How I Created a Minimalist Lead Generation Marketing Funnel for My Website Planning Workbook
Building a beautiful website is important, but a website alone is not enough to grow a business.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a website designer is that visitors need a clear next step. Without a way to capture leads, many potential clients simply leave and never return.
That’s why I recently created my first lead generation marketing funnel using Systeme.io for my free resource, The Intentional Website Planning Workbook.
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I built it, what I learned along the way, and why I believe every wellness brands should have a simple lead generation marketing funnel in place.
What Is a Lead Generation Marketing Funnel?
A lead generation marketing funnel is a simple process designed to turn website visitors into subscribers and potential future clients.
Instead of hoping someone remembers your website, you offer something valuable in exchange for their email address.
In my case, I created a free website planning workbook that helps wellness entrepreneurs plan their website strategically before investing in design.
The marketing funnel follows a simple structure:
- Visitor lands on the opt-in page
- Visitor enters their name and email
- Visitor is redirected to a thank you page
- Visitor downloads the workbook
- Contact information is stored inside the CRM
Simple, intentional, and effective.
Why Every Wellness Brands Need a Lead Generation Funnel
Many wellness entrepreneurs spend months building a beautiful website but don’t have a way to capture leads.
Without a marketing funnel:
- Visitors leave and may never return
- You miss opportunities to build trust
- Your email list never grows
- Potential clients forget about your services
With a lead generation marketing funnel, you create an opportunity to continue the conversation even after a visitor leaves your website.
An email list is one of the most valuable assets a business can own because you have a direct way to communicate with your audience.
The Goal Behind My Workbook Funnel
As a minimalist website designer for wellness brands, I wanted to create a resource that genuinely helps potential clients.
Many business owners struggle with:
- Defining their ideal client
- Clarifying their website goals
- Organizing website content
- Understanding what pages they need
The Intentional Website Planning Workbook was created to solve these challenges.
Rather than overwhelming visitors with information, I wanted to offer a practical tool they could use immediately.
Step 1: Creating the Opt-In Page
The first step was designing a clean and minimalist landing page.
My goal was to create something that felt calm, professional, and aligned with my brand.
The page includes:
- A clear headline
- Benefits of the workbook
- A simple opt-in form
- Minimal distractions
- Soft neutral color palette
The hero section of my minimalist opt-in page, designed in Systeme.io to introduce the Website Planning Workbook and help wellness brands gain clarity before building their website.
The opt-in page designed to encourage visitors to download the free workbook.
One thing I intentionally avoided was clutter. I wanted visitors to focus on a single action: downloading the workbook.
Step 2: Connecting a Custom Domain
To create a more professional and seamless experience, I connected a custom subdomain to my lead generation marketing funnel in Systeme.io.
Instead of using a generic funnel URL, visitors can now access my workbook through:
studio.maritesbalili.com
Because I purchased my domain and hosting through Namecheap, I had access to my hosting dashboard and cPanel. From there, I added the CNAME records provided by Systeme.io and created a dedicated subdomain for my funnel.
After the connection was verified, I linked the subdomain to my Website Planning Workbook funnel inside Systeme.io.
Although it took some experimentation, this small detail creates a more cohesive brand experience, strengthens trust, and makes the funnel feel like a natural extension of my website.
This small detail creates a more seamless brand experience and helps build trust.
Connecting a custom domain inside Systeme.io.
This step took some experimentation, but seeing the custom domain successfully connected felt like a major milestone.
Step 3: Building the Thank You Page
After submitting the opt-in form, visitors are redirected to a thank you page where they can instantly access the workbook.
I wanted this page to feel warm and intentional rather than transactional. Instead of simply displaying a download link, I used the thank you page as an opportunity to extend my brand experience and guide visitors toward the next step of their journey.
The thank you page includes:
- A calming workspace background
- A personal thank-you message
- A workbook download button
- Links to my website and services
- Consistent minimalist branding
The completed Thank You page where subscribers access the workbook.
Adding my personal branding helped create a more human connection with visitors.
Step 4: Uploading the Workbook
One challenge I encountered was figuring out how to deliver the PDF automatically.
After some testing, I discovered that Systeme.io allows buttons to directly download files.
This was a breakthrough moment.
Instead of needing a complicated setup, I simply:
- Uploaded the PDF
- Selected the button
- Chose “Download File”
- Connected the workbook
Now visitors can instantly access the workbook after subscribing.
Connecting the PDF workbook to the download button.
Step 5: Making the Funnel Work Properly
At first, visitors were not being redirected to the Thank You page after submitting the form.
After troubleshooting, I discovered the issue.
The form action was set to:
No Redirection
Changing the form setting to:
To the Next Step
immediately solved the problem.
Updating the form action settings inside Systeme.io.
This reminded me that small technical settings can make a big difference.
Step 6: Capturing Leads Inside the CRM
The final step was verifying that subscribers were being stored correctly.
After testing the funnel, I checked the CRM and saw the leads successfully captured.
New subscribers appearing inside the CRM.
Seeing real leads appear confirmed that the entire system was working exactly as intended.
Lessons I Learned From Building My First Funnel
This project taught me several valuable lessons:
- Simple funnels work.
- Professional branding builds trust.
- Testing every step is essential.
- Small technical settings matter.
- Lead generation doesn’t need to be complicated.
Most importantly, I learned that a funnel doesn’t need dozens of pages or advanced automation to be effective.
Sometimes a simple opt-in page, a thank you page, and a valuable resource are enough.
The Tools I Used
To build this lead generation marketing funnel, I used a combination of WordPress, Namecheap, Canva, and Systeme.io.
- WordPress — I used WordPress to build my website and publish my blog content.
- Namecheap — I purchased my domain and hosting through Namecheap and used cPanel to connect my custom subdomain to Systeme.io using a CNAME record.
- Canva Pro — I designed my Website Planning Workbook, funnel graphics, and branded visuals in Canva.
- Systeme.io — I used Systeme.io to create my opt-in page, thank-you page, automate file delivery, manage contacts, and build my email marketing funnel—all in one platform.
What I appreciate most about this setup is how simple and streamlined it feels. Instead of piecing together multiple expensive tools, I was able to create a calm, intentional experience for my audience while keeping everything organized in one place.
If you’re building a wellness brand, coaching business, or service-based website, these tools can help you create a professional online presence that attracts and books aligned clients.
Ready to create your own funnel? You can start with Systeme.io here using my affiliate link:
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend tools that I personally use and love. ✨
Final Thoughts
Creating this lead generation marketing funnel was more than a technical project.
It was an opportunity to create a more intentional experience for potential clients while building a valuable business asset.
If you’re a wellness entrepreneur, coach, or service provider, I encourage you to start building your email list sooner rather than later.
A simple lead generation funnel can help you build trust, grow your audience, and create opportunities for future client relationships.
And if you’d rather focus on serving your clients while someone else handles the design and setup, I’d love to help.
Explore my Strategic Design Services at:
About the Author
Marites Balili is the founder of Marites Balili Studio
I help women-led wellness brands create calm, intentional, minimalist online experiences
that attract and book aligned clients through Brand Strategy, Website Design, and Marketing Funnel Design.
Interested in creating a website that feels aligned with your brand?
