A lead magnet is one of the lead generation methods used in marketing. It allows you to obtain a potential buyer’s contact information in exchange for a useful resource, information, discount, bonus, etc. For example, a user can be attracted by a trial subscription to a service, a thematic book, a checklist, instructions, or a test version of a product.
The lead magnet is also a survey or testing, the results of which will be available after entering the contact information in the form. A lead magnet helps a company gain insight into potential customers interested in exploring a product or SaaS tool. The resulting contacts create a sales funnel, which will eventually “warm up” the “cold” user before purchasing.
What is Lead Magnet?
A lead magnet in the busy digital market functions like a lighthouse, attracting inquisitive opportunities right at your door. See it as your covert weapon in the intense struggle for online attention. But just what is a lead magnet exactly? Let’s explore this potent instrument that might completely change your audience interaction.
Consider a lead magnet as a trade: you supply something irresistible—a free trial or a killer discount—and in return your audience provides something valuable—their contact information. Why is this sort of interaction so important? It starts a discussion, really. And not any chat, but one that might cause a consumer connection to bloom.
How therefore should one create a lead magnet that really works? The key is to know what drives your readers. Give them something that not only catches their eye but also offers actual worth. It might be a discount code, a downloaded guide, or even a lighthearted quiz. Whatever it is, make sure it’s so excellent people can’t help but click “subscribed” or “like this video” to learn more.
Here, the objective is not only to compile email addresses but also to create a community of active followers who eagerly await every post, video, or email based on their trust of your experience. Create a lead magnet reflecting the finest of what you have to offer, then see how your audience develops not only in numbers but also in passion and allegiance. All set to convert browsers into consumers and followers into aficionados? Let’s make the buzz of the town your lead magnet.
Why is Using Lead Magnet Important?
It’s essential to base the right lead magnet on the preferences and mindsets of your target audience. By offering her a valuable and attractive product, you can achieve several advantages at once:
- First, build a database of email addresses for future mailings.
- Second, influence user loyalty to your brand.
- Third, strengthens the company’s credibility in the eyes of the audience.
- Finally, demonstrate the relevance of your site’s content.
Since users leave contact information voluntarily, they consent to email addresses for future mailings. Again, this is a demonstration of interest in your topic.
6 Еypes of Lead Magnet
What a lead magnet will look like depends mainly on the company’s scope, the characteristics of the target audience, and their expectations. The solutions described below are some of the most effective lead generators.
Guide
This type of lead magnet is most relevant for digital products. Create a guide to achieving specific customer goals, including using your product. For example, if your company is targeting marketers, you could use the following options:
- How to create a WordPress website?
- How to conduct usability testing of an online store?
- How do I set up ads on YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook?
This will highlight your expertise and provide constructive information to your audience.
Discounts
In exchange for contact information, seasonal or unscheduled discounts work great for online businesses and retail dealerships. It is especially beneficial to offer them on the eve of Black Friday, national or customary holidays, and other significant events for the business segment. For example, “Leave your email, and we will give …”:
- 5% discount on all services.
- $10 promo code for any purchase.
Interested users will undoubtedly exchange their addresses for the coveted percentages of a personal discount or bonus.
eBook
E-books are gradually losing value among users and give way to shorter and more informative audio or video materials. However, in some areas, such literature is still relevant. Consider it as a lead magnet. An example of helpful literature is:
- How do you choose an SEO company for an online shoe store?
- Examples of SEO site audits.
- Twenty tips for creating an Angular website.
This will work if the information is exclusive and meaningful to the target audience.
Checklist
A checklist is a more accessible and straightforward form of interaction. For many, it is considered the most acceptable. It is easy to create it in Google Spreadsheet in this format:
- The usability check of the site was 210 points.
- 50 points to check a WordPress site.
Preparing such a lead magnet will require minimal time and effort. However, users will receive a convenient cheat sheet in exchange for their contacts.
Templates
Templates to speed up and simplify routine processes, for example:
- SEO Resume.
- SEO audit report.
They will surely arouse the interest of your target audience. They will also show your commitment to helping your followers and generating loyalty from your users.
Webinars
An online meeting or a pre-registration lecture will provide an opportunity to communicate in person online. Examples of online meetings with marketers:
- SEO news webinars. Speakers: Joost de Valk and Jono Alderson from Yoast.
- SEO strategies. Speakers Tim and Adé from Exposure Ninja.
- SEO Trends. Speakers Jenny Palmer from HawkSEM and Corbin Haresnape from BodyLogicMD.
Face-to-face communication with the audience is the undoubted advantage of collaboration. Think of the webinar as a feedback tool.
7 Useful Lead Magnet Ideas
We invite you to familiarize yourself with productive and non-trivial solutions for designing a lead magnet.
Challenge
People love to be part of a society, so challenges quickly go viral. Targeting them to increase brand awareness will attract users interested in your products or services’ niche. This will help you get the contacts you expect and expand your pool of potential customers.
Free plan
Free versions of the product give the customer a chance to evaluate its benefits. This way, the company shows that it is not afraid that the product or service will disappoint its target audience. Free use is a popular and effective lead magnet idea. Free options are offered by Shopify, Hubspot, Mailchimp, and others.
Free trial for 7, 14, or 30 days
Trial Lead Magnet subscriptions will replenish your supply of promotional email addresses and encourage new customers to test your product. Such a lead magnet will eventually increase paid subscriptions after the test period of 7, 14, or 30 days. You can, for example, test Ahrefs for a week, while Plerdy provides access for two weeks.
Infographic
Offer infographics as a lead magnet. This version of content consumption is very convenient for most people due to the visual presentation of specific statistics. Images will become a popular alternative to traditional mailing lists.
Giveaways
Giveaway is a great lead magnet option if you create a separate web page with a data entry form. This will increase your reach and get more addresses. As a presentation, use both your products and the products rated by your audience.
Free tools
Exchange the tools for solving the problems of your target audience for their contact details. A selection of effective tools will only attract interested users – this way, you will minimize inappropriate leads. For example, Wix offers a free logo design tool.
Case studies
Share case studies from your experience in exchange for web page visitor contact details. Storytelling information looks more reliable and realistic than a traditional report. As an example:
- Bosch was able to solve several problems by replacing the CMS. This allowed the brand to scale in regions and quickly work with content updates.
- Albertsons, which operates in the food segment, has achieved sales growth through website optimization. Speeding up the assembly of baskets and quickly searching for products on the site brought significant profits to the brand.
- Boden has relied on artificial intelligence to personalize the customer journey. They implemented A/B testing, slot-based merchandising, and analytics – and gave up the chore.
- Bombay Sapphire has opened a supermarket inside the museum to offset the drop in revenue due to the pandemic. In addition, the artists involved helped to present everyday goods in works of art.
Such “working” stories are more accessible for the reader to perceive.
Conclusion
The lead magnet is an important element of a marketing strategy for every company. Along with attracting subscribers to the advertising mailing list, it performs several more functions:
- First, it confirms the expertise of the company.
- Emphasizes the brand’s commitment to being useful.
- Finally, it creates loyalty among potential customers.
The variety of variations and forms of lead magnets allows you to adapt them to any product and almost any target audience.
