How to Boost Your Email List with Lead Magnets

Lead magnets are exclusive content that marketers offer to incentivize visitors to take a specific action, such as signing up for an email newsletter or providing contact information. These valuable resources come in various formats, including downloadable PDFs, case studies, resource lists, and videos. By providing targeted, high-quality content, lead magnets can significantly increase email list subscriptions and help qualify potential customers.

Ready to learn how you can use lead magnets to boost your email list? Then, keep reading. 

Why Lead Magnets Are So Effective

There’s logic to why lead magnets are so effective. Lead magnets convert exceptionally well for three key reasons:

1. Clear Reason to Subscribe

Unlike a generic pitch like "sign up for our newsletter," lead magnets give people a tangible reason to subscribe. Visitors know exactly what they'll receive in exchange for their email address.

2. Targeted Offers

Instead of using the same "sign up for my email list" message on every page, marketers can tailor lead magnets to the content visitors view. For example, a post about digital marketing could offer a video case study on increasing traffic, while an eCommerce product page could provide a limited-time discount. This targeted approach increases conversions by aligning the offer with the visitor's interests.

3. Visitor Qualification

Lead magnets help qualify visitors. While not everyone will sign up, those who do are typically more valuable than the average subscriber. By knowing which lead magnet a person signed up for, marketers can use marketing automation and sales funnels to send targeted offers later.

Creating Effective Lead Magnets

It's best to keep lead magnets simple yet valuable when first starting out. They don't need to be complex or have high production value, but they must offer something for which people are willing to exchange their email addresses. 

Here are some ways to quickly create different types of lead magnets:

• Use tools like Attract to create visually appealing lead magnets based on proven templates.
• Transform long how-to guides into checklist versions using Google Docs or Google Sheets, then export them as PDFs.
• Curate content and offer it as a Google Doc or PDF, providing a list of the best resources on a specific topic.
• Restrict access to select blog posts using plugins like Simple Membership for WordPress, repurposing existing content to build an email list.
• Offer PDF versions of long-form content, making it easy for visitors to save and read later.

Customizing Lead Magnets Based on Context

The "Content Upgrade" is a special type of lead magnet tailored to the exact page a visitor is viewing, typically a blog post. This method can significantly increase conversion rates. To implement a Content Upgrade:

1. Identify a high-traffic piece of content using Google Analytics' "Landing Pages" report.
2. Determine how to enhance that content, such as a downloadable PDF, extra tips, or a video case study.
3. Add the bonus resource to the identified content using a form at the top of the blog post.
4. Send the resource to people who signed up for it, using email marketing software to deliver specific lead magnets to specific subscribers.

Characteristics of Great Lead Magnets

To create a high-converting lead magnet, follow these fundamental principles:

Worth the Effort 

With people increasingly reluctant to share their email addresses, lead magnets must be highly valuable to convert. The offer's value should outweigh the hassle of signing up for a newsletter.

Compelling Pitch 

A fantastic pitch is essential to entice people to sign up. The pitch should clearly communicate what the person will receive and be tailored to the specific lead magnet (e.g., a case study vs. a swipe file).

Well-Designed 

As people's expectations rise, well-designed lead magnets can boost perceived value. While a high-value Google Doc or plain PDF can still work, an appealing design enhances the offer's attractiveness.

Easy to Obtain 

Lead magnets should be free and require only the necessary information from visitors. The more form fields required, the fewer people will fill them out. Asking for just an email address can be sufficient, although some companies may need more information depending on their goals.

Delivers on the Promise 

The lead magnet should excite new subscribers to sign up, as it is their first impression of the company. If it fails to impress, potential customers may unsubscribe quickly.

Balancing Gated and Ungated Content

While gating the best content can increase conversion rates, it has drawbacks. Gated content is harder to get backlinks for, receives less traffic, and is less likely to be shared on social media. It's also nearly impossible to rank for competitive keywords on Google without sufficient content on the page.

To get the best of both worlds, include some ungated information along with the lead magnet. For example, publish a high-level summary of a study with the option to access the full report by providing an email address. This approach gives people something to share and link to while still encouraging email sign-ups.

Offering Lead Magnets to Visitors

Once a lead magnet is created, letting people know it exists is crucial. Some options include:

• Popups: While potentially annoying, popups work well for offering lead magnets to visitors. Marketers can create different popups for each lead magnet depending on the software used, ensuring a targeted approach.
• Embedded Forms: These opt-in forms are added to existing content. Click-triggered forms, which appear as mini popups when a link is clicked, are a subtle way to present the offer only to interested visitors.
• Pop-ins: Less intrusive than traditional popups, pop-ins don't convert as well but are less distracting to visitors.
• Landing Pages: Marketers can create dedicated squeeze pages for each lead magnet, focusing on converting visitors into subscribers.

Think Outside the Box With Lead Magnet Types

Don’t limit yourself regarding the kinds of lead magnets you use. There are numerous types of lead magnets, each with its strengths and applications. Some popular examples include:

• PDF whitepapers and industry studies
• Video tutorials
• Cheat sheets
• Webinars
• Ebooks
• Case studies
• Tools and widgets
• Workbooks and templates
• Quizzes and assessments
• Multi-part email courses

By understanding the power of lead magnets, creating targeted and valuable content, and strategically presenting these offers to visitors, marketers can significantly boost their email list growth and qualify potential customers for future marketing efforts.