Most startups struggle with growth because they do not understand their lead funnel. A lead funnel must match your GTM motion. Here's how to design the right funnel whether you're PLG or Sales-Led.
Most startups struggle with growth because they do not understand their lead funnel. The AI Trust Surface affects funnel inputs directly. Check out the B2B leads in 90 days guide. They invest in traffic, edit pages, add tools, and still do not convert. The core problem is simple. A lead funnel must match your GTM motion. If your funnel does not align with how your users buy, nothing works.There are many GTM approaches today. You can grow through partners, community, outbound teams, resellers, ecosystems, or direct self-serve loops. But for most startups, the two motions that shape the core funnel are PLG and Sales-Led. These are the most common and the most relevant for early and mid-stage teams. Your funnel must align with whichever motion you choose.Start With One Question: Are You PLG or Sales-Led?This is the first step. Your website, onboarding, CRM design, activation strategy, content, and analytics all depend on this choice.Do not copy another company's funnel. Build the funnel your customers expect.If You Are PLG: The Product Is The FunnelPLG is not a marketing strategy. It is a product commitment. More than half of your conversion depends on the product delivering value quickly.Why the website mattersIn PLG, the website becomes more than a landing page. It is the first activation layer.Clear use-case educationHigh-quality design that creates trustEngaging, useful contentFast performanceA frictionless signup pathZero confusionYour website is the starting point of your product experience.PLG funnel stagesA PLG funnel is deeper than a signup. It must help users experience value.Typical flow:Website visitSignupFirst setup actionInvite team membersFirst core value momentRepeat value momentPaid conversionExpansionEach product has a different value journey, so these stages should be customized.Our PLG funnel at ThenaHere is the exact funnel we tracked:WebsiteSignupCreated organizationInvited membersInstalled apps10th ticket created100th ticket created10 or more users joinedWe tracked every movement. We studied every drop-off. We improved activation by removing friction and adding clarity.This level of tracking is required for PLG to work.Modern PLG expectationsBuyers want to test on their own. They want immediate clarity. They want to see value before they commit.To support this, PLG needs:Strong onboardingClear empty statesHelpful in-product nudgesLifecycle emails based on usageAnalytics that guide product decisionsIn PLG, your product must behave like a salesperson.If You Are Sales-Led: The Sales Funnel Is The King of EnterpriseSales-Led dominates enterprise SaaS. When deal sizes range from twenty thousand dollars to ten million dollars, buyers expect conversations, validation, and trust.Your website has one main job:Build credibilityEducate the buyerGet them to reach outThe real sales journey happens offline, not on the site.Sales-Led funnel stagesMost enterprise teams follow this structure:QualificationDiscoveryValidationJustificationNegotiationContract pendingClosed-wonEnterprise buying is slow and risk-aware. Multiple stakeholders influence decisions. Budgets shift. Security reviews take time. Legal teams get involved. A strong sales process guides the buyer through each step.Sales-Led works best when the buyer needs human clarity for a high-value decision.Modern Reality: Many Startups Use a Hybrid MotionToday's buyers prefer a mix of both models. They want to self-educate and test the product. They also want human guidance when the stakes are high.This is why hybrid motions are growing. PLG accelerates value. Sales assists unblock enterprise steps and close larger deals.The balance depends on your ACV, product complexity, and customer type.How Founders Should Approach Funnel DesignHere is the simple and practical framework.1. Choose the right motionPick PLG or Sales-Led based on your product and buyers. Your ACV and your ICP usually reveal the best motion.If your ACV is low and your buyer is SMB, Sales-Led will not be efficient. If your ACV is high and your buyer is enterprise, PLG alone will not close deals.Choose the motion that matches how your customer evaluates risk and decides.2. Define clear stagesPLG and Sales-Led funnels are very different. Define the stages that match your motion. Avoid mixing until you are ready for hybrid.3. Track everythingInstrument every stage. You cannot fix what you cannot see.4. Remove frictionEvery drop-off is a signal. Every confusing step slows conversion. Edit until the path from value promise to value realized is as short as possible.5. Evolve the funnelYour funnel changes as your product, pricing, and ICP evolve. Update it often.A funnel is not a static document. It is a living system shaped by how people discover, try, and buy your product. I'm Govind Kavaturi, an AI Builder-Operator. I co-founded Thena and was early team at Branch. Built 0 to 1M twice, 0 to 100M once. I write about B2B SaaS growth, lead generation, and go-to-market strategy. Learn more a...