12 Lead Magnet Ideas To Increase Email Subscribers
Are you looking to grow your email list? One of the trendiest and most effective marketing strategies you can do to increase your email list of subscribers is to create Lead Magnets!
Stay tuned because later in this post, I’m going to share my favorite 12 lead magnet ideas to increase email subscribers.
But first…
Even if you’ve never heard the term “Lead Magnet”, there’s a good chance that you’re already familiar with them and most likely have downloaded one yourself.
Lead magnets are extremely common and used frequently to increase email subscribers for one simple reason – they work, really, really well!
*This post contains affiliate links.
What is a Lead Magnet?
For the purpose of easier understanding, let’s break it down into simpler words:
Lead – a route or means of access to a particular goal.
Whereas,
Magnet – a form of technique or an object that is used for attraction.
Combining the two words, a Lead Magnet – in the context of marketing – would mean objects or techniques that attract prospective consumers in accessing your offers.
They can be anything of value that serve as incentives in exchange for contact information (usually a person’s name and email address) for a future follow-up.
Quite smart, right?
Keep in mind… a lead magnet has one goal: to maximize the number of targeted leads you are getting for an offer.
Lead magnets exist in a variety of forms such as trial subscriptions, podcasts, newsletters, video series, e-courses, downloadable contents and a lot of other forms with the sole purpose of attempting to convert leads (website visitors) into regular paying customers.
Maybe, the next question coming to mind is:
What Makes a Good Lead Magnet?
A good lead magnet, one that is successful, typically comes down to a few key ingredients:
- Does your audience care about it?
- Is there value to it?
- Does it solve a problem and/or give your audience something that they need?
Your lead magnet should also do the following:
Be useful and relevant – make sure your magnet is something that your audience cares about and is of value to them.
Solve a problem – if your lead magnet doesn’t solve a common problem that your customer has, or if it doesn’t give them something they really want, it won’t work at all.
Instantly accessible –your lead magnet will work best if it is something that can be delivered right away (like an instant download). People love instant gratification!
Be specific – don’t create a lead magnet about something general. The more specific you are about the benefit of your lead magnet, the more it will convert leads.
Promise a quick win – promise (and deliver) one quick win for your subscriber, helping them to achieve something easily.
Demonstrate your expertise – your lead magnet should demonstrate your expertise. This will help turn leads into customers later down the road.
Now that you know what makes a good lead magnet, it’s time to decide what type of lead magnet you should create for your audience.
12 Lead Magnet Ideas To Increase Email Subscribers
Here are 12 lead magnet ideas you could choose from to increase your list of email subscribers:
- Checklist
Checklists are our favorite lead magnet!
They have a high conversion rate, probably because they condense everything that the user needs to know into one, actionable list.
Plus, they’re quick and easy to create. For example, you can summarize one of your popular blog posts as a checklist, or you could convert a how-to post into a simple checklist instead.
Real life example: the Ultimate Webinar Checklist from HubSpot. This checklist guides people on everything they need to know in doing a webinar.
- Cheat Sheet
Though they are essentially similar to checklists, cheat sheets provide the user with a list of guidelines or a process that they can follow over and over again to achieve a specific benefit.
Cheat sheets are usually only a page or two long and they get straight to the point. Plus, people love how useful and reliable cheat sheets are since they make life much easier – and take away the need to think!
Real life example: Jay Acunzo’s Visual Cheat-Sheet for Editing to Help You Move Faster. This aims to help people be more efficient in their blog post editing, without skimping on the quality.
- Worksheet
A worksheet usually helps people to complete a specific exercise, figure something out or serve as guide in completing tasks.
You may want to create an editable worksheet that people can simply download or accomplish right on their computers.
Luckily, creating a worksheet can be done easily using beautifully pre-designed templates from Creative Market. For example, these Cozy Creator Worksheets that are compatible with Canva, Adobe Illustrator and Indesign.
- Workbook
Perhaps, a compilation of worksheets, workbooks are great for service businesses and all course creators.
They are useful and simple lead magnets that attract consumers effectively and provide value that can help nurture people to purchase your services or full online course.
Creating workbooks doesn’t have to be daunting, you can use this pre-designed eCourse Workbook template to create an organized workbook as a lead magnet in no time.
- Printable
A printable is great for any blogger with readers wanting something handy and attractive to print out.
Printables are handouts that can be used on a regular basis and are creatively and uniquely designed to attract consumers.
These could be calendars, a shopping list, a favorite paint or home design materials list, money-saving challenges, etc.
Real life example: In our BLOG EDU membership, we have created printables for members to set and assess their goals each month.
- Resource List/Toolkit
Having a compacted list of all the necessary resources or tools for a particular project, activity or topic is a huge help for anyone who wants to save a ton of research time.
Whenever you pull the best stuff together and/or the best tools to use and readers don’t have to track down all the information on their own, you have a hit.
One great example is our list of tools and resources for Blogging which is basically a list of different tools and resources that will help a blogger boost their creativity and make their blog even more amazing.
- Swipe Files
Swipe files are simply a compilation of previous proven sales letters, ads, headlines, emails, etc. used by copywriters and bloggers. Swipe files are irresistible because all you have to do is copy them in their entirety.
Real life example: The Ultimate Social Media Swipe File is a great example that provides proven headlines you could use for blog and/or social posts.
- Tips
Tips are brief guides essential for daily use and can consist of any topic such as tips on food, lifestyle, gadgets, money, photography, etc.
When it’s a topic that is useful and relevant to your audience, you’ll attract subscribers.
One designer used an exit-intent popup to offer design ideas and tips to their prospective customers.
- Quiz
A quiz is perhaps the most entertaining lead magnet of all, which is why it converts so well!
A quiz has the user answer a compilation of questions that eventually leads to an answer. But in order to get the answer (or result), you have to enter your email address.
The fun part is you could actually put humor on your quiz. Make the quiz short, lengthy quizzes tend to make viewers stop taking the quiz and move on.
Here is an example of a quiz on what type of behavior is standing the way of your confidence by Tanya Geisler.
- Tutorial
A tutorial is any piece of content that teaches someone how to do a specific thing. The tutorial could be a video, piece of content on your site, or simply a PDF download.
Make sure that every step you are demonstrating or instructing is clear and simple so viewers can follow along easily.
There are a lot of tutorial videos on Youtube, but the Beachy Wave Tutorial by Amber Fillerup (aka Barefoot Blonde) might be a good example for you as an inspiration.
- Mini eBook
Though eBooks don’t convert as well as checklists and cheat sheets, since they tend to be lengthy, a mini eBook can convert since it’s not as long.
The ability of an eBook to provide you with high conversion rates lies on its content. Not everyone will take time to read a 5,000-word eBook. But, an interesting, useful, and informational mini one will make prospects who are hungry for knowledge want to subscribe.
What you could do is compile blog posts into one subject and have it published. This would make the lives of your subscribers much easier. Instead of reading your blog posts separately (and out of order) you could have them compiled into one book.
You may try reading Becky Cunningham’s A Simple Farmhouse Christmas eBook which features tips, ideas and inspiration on simple farmhouse Christmas decorating.
- Webinar
A webinar is essentially a seminar done online. It doesn’t have to be lengthy or a collaborative session with experts, but if you are an expert on a particular topic, then this could be a great avenue to share what you know.
Just make sure to be clear on the time of your webinar when you promote it on your blog.
My friend Mariah Althoff’s How To Become A Professional Graphic Designer Without a College Degree is a great example of a webinar that generates leads and a potential buy to her graphic online design courses!
Now that you have 12 high-converting lead magnet ideas to increase email subscribers, it’s time to pick one that’s right for you/your business and start increasing your email list of subscribers.
You already have the quality content and creative juices, it’s now time to reach a wider audience and take your blog business to even greater heights of success!
You’re the queen of blogging. I’ve never created a lead magnet and as I get ready to submit my book proposal it’s time I up my ante on my audience . Do you think a lead magnet could be something as simple as a “Lost of the best True Crime books and podcasts” with links?
Yes, IF that’s something of interest + value to your audience. And anytime you can save someone time – it’s typically a hit! Keep us posted on how it goes.