The 3 best lead magnets for launching your email marketing list with a blast
Lead magnets are the not-so-secret ingredient in your list-building plan that hasn't got. Learn why this is the case and how to start using them now.
After a few minutes, listening to these small business and marketers leaders talk about the value of their mailing lists starts to look like that particular scene and the accompanying soundtrack from The Lion King.
It's like it's too good to be true. 380% ROI on average ? It's not possible. 89% of professional say email is their preferred channel for lead generation? It's not enough.
However, there's a rationale behind it. Marketing via email isn't a one-sided affair between businesses and their customers. Like the Lion King, email is loved by everyone within the realm of commerce.
In fact, 73% of consumers rate email as their preferred channel for receiving marketing messages and interactions.
It's not the problem you're struggling with.
No, your problem is a lot simpler in the sense that You know that you require an email database, but how on earth do you create one from scratch?
In addition, how do create a quick list without compromising on high-quality?
The solution, dear reader, is simple:
There is a need for an effective lead magnet.
Which is what we'll take care of this morning. First, we'll explain why, then show you the steps, before topping the whole thing off with a done-for-you lead magnet that will get your lead generation within ten minutes.
Let's get started.
What exactly is a lead magnet?
The key differentiator that separates lead magnets from any other type of content marketing -- more on this in a second -the fact that lead magnets are paired with a specific reward that is contingent on the users' taking the desired step (e.g., joining your mailing list).
This subscription box that is located on the homepage of Backlinko is not an ad-hoc lead generator. The tips and tricks could be exclusive for Brian Dean, they are not offered the form of a particular resource in exchange for the user sign-up.
Conversely, this case study found on the bottom of the page is a lead magnet since the information is locked by an email address field. It's only after users' decide to take the action they want and convert to subscribers that they can access the case study.
Both buttons lead users to the exact same place that Brian's list of email addresses However, it's the second that incentives new subscribers to sign up with an event-based incentive.
In general The easiest method to remember what classifies as an lead magnet and which ones aren't is to employ the "if, and then" formula.
If the user completes the desired action, the user will receive xyz in exchange.
If the user does not do the right thing, the user will not receive xyz in exchange.
But that's enough dictionary-diving. Beyond that what exactly (and why) are lead magnets effective?
Lead magnets' process typically looks like this:
The process can be differentthe user may begin on the landing page of the lead magnet -- but the relationship between action and reward remains the same.
That brings us back to the "why" of lead magnets.
They give your visitors a reason, right then and then, to hand the information they have provided to you and turn into leads in a matter of minutes. (The are really good lead magnets, anyway. Further details on this will be discussed later, as well.)
Lead magnets solve the top marketing problem faced by the majority of professionals across the globe by driving traffic as well as leads all in one fell one swoop.
Another way to look at it as the distinction between texting someone using an app for dating and getting them excited with clever jokes or inviting the same person to have dinner with you when you're both already in the dining establishment.
Make it right and you'll be able to have an email subscription in just a tiny fraction of the time that it takes to execute the formal plan for content. Do it wrong and the users will immediately flinch, just as they will never come back.
This isn't a supposition By the way.
A minimum of 70% the users who abandon your website immediately after their first visit will never make their way back again.
Therefore, getting your lead magnet right isn't just about generating additional leads. It's creating the best first impression possible when visitors do turn into leads.
The short answer: by using the appropriate touch points at the appropriate time to the appropriate people.
For more information you can read further.
Great lead magnets are targeted and target pain points
Before diving into an endless hole of despair, trying to determine when you'll be able to determine where, when, and even how you'll create a lead magnet that attracts customers, keep your eyes on the prize.
Lead magnets that are highly effective have in common isn't the length of time it took to make them, or the budgets behind them, or even the skill of the designer that's the issue: their target.
Put simply The more focused and useful the lead magnet is to the audience you're trying to connect with, the more effective your lead magnet's effectiveness to benefit your business as well as your clients.
Remember, your goal with any type of content -be it an ad, blog post, or a webinar -- should never be to appeal to general masses.
Your golden rule should always be to reach your specific audience.
After all, 71.7% of users that rated content as irrelevant flagged it as being to general.
On the other hand, only 2.9 percentage of this users believed that the content did not matter because it was not sufficiently complex or in-depth.
In case you do take anything other than this information this moment, it should be the following:
Whatever product you choose to sell that is lead magnets or any other type of product which aims to please all may be admired by a small number of people, but ignored by a lot of people.
With that soapbox gone How do you make sure that your lead magnet is pertinent to your audience? Beyond nailing your customer research down, it's helpful to examine your customers' problems.
Pain points, if you've never heard of the phrase previously, refer specifically to the issues your users are facing and relevant to the business you run. They're not an answer to these difficulties.
The comic created by Ceralytics beautifully illustrates the distinction between problems and solutions .
Potential issues could include:
I need to compress my files without losing quality.
I need to create a memorable logo for my business.
I'd like to reduce my interval between pitch and deliverable.
However, they would not they would not have to be:
I need to save files to .PNG format.
I'm looking for a color scheme to help my client.
I'm in need of an automated workflow.
Why? Since the first part is problems that don't yet have solutions, and the second half are the (possible) solution to these problems.
However, while they can be a useful method to focus the attention of your lead-generating content, not all pain points make for well-performing content.
There's a myriad of problems that users encounter throughout their day, and if they're not something users are passionate about solving --- i.e. active in seeking solutions to -- then even if they are pertinent to your target market, it's unlikely that you will make the waves you're hoping to achieve.
An effective lead magnet has to be filled with passion and also profitable.
If it's a problem point that people are passionate to address --- i.e. it's possible to find Reddit threads asking for help, and there's already a demand for similar premium products, it can be positioned into the top right quadrant and can result in an engaging and relevant lead attraction.
If, on the other hand there's a problem that people aren't eager to resolve or are willing to be willing to pay for it to disappear, then it would fall into the left side of the matrix, and should not be the next lead magnet.
For instance, this is how I'd sort my customers' issues with regard to the content strategy
In other words, here's what comes down to:
Lead magnets that succeed will be relevant to their target customers and are able to address issues.
(Coincidence? It's probably (Probably not.)
So if you prefer to make things easier you can try opening our downloader in a brand new tab and navigating. But regardless of how you create your lead magnet follow these suggestions and tricks to make it shine above the rest.
Three lead magnets that are easy to create and how to get them to pop
We'll be focusing on three formats today -- our favorite types of lead magnets and those which have proven to be the most effective for us. However, if you're interested in exploring other types, Blogging Wizard has an comprehensive guide to lead magnets that I'd highly suggest.
In other words, these are the types we'll be dealing with for the remainder of the piece:
Sound good? So, without further delay, let's dive in.
#1. Include visual elements in your checklists for lasting impact
The checklists should be fairly self-explanatory and include anything that can be used by completing the checklist either on a computer or by using pen. They're typically less visual in comparison to other types of formats.
Be aware that I say less visually heavy, not necessarily visual-free. On the whole, marketers working within content marketing prefer content which has visual appeal which includes checklists.
Why? There are several reasons why checklists need to include visuals. The most striking is the impact the image has on awareness of brands. Within three days after exposure individuals can hold up to 70% of the information they have seen when it is paired with a photo.
Or, put in the more concrete terms of adding visuals to your checklists makes them distinguishable and memorable that keeps your business top-of-mind while users put your checklist in action.
But that doesn't mean you must have an incredibly visual design to be able to create an impact with the checklist. Even just small visual touches can go a long way.
Take the time to look over this (abbreviated) blog writing checklist by CoSchedule.
If you look at it objectively, it's not an exceptionally sophisticated image however, it does incorporate colors, iconography, and visual hierarchy to make the content itself such as the 21-item list stands out to other products and enhance the perception of the value of the offering.
Similar approach is evident in this Content Checklist for Editors through Vertical Measures.
Does the content in this checklist viable and useful to the readers? Absolutely. But would someone remember that it came from Vertical Measures or look them up as an authoritative source on blog content if it didn't feature branded colors and a logo?
Perhaps, but it's not likely, and not easily.
And easy, no matter the type of marketing that you're doing, is always the aim.
Final word:
Checklists need to incorporate colors as well as your brand logo to make them memorable and enhance their overall impact. The heart of your text could be in the text, however the best steaks benefit by a properly-positioned food garnish.
#2. Provide your numbered lists with broad margins with line spacing and line spacing
Sequential lists, no matter if they're indented or numbered with bullet points, have the same requirements as checklists, however there's one element they require above all others:
Blank area.
Also referred to as white space or negative space, allowing sufficient margins and spacing between items in your list increases readability as well as comprehension. It also makes it easier to understand the relationship between items.
The difference between a list that has spacing and one with no could seem minor yet the effect it has on the user's engagement and overall usability -- is not subtle.
Here's an example of what I'm referring to:
In the case of a list that is four-items long as in this example, thin margins and the tight composition can be tolerated However, think of the same spacing in a list that's 20-items long.
You could even take a look at it at it for yourself.
The only difference between these two lists is a 0.20 more line spacing. However, the ability to scan and sift through the content is a world of difference.
If your list of numbers will guide people through an action, it's not a difference it's not a problem to leave.
In reality, I'm referring to "afford" in the real sense in the sense of.
Increasing white space between items can uplift conversions during the checkout process by as much as 33% , as it did for Xerox, while fostering more user-friendly experience and user engagement level overall.
This improvement in conversion and understanding is repeatedly demonstrated by different research teams, and there's no element in your digital presence (or products)- that won't benefit from a well-designed white space , including numbered lists.
This is the gist of it:
Numbered lists need visually balanced components in order to keep their utility to users. If your user has to squint to read through your lead magnet, it's not likely to provide an enjoyable user experience and prove the importance of your brand.
This makes it an attractive lead magnet which attracted traffic, but also it loses them all in one breath. Ouch.
#3. Keep lead magnet ebooks to 2,000 words or lesser
If the header above seems strangely unique for you, there's a reason: this tip only can be used when you're writing ebooks to serve as an attention-grabbing lead magnet.
An ebook designed to function as an lead magnet whether it's a case study, an essay, or an excerpt of a chapter in a bigger bookit's best to limit your ebook to just seven minutes worth of reading, or 2,000 characters.
The data comes from studies done by the blogging platform Medium regarding the optimal length of a post that is long in form.
The vertical horizontal axis (the bar that runs from the top to the bottom) represents the total amount of time that users spent reading the post; the horizontal axis (the bar running from left to left) shows how long a post would take to read in a normal speed.
You can observe that viewers' interest is highest around the 7 minute mark and then begins to decrease as the time goes on. While the data is applicable to blog content but not specifically lead magnets it is a simple connection to draw, and even more, the takeaway is clear:
People don't want to invest hours on a resource and even the best one.
For a business the same isn't good for your customers to devote hours to it regardless of whether your guide of 50,000 words will be the most comprehensive guide for crocheting cute sea animals, it isn't easy to read, and readers won't be reading the entire book and peruse your other offers any time soon.
In the end it is true that reading pleasure is at an all-time low within the US .
Which likely coincides with the reality that Americans are more so than other population around the globe, spend their weekends working.
This brings us to the main reason: most people do not have much time to spare.
The purpose of a lead magnet was to encourage users to join your mailing list to ensure you can nurture them for buying, a book that requires them to wait a week to work through (assuming they can get there) will not do your brand or lead the world any favors.
Keep it brief and to the point. Everyone wins.
How do lead magnets grow up big and powerful
Think of leads as multivitamins. They won't cure your email list woes overnight however, they can help you and those who sign up for your list -- the growth spurt you need to achieve where you wish to be more quickly.
And in that same spirit of shortness, here's a quick recap of what we covered today:
Lead magnets are promotions typically as downloadable documents, that provide users with the incentive to join your mailing subscriber list.
The most effective lead magnets are targeted to their intended audiences. The more general your lead magnet's content is and the wider the response will be.
Lead magnets are available in any format, but ones that are easiest to begin with is checklists, numbered checklists, or ebooks.
While you're making your checklists, make sure that you add a few visual components. Without these, your company's image regardless of whether your list is impressive -will be a bit stale.
The lists that are numbered benefit from images and also have visuals, but they must have space between items in order to function. Crowding your list doesn't increase its value -- just less comprehensible.
Ebooks packaged as lead magnets must follow the same rules that long-form articles follow -- make it concise and to the point. Around 2,000 words or a 7 minutes reading time is best.
But you know, maybe you're into line spacing and character count. Don't worry, I'm not judging.