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This “funnel” has holes — marketing, metaphors, and consent (with Cleoniki Kesidis)
Season 3 Episode 2
In this episode, Nicole welcomes back her very first repeat guest (🥳), Cleoniki Kesidis, copywriter extraordinaire and fellow funnel-skeptic. The two dig into the uncomfortable origins and metaphors behind the word funnel, asking why such a common marketing term so often feels…well, kinda icky.
What starts as a conversation about email sequences and sales paths becomes a beautifully winding journey into ethical marketing, customer autonomy, and a whole lot of metaphors.
Let’s talk about the words we use in the marketing systems we build.
In this episode, you’ll discover…
- Why “funnel” might not be the best metaphor—and a few alternates
- What cows, tornadoes, and Temple Grandin have to do with marketing
- The overlooked power of sequencing and why your audience deserves an exit
- Why the best funnels feel more like ecosystems (and how to start designing yours)
- What to do if you find yourself IN a funnel as a business owner (which you will, like, all the time)
A few quotes:
- “It doesn’t feel like a friendly place to exist. It’s like you’re Dorothy and your house has been picked up and you’re being tossed around inside a tornado.”
- “You want the sand to leave. You’re not trying to catch everybody.”
- “When we talk about optimizing, it’s not about making every number as high as it can go.”
- “When you’re an entrepreneur, you are always in a funnel.”
Connect with Cleo:
- Grab Cleo's free resource: Everything You Need to Sell Your Evergreen Course Consistently at cekcopywriting.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cleonikikesidis (she’s so good here)
Curious about ethical sales and lead magnets that don’t feel gross? Check out Nicole’s newsletter for prompts and ideas: nicolecopy.com/prompts
Published on 7 months, 1 week ago