If you’re trying to make money online but feel overwhelmed by tech and content creation — this simple AI funnel could be a game changer.
Look, I get it. You want to start earning sooner rather than later. But every time you research “how to make money online,” you’re hit with complex 12-step systems that require weeks of setup just to test a simple idea.
What if there was a faster way?
In this post, we’ll walk through how anyone can set up a fully automated funnel using just 3 AI tools, ideal for affiliate marketing or digital product promotion. This method takes about 2-3 hours total to build and can be running within a single afternoon.
No promises or guarantees here — but this method is fast to test and has real potential when executed well. Let’s dive in.
What This Funnel Does (and Doesn’t Do)
Before we jump into the tutorial, let’s set realistic expectations.
This funnel is designed to:
- Collect leads automatically
- Send follow-up emails on autopilot
- Promote affiliate offers or digital products without your daily involvement
It’s NOT:
- A get-rich-quick shortcut
- A magic AI money machine that generates income without any effort
- A replacement for building genuine relationships with your audience
It’s best used for:
- Testing new offers quickly and cheaply
- Starting from absolute zero with minimal upfront investment
- Creating a “set it and forget it” side funnel while you build your main brand
- Validating whether there’s interest in a particular niche or product
Think of this as your training wheels for online marketing — simple enough to build this week, but powerful enough to generate real results.
The 3 Tools You Need
Here’s what you’ll need to build this funnel (total monthly cost: under $50):
1. ChatGPT-4o or Claude (for content + copywriting)
What you’ll use it for: Draft your lead magnet, landing page copy, and entire email sequence Cost: $20/month for ChatGPT Plus or $20/month for Claude Pro
2. SendPad or ConvertKit (for lead capture + email automation)
What you’ll use it for: Deliver your freebie and follow up with a timed email sequence Cost: $29/month (SendPad) or $29/month (ConvertKit) for starter plans
3. PixaPage or Systeme.io (for simple landing pages)
What you’ll use it for: Build a landing page and thank-you page in minutes Cost: Free tier available on both, or $27/month (Systeme.io) / $19/month (PixaPage) for upgraded features
Optional tools to consider later:
- Hilos (if you want to layer in WhatsApp/SMS follow-up)
- Canva (for quick lead magnet visuals and graphics)
The beauty of this setup? You can start with free trials and basic plans, then upgrade only if the funnel starts generating income.
Step-by-Step Funnel Build (Tutorial)
Let’s build this thing. Set aside 2-3 hours and work through these steps in order.
Step 1: Create a Free Lead Magnet (20 minutes)
Your lead magnet is the “bait” that gets people to give you their email address. Keep it simple but valuable.
Here’s how:
- Open ChatGPT or Claude and use this prompt: “Create a simple checklist for [your niche] beginners. The topic should be: ‘5 [Tools/Resources/Strategies] You Can [Achieve Specific Outcome] This Week.’ Make it actionable and specific.”
- Example topics that work well:
- “5 Affiliate Programs You Can Join and Start Promoting This Week”
- “7 AI Tools That Can Replace Your Most Time-Consuming Tasks”
- “The Complete Beginner’s Checklist for Starting an Online Business”
- Take the AI output and paste it into Google Docs
- Format it nicely with headers, bullet points, and clear sections
- Download as PDF
Pro tip: Focus on ONE narrow topic rather than trying to solve every problem. Specific lead magnets convert better than generic ones.
Step 2: Build a Landing Page (30 minutes)
Now you need a simple page where people can download your lead magnet.
Using PixaPage or Systeme.io:
- Choose a template: Look for “Lead Generation” or “Opt-in” templates
- Write your headline: Use this formula: “Get [Specific Benefit] in [Time Frame]”
- Example: “Get 5 Profitable Affiliate Programs You Can Start Promoting This Week”
- Add bullet points: List 3-5 key benefits of your lead magnet
- Create your opt-in form: Connect it to your email service (SendPad/ConvertKit)
- Set up your thank-you page: Confirm delivery and tease your upcoming emails
Essential elements for your landing page:
- Clear headline that matches your lead magnet
- 3-5 bullet points explaining what they’ll get
- Simple opt-in form (name and email only)
- No navigation menu or other distractions
- Mobile-friendly design (most templates handle this automatically)
Step 3: Write the Email Sequence (30-60 minutes)
This is where the magic happens. Your email sequence will nurture leads and promote your affiliate offer.
Use this ChatGPT prompt:
“Write a 4-email sequence for someone who downloaded a lead magnet about [your topic]. Email 1 should deliver the freebie and build rapport. Email 2 should provide additional value. Email 3 should recommend [your affiliate product] with benefits. Email 4 should handle common objections. Keep each email conversational and helpful, not salesy.”
Your 4-email sequence structure:
Email 1 (Send immediately):
- Deliver the lead magnet
- Introduce yourself briefly
- Set expectations for upcoming emails
Email 2 (Send after 2 days):
- Share a helpful tip related to your lead magnet
- Tell a brief story or case study
- Build trust and authority
Email 3 (Send after 2 more days):
- Recommend your affiliate product
- Focus on benefits, not features
- Include your affiliate link with proper disclaimers
Email 4 (Send after 2 more days):
- Address common objections or concerns
- Share social proof if available
- Final call-to-action
Important: Always include proper affiliate disclaimers like “This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you.”
Step 4: Test Everything
Before you drive any traffic, test your entire funnel:
- Use your own email to opt-in to your landing page
- Check that you receive the lead magnet immediately
- Verify that all emails arrive on schedule
- Click every link to make sure they work
- Test on mobile to ensure everything displays correctly
Fix any issues before going live.
What to Promote With This Funnel
The key to success is promoting products that genuinely solve problems for your audience.
Great options for beginners:
- Software tools with free trials: ConvertKit, Systeme.io, Canva Pro
- Low-ticket affiliate offers: Digital courses, templates, small tools
- Recurring commission products: Email services, hosting, software subscriptions
- Lead-ins to your own products: If you have a course or service
Examples of products that work well (without including actual affiliate links):
- Jasper (AI copywriting)
- Systeme.io (all-in-one marketing platform)
- ConvertKit (email marketing)
- Canva Pro (design tools)
- SEO tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush
- Popular online courses in your niche
What NOT to promote:
- Products you’ve never used
- Anything that feels scammy or promises unrealistic results
- High-ticket items to a cold audience
- Products with no clear benefit to your lead magnet audience
Remember: your reputation is on the line with every recommendation.
Why This Works (and Why It Sometimes Doesn’t)
Let’s be honest about what makes this funnel successful — and what can cause it to fail.
Why it works:
Simple and fast: You can build this in one afternoon and have it running by evening
AI removes friction: No more staring at blank pages wondering what to write
Great for testing: Low investment lets you test multiple niches and offers quickly
Scalable: Once it’s working, you can drive more traffic or build additional funnels
Genuine value first: By leading with a helpful freebie, you build trust before asking for anything
Why it sometimes fails:
Poor lead magnet topic: If your freebie doesn’t solve a real problem, no one will opt-in
Weak or irrelevant offer: Promoting products that don’t match your audience’s needs
Not enough traffic: Even the best funnel needs visitors to work
Impatience: Expecting overnight results instead of giving it time to build momentum
Set-and-forget mentality: Successful funnels need occasional optimization and updates
The reality? Most people will build this funnel and drive minimal traffic to it, then wonder why it’s not working. The funnel is just the foundation — you still need to get people to see it.
Getting Started With 2-3 Hours & $50
This 3-tool AI funnel isn’t a magic bullet, but it’s one of the fastest, easiest ways to get started with affiliate marketing or digital product sales.
The total time investment is about 2-3 hours upfront, plus ongoing traffic generation. The financial investment is under $50/month to start, with most tools offering free trials.
Here’s my challenge for you: Set aside a few hours this week and build a version of this — even a rough draft puts you ahead of 99% of people who just read about making money online without taking action.
Start simple. Test one offer. Drive some traffic (even if it’s just sharing with friends and family initially). Then optimize based on what you learn.
The best funnel is the one that actually exists and gets visitors.
Ready to start building? Pick your three tools, choose your lead magnet topic, and get started today.
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