How to Create the Perfect Lead Magnet - PLUS 65 Amazing Lead Magnet Ideas!

Story Tonic - How to Create the Perfect Lead Magnet

Want to know what to do to stop people from signing up for your email list? Tell them to: "Sign up for updates."

This may have worked 10 years ago (but even then this was hardly ideal) but this is one of the best ways to ensure people scroll right past your subscription offer. In today’s world, you've got to do more than just offering updates to get someone on your email list!

But don’t worry, this post is all about helping you do A LOT better than that!

NOTE: For those of you who may be thinking, “Why Do I Even Need An Email List?” Check out the blog post on the 7 Reasons you need an Email List.

How do I get my website visitors to sign up to my email list?

Put simply, you offer something of value in exchange for their email address.

It sounds simple enough, right? But once you decide to do it, you’ll find that it's surprisingly difficult to convince someone to give out their email address. Why? Because an email inbox is a personal space and people are reluctant to give you access to that space. Even if your customers like your brand, they won’t sign up to your list unless they know they can gain something of value.

That’s where the lead magnet comes in.

What is a lead magnet? What Is An Email Opt-In?

An email opt-in or lead magnet is something VALUABLE you give out for free in exchange for adding someone’s email address to your email list. With email addresses, you can nurture leads, build trust and convert some of them to become paying clients. Email marketing still has the highest ROI of all other forms of marketing today.

No matter how good you are at what you do, only some visitors to your website will be ready to click your "Buy now" or “Book now” button. This is why a lead magnet is so important. It offers your visitors a low risk way to get to know you before deciding to do business with you.

It gives you the opportunity to deepen the relationship first.

How do I create the perfect lead magnet for my audience?

One of the questions I hear most often when helping clients develop their marketing strategy is: how do I build the perfect lead magnet my customers can't ignore?

There are many different types of lead magnets you can create (check out the list of 90 ideas to help you brainstorm below!)

However, whatever lead magnet you decide to create, it must:

Be helpful
Provide a useful or valuable insight into something your audience is struggling with
Provide an instant quick fix so that people feel like they have already benefited from your advice or help just by signing up.
Be easy to implement
Be quick to read
Act as a bridge toward your products, services or offerings

What makes an ideal lead magnet?

The key to a high-converting lead magnet is to first, deeply understand and connect to your customer's problems.

Next you offer them an answer to one of the problems they are struggling with for FREE.

If you have completed your StoryBrand BrandScript you will already know the three levels of problems your customers face and all you have to do is dig into the "External Problem" section of the BrandScript to find your perfect lead magnet idea.

It's that simple.

The truth is that not all lead magnets are effective and sadly, some completely miss the mark and fail to grow any type of list. But when the offer is positioned just right, delivered with the right design and copy, your list can suddenly flourish at an incredible rate.

65 Amazing Lead Magnet Ideas to Grow Your Email List

Here is a comprehensive list of 65 highly effective lead magnet ideas to help you find the right idea for your business:

45 Lead Magnet Ideas for getting email addresses from new prospects

Checklist
Cheat Sheet
Worksheet
Video Training
Email Course
Quiz
Toolkit
Resource List
Templates
Free Custom Report
PDF Guide
Infographic
Giveaway
Free Scripts
Swipe File
Event Recordings/Replays
Podcast Download
Audio Recording
Audio course
First chapter of a Book (PDF or Audiobook)
Video Course
Free Branded Materials
Free Photographs/Illustrations
Slideshare/Powerpoint Download
Mind Map
Spreadsheet
Transcripts
Physical DVD or CD
Physical Book
Quick-Start Guide
Workbook
Curated Newsletter/Blog Posts
Roundups
Calendar
Access to Facebook Group/Slack Group
Access to Members Only Area
Access to Mobile Apps
Original Data/Research
Whitepaper/Report
Poster
Newsletter Subscription
Resource Library
Graphs
Timelines
Free Magazine Subscription

12 Lead Magnet Ideas for promoting your products and services

Free Trial
Software Download
Case Studies
Membership Registration
Free Shipping
Webinar
Free Tickets To Workshop/Live Event
Early Bird Registration discount
FAQ’s
Free Sample
Free Coaching Session
Brochure/Catalog

8 Lead Magnet Ideas for people who you have established a connection with you and are close to the point of purchase

Free Assessment
Discount Offer
Free Consultation
Comparison Charts
Software Demo
Price Points Page
Free Trial
Loyalty Program

How do I optimize my Lead Magnet?

Here's my advice: when you launch a new lead magnet, measure the conversion rate for 10 - 30 days (depending on your website traffic volume).

Next try another lead magnet offer and measure again for the same time frame.

Now look at the one that is more successful and think how you can modify it to improve the optin rate. Do this regularly until you have reached the best optin rate for that offer. Have patience with tracking results and then modifying and tweaking till you get a conversion rate you’re happy with.

☑ Take Action

TIP: Ask an existing client, customer or blog reader to take a look and give you honest feedback on your Lead Magnet idea. This will give you INVALUABLE feedback about whether you are on the right track.
Want some one on one help for generating leads for your email list - with less stress and frustration? Let’s chat.