> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/plausible/analytics/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Funnel Analysis

> Track multi-step user journeys and identify where visitors drop off in your conversion process.

Funnels help you understand how visitors move through multi-step processes on your website. By visualizing the journey from initial interest to final conversion, you can identify bottlenecks and optimize your user experience.

<Note>
  Funnel analysis is available on the Business plan. It requires goals to be set up before creating funnels.
</Note>

## What is a Funnel?

A funnel represents a series of steps that visitors take toward a conversion goal. Each step is a goal, and the funnel shows:

* How many visitors complete each step
* Drop-off rates between steps
* Overall conversion rate from start to finish
* Time taken to move through the funnel

## Creating Funnels

<Steps>
  <Step title="Set Up Goals First">
    Before creating a funnel, ensure you have goals configured for each step. These can be:

    * Custom event goals
    * Pageview goals
    * A combination of both
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to Funnel Settings">
    Go to your site settings and select "Funnels" from the sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create New Funnel">
    Click "Add Funnel" and configure:

    * **Funnel Name**: Descriptive name (e.g., "Sign Up Flow")
    * **Steps**: Select 2-8 goals in order
  </Step>

  <Step title="Order Your Steps">
    Arrange goals in the sequence visitors should follow:

    ```
    Step 1: Visit /pricing
    Step 2: Click "Start Trial"
    Step 3: Complete Signup
    Step 4: Verify Email
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Funnel Constraints

### Step Limits

Funnels must have:

* **Minimum**: 2 steps
* **Maximum**: 8 steps

<Info>
  Focusing on 3-5 steps typically provides the most actionable insights. Too many steps can make it difficult to identify specific optimization opportunities.
</Info>

### Step Requirements

Each step must:

* Be a configured goal
* Be unique within the funnel (no repeated goals)
* Have sufficient data for meaningful analysis

## Viewing Funnel Analytics

### Funnel Visualization

The funnel chart displays:

1. **Step Labels** - Names of each funnel step
2. **Visitor Count** - Number of visitors reaching each step
3. **Conversion Rate** - Percentage progressing from first step
4. **Drop-off Visualization** - Striped pattern showing lost visitors
5. **Overall Conversion** - Final conversion rate displayed at the top

<Accordion title="Example Funnel Breakdown">
  ```
  Step 1: Visit Product Page - 1,000 visitors (100%)
    ↓ 70% conversion to next step
  Step 2: Add to Cart - 700 visitors (70%)
    ↓ 50% conversion to next step  
  Step 3: Checkout - 350 visitors (35%)
    ↓ 80% conversion to next step
  Step 4: Purchase Complete - 280 visitors (28%)

  Overall Conversion: 28%
  ```
</Accordion>

### Desktop vs Mobile Views

**Desktop View**

* Interactive bar chart with gradient colors
* Hover over steps for detailed tooltips
* Data labels showing conversion rates and visitor counts

**Mobile View**

* Simplified horizontal bars
* Touch-friendly interface
* Key metrics displayed inline

## Funnel Metrics

### Key Metrics Displayed

* **Visitors**: Unique visitors at each step
* **Conversion Rate**: Percentage from initial step
* **Drop-off**: Visitors lost between steps
* **Step Conversion**: Conversion rate from previous step

### Calculating Funnel Performance

The system tracks:

```
Conversion Rate = (Final Step Visitors / First Step Visitors) × 100

Drop-off Rate = 100% - Conversion Rate to Next Step
```

## Filtering Funnels

Apply dashboard filters to analyze funnel performance by:

* **Traffic Source** - Compare organic vs paid traffic
* **Geographic Location** - Identify regional variations
* **Device Type** - Desktop vs mobile performance
* **Time Period** - Trend analysis over time
* **UTM Parameters** - Campaign effectiveness

<Info>
  Filters apply to the entire funnel, allowing you to see how different audience segments move through your conversion process.
</Info>

## Use Cases

### E-commerce

```
1. View Product
2. Add to Cart
3. Enter Shipping Info
4. Complete Payment
```

### SaaS Sign-up

```
1. Visit Pricing Page
2. Click Sign Up
3. Create Account
4. Complete Onboarding
```

### Content Engagement

```
1. Visit Blog Post
2. Scroll 90%
3. Click CTA
4. Submit Email
```

### Lead Generation

```
1. Visit Landing Page
2. Click Form
3. Fill Contact Details
4. Download Resource
```

## Optimization Strategies

<Steps>
  <Step title="Identify Biggest Drop-offs">
    Look for steps with the largest decrease in visitors. These represent your biggest optimization opportunities.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Analyze by Segment">
    Filter your funnel by different dimensions:

    * Which device types have poor conversion?
    * Do certain traffic sources perform better?
    * Are there geographic patterns?
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test and Iterate">
    * Simplify steps with high drop-off rates
    * A/B test different flows
    * Remove unnecessary friction
    * Add trust signals at critical steps
  </Step>

  <Step title="Monitor Over Time">
    Compare funnel performance across date ranges to measure the impact of your optimizations.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Managing Funnels

### Editing Funnels

You can modify existing funnels:

* Change funnel name
* Add or remove steps (within 2-8 step limit)
* Reorder steps
* Update goal configurations

### Deleting Funnels

When deleting a funnel:

* Historical data is preserved
* Associated goals remain intact
* Funnel configuration is removed

<Warning>
  Deleting a funnel cannot be undone. The funnel definition will be permanently removed, though your goals and their data remain available.
</Warning>

### Funnel Limits

Each site can have multiple funnels to track different conversion paths. The exact limit depends on your plan.

## Advanced Features

### Goal Dependencies

When a goal is part of a funnel:

* Deleting the goal affects the funnel
* If a funnel would have fewer than 2 steps after goal deletion, the funnel is automatically removed
* Updating a goal's display name updates it across all funnels

### Date Range Considerations

Funnel data respects your selected date range:

* Conversions must complete within the date range
* Historical funnels can be analyzed retroactively
* Comparison mode shows funnel performance changes

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Funnel shows no data">
    * Verify that goals are receiving events
    * Check that the date range includes relevant data
    * Ensure visitors are completing at least the first step
    * Allow sufficient time for data collection (24-48 hours recommended)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Unexpected drop-off rates">
    * Verify goal triggers are firing correctly
    * Check that steps are in the correct order
    * Review whether goals might be triggered out of sequence
    * Consider if users can skip steps legitimately
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Cannot create funnel">
    * Ensure you have at least 2 goals configured
    * Verify Business plan features are available
    * Check that selected goals are unique
    * Confirm you're within funnel limits
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Best Practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Keep It Simple" icon="minimize">
    Start with 3-4 critical steps. You can always add more detail later.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Logical Flow" icon="arrow-right">
    Ensure steps follow the natural user journey on your site.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Regular Review" icon="clock">
    Check funnel performance weekly to catch issues early.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Segment Analysis" icon="filter">
    Always analyze funnels by different traffic sources and devices.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Set Up Goals" icon="bullseye" href="/features/goals-conversions">
    Create the goals you need for your funnels
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use Segments" icon="layer-group" href="/features/segments">
    Create segments to analyze funnel performance
  </Card>
</CardGroup>