What does Funnel mean?

A funnel, or marketing or sales funnel, is a model that shows the individual stages of the customer journey from the first contact with a brand to the desired action, such as a purchase or inquiry. The funnel narrows toward the bottom because a smaller share of users usually moves on to each next stage. Typical stages include gaining attention, showing interest, considering the offer and conversion. Companies use funnels to track where customers drop out of the purchase journey and to optimize marketing, content and the sales process. In e-commerce, a funnel can include visiting the e-shop, viewing a product, adding it to the cart and completing the order.