3 YouTube Funnels to try in 2026 | Ep. 79

If the phrase “sales funnel” makes your shoulders tense up just a little…

you’re not alone.

For the longest time, sales funnels felt way more complicated than they needed to be.

Every conversation around funnels seemed to include ads, landing pages, email automations, complicated tech stacks, and a whole lot of “you should already know this” energy.

And honestly?

That was enough to make a lot of creators freeze before they ever got started.

What changed everything for me was realizing this: your YouTube channel can be the funnel.

YouTube funnels are the key to making consistent sales in your business…

without constantly having to sell.

In this post, I’m breaking down three YouTube funnels you can start using in 2026 that are simple, sustainable, and proven to work.

These are the exact frameworks I teach and use, and they’re designed to support your business without taking over your life.

I’ll share three simple YouTube funnels with you that you can set up this year to turn your channel into a sales machine.

Whether you’re building your list, creating a playlist funnel, or using the backstage funnel that I teach in Video Brand Academy, I’ll break down exactly how to make your content do the selling for you.

Ready to grow your audience AND your business?

VIDEO: 3 YouTube Funnels to try in 2026 | Ep. 79

Some product links in this post are affiliate links, and I will be compensated when you purchase by clicking our links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Why YouTube Funnels Matter More Than Ever in 2026

Sales funnels are simply a way to make consistent sales without constantly selling.

What I love about YouTube is that your content keeps working long after you hit publish.

Instead of hosting nonstop webinars, hopping on sales calls, or living in your DMs trying to convince people to buy and relying on constant launches, daily posting, or chasing trends on short-form platforms, YouTube allows you to create long-term business assets. Videos that attract your ideal audience, build trust, and lead people toward your offers over time.

When done intentionally, YouTube becomes more than a content platform. It becomes what I call a video asset engine.

For a long time, the idea of funnels felt overly complicated to me. I used to think you needed:

Ads
Opt-in pages
Pixels
Conversion events
Dozens of emails for buyers and non-buyers

And while all of that can technically be a funnel, it is absolutely not required to build predictable, sustainable revenue with YouTube.

The biggest mindset shift is this:
Your YouTube channel itself can be the funnel.

When people find your videos organically because they’re searching for solutions, and every piece of content gently leads them closer to your offers, you’ve created a system that works long-term.

I call this a video asset engine.

The Biggest YouTube Funnel Mistake I See Creators Make

Most creators fall into one of two camps:

First, there’s the “link in the description” approach. You create videos, drop a link to your course or program, and hope someone clicks. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s not really a funnel; it’s just a link.

Second, there’s the “build it separately and attach it later” method. This is where people create an elaborate funnel off YouTube and then try to force their channel to feed into it. The problem? It usually feels disconnected and awkward.

The solution is simpler than both.

Instead of building a funnel next to your channel, you turn your entire channel into the funnel.

The Video Asset Engine Mindset

Instead of thinking in terms of “post → sell → repeat,” I want you to think about your YouTube channel as an engine.

Every video you publish becomes an asset.
Every asset compounds over time.
And all you have to do is keep adding fuel, meaning, keep showing up and publishing content.

This isn’t about building a YouTube channel for views alone.
We’re here to build your business, not just your subscriber count.

With that foundation in place, let’s talk about the three YouTube funnels to try in 2026.

Funnel #1: The Simple List Builder Funnel

This funnel is perfect if you don’t have a paid offer yet or if you want to grow your audience before scaling your business.

The goal here isn’t immediate sales. The goal is relationship-building and list growth.

How This Funnel Works

You create YouTube videos around a specific problem your audience is already searching for. Inside those videos, you naturally mention one helpful free resource that supports the topic.

When the timing is right, viewers opt in to download that resource. Now they’re on your email list, and the relationship continues beyond YouTube.

The key is this: YouTube is still the priority.
The freebie supports the content; it doesn’t replace it.

The Save Me Series Strategy

One mistake people make with list-building funnels is creating too many lead magnets. That leads to viewers constantly leaving YouTube, which isn’t great for the algorithm.

Instead, the Save Me Series strategy focuses on one core resource that’s promoted across a related series of videos.

For example, when I created my Crush It on Camera Guide, I built multiple videos around the same theme: camera setup, microphones, lighting, and filming software. Each video supported the same free guide.

That way, viewers only needed to leave YouTube once. After that, they could binge the rest of the series, which actually helps your channel perform better.

And the best part? Those videos are still generating leads years later.

Make Your Free Resource Worth Downloading

Your free resource doesn’t need to be long, but it does need to be useful.

When someone downloads your free content and immediately finds value, trust is built. That trust is what eventually leads to paid conversions down the road.

This funnel plays the long game, and it works.

Funnel #2: The Playlist Funnel

If you already have a paid offer, this funnel helps you guide viewers toward it in a structured, intentional way.

Think of this as an evergreen version of a live workshop or challenge.

How the Playlist Funnel Works

You take a big transformation and break it into a sequence of YouTube videos, organized into a playlist. Each video builds on the last, and together they move someone closer to your paid offer.

Playlists are powerful because they encourage binge-watching, and YouTube rewards that behavior. The easier you make it for someone to watch the next video, the better your channel performs.

The One Problem With Playlist Funnels

Here’s what I learned the hard way: playlists alone aren’t enough.

They work beautifully once people find them, but without consistent traffic feeding into the playlist, momentum slows. That’s when I realized the playlist needed a front door.

And that’s where the third funnel comes in.

Funnel #3: The Backstage YouTube Funnel

This is the most advanced of the three funnels and the one I teach inside Video Brand Academy.

The backstage funnel combines discoverable YouTube content with an intentional “behind-the-scenes” experience that introduces viewers to your offers naturally.

What Makes the Backstage Funnel Different

Instead of saying, “Here’s what my program looks like if you join,” you say, “Come see how this works from the inside.”

Viewers get real value whether they buy or not. They’re invited into the process, not pitched from the outside.

This approach builds trust faster, shortens the buying journey, and feels aligned, especially for creators who don’t want to sell aggressively.

Inside Video Brand Academy, I teach this funnel step-by-step using:

A YouTube Funnel Playbook
A 30-day implementation plan
AI bots trained specifically to write scripts the way I teach

These bots help script:

Billboard videos
Backstage videos
Messaging that naturally justifies your offer

This isn’t generic AI output,it’s trained to reflect your voice and your content.

All In On YouTube 2026 Workshop

If you want help building this i n real time, I’m hosting a free, live, three-day workshop called All In On YouTube 2026.

We’ll:

Turn your channel into an evergreen sales machine
Build a system that generates consistent revenue
Create clarity around your YouTube funnel

You must sign up to get the reminders, resources, and workbook, and once it’s over, it won’t be available again.

The link is in the description.

Conclusion:

YouTube doesn’t have to feel like a hamster wheel.

When you stop thinking of videos as one-off content and start treating them like business assets, everything changes.

Whether you start with:

A simple list-building funnel
A playlist funnel
Or a full backstage YouTube funnel

The goal is the same: build a system that supports your business long-term.

Show up.
Publish consistently.
Let your content work for you.

And if you’re ready to go all in on YouTube in 2026, I’d love to help you build a binge-worthy video brand that actually pays you back.

If you have an online business with a course, program, or any other kind of offer, and you’re not currently generating consistent sales on autopilot, I’d like to introduce you to the hands-off YouTube funnel that has made me over $20k on a $147 course! That way, you too can make consistent sales of your offer, with the beauty and simplicity of organic, evergreen traffic from YouTube! Start here with my free “AIT Method” training.