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In my recent post about email marketing, I suggested incorporating lead magnet ideas instead of just offering a boring “sign up for our newsletter” offer, that few website visitors will bother with.
I think it is fair to say that we are all inundated with ads and pop ups these days and our first instinct is to click away or click the cross to close them. Interesting, eye-catching and relevant lead magnet ideas are far more likely to engage your prospects.
So What Is a Lead Magnet?
In a nutshell, a lead magnet is something free that you give away to your website visitors. It is meant to capture their attention by offering something small that helps your ideal prospects solve a specific problem they are facing. Their main objectives are to generate e-mail subscribers (opt-ins) and provide your prospects value before asking for money.
Lead magnet ideas are presented in a number of different formats and to help get you started I’ve provided 5 lead magnet ideas in this post.
1) Checklist, Cheatsheet or a List
When done correctly, a downloadable checklist, cheat sheet or list is an excellent choice for those who do not have the time to download and read long content. They are wanting something that can help them make changes fast. They are are also a great way to get more subscribers who use your content regularly instead of downloading it once and forgetting about it!
Some suggestions that you could use include a list of:-
- Recipes such as gluten-free options
- Tools that are used in your industry
- Resources on a specific topic
This is a lead magnet example of a cheatsheet that I recently put together for a client who is looking to build their e-mail list to promote their soon to be completed online course.
2) Ebook, Guide or Whitepaper
Ebooks are often perceived as more valuable than content such as a cheatsheet. When well structured and packed with knowledge they become very valuable.
Here are several Ebook lead magnet ideas to give you a feel for the possibilities:-
- How to Tune Your Violin in 5 Minutes
- 5 New Accounting Requirements for Small Business Owners in 2020
- How to Prepare Your Wedding Venue for Beautiful Photos
3) Quizzes
There is something about quizzes that gel with people who love them.
A quiz provides your prospects with the opportunity to interact with your content which many will enjoy. As long as you make it relevant or entertaining then you’ve got a good chance of being successful.
You can also get very innovative with how you use a quiz as a lead magnet example.
For example, if you are an online shoe retailer then you could incorporate a quiz titled “Find Out Which Hiking Boots Are Right For You.
In this video, Wes McDowell talks about how quizzes have been found to have an average 33.6% capture rate.
4) Online Calculator
Online calculators can be an excellent lead magnet example when done correctly. You’ve no doubt seen online calculators already from insurance companies and loan institutions.
The key to their success is using them for data that is difficult to find elsewhere and not something that can be found quickly via a Google search.
As you will see in this article, Eneco, generated over 1,000 leads using an online calculator in just 6 weeks.
5) Calendar or Planner
Calendars or planners can be highly effective, particularly when offered at the beginning of the year or period they relate to. You can put together a calendar that is specific to your niche and offer it in exchange for an email address.
So for example, a plant nursery could put together a calendar showing when it is best to plant certain seeds.
The Seed Collection located in Victoria offers this Sowing Chart which provides a timetable when to plant vegetables, herbs and flowers.
It’s a good idea to make it print friendly so your prospects can print it out and refer to it regularly. It’s also a great source of free advertising for your brand!
I encourage you to get started with your lead magnet and give it a go. It’s a great way to build your list.
I hope you found these lead magnet examples and lead magnet ideas helpful and that it’s got your creative juices flowing.
Have you found a particular type of lead magnet effective? Please let me know in the comments.