entrepreneur.
With the right lead magnet, landing page, email sequence, and automation, you can turn casual readers into paying customers, without constant selling or stress.
The best part? Once your funnel is live, it can generate sales for months (or even years) with minimal updates.
Next Step: If you’re ready to scale even more, check out our post on High-Paying CPA Offers You Can Promote in 2025 for additional income streams you can add alongside your digital product sales.
