Every business wants to increase their sales with fresh new leads but how do you do it? You can do it easily with lead magnets. And in this article we’re going to show you how you can improve your lead magnet skills to create a more enticing lead magnet for your business.
What is a Lead Magnet?
Most people reading this article may already know what a lead magnet is but, for those who don’t, it’s really quite simple: Lead magnets offer your potential customer “something of value” in exchange for completing a specific action, this “action” is typically the potential customer giving you their contact info such as their email address or telephone number.
The purpose is to get people who are curious about your business to say “Hey, I’m open to having a conversation with you.” Once you have their email or other information, you can continue the conversation and send them through your sales funnel if you should have one.
A Lead Magnet Is Not ….
1) Promotional Videos or reading material that focuses on your products or services
2) Client case studies nor a
3) Press releases
While these are all valuable marketing tools – telling your visitor more about you and your services – they are not lead magnets. However, they should be on display for your visitors to read. If you’re having a hard time distinguishing whether the marketing material you have should be used as a lead magnet or not, ask yourself the following questions:
1) Is this material valuable to a potential customer in a way that is unique? In other words, does it share more about my industry that can’t be found easily and build my reputation as an industry expert?
2) Does it address a pain point or interest of my target audience?
If you answered yes, then you have yourself a valuable lead magnet. If you answered no, consider offering that material in your blog instead of using it as a lead magnet and having people filling out a form.
Why Use a Lead Magnet
As a business, you always want to be generating new business. There are several ways to do this and a lead magnet gives you interested people who are looking at your product or service. These people are typically referred to as warm leads. Additionally, these are people who are seeking to solve a problem and who have – more than likely – never heard of you.
When someone opts in for your lead magnet, they’ll receive your offer, and you receive their information. It’s a win-win situation which also allows you the opportunity to nurture these leads, typically through email or SMS marketing.
7 Irresistible Lead Magnet Examples
Now that we’ve covered the basic elements of a lead magnet that will get your audience attention, let’s take a look at some examples that you may be able to use.
- Free e-book
e-books are a great way to provide value to those who opt-in and can be as small as 2,000 words. The most successful free e-books are those that are rich in useful content and resonates with your audience and the perfect format to give pro tips for a specific topic. It could be a guide or “how to” on a topic that relates to your industry and audience.
Example: The Chiropractic Guide to Naturally Fighting Inflammation.
- Templates
Proposals, email communications, and product launch plans are just a few examples of the template lead magnet. Templates share information by providing a skeleton for people to build upon. They can be as simple as a worksheet with questions to fill out, or as complex as a stellar sales email to be customized. This can be helpful – to list two examples – for people needing to make a business plan or learning how to craft fantastic communications. Templates are enticing because they offer to do the work for the customer.
An excellent example of a template lead magnet are: Tax Preparation Template for Small Businesses or, Check Lists for hiring the right contractor for your home improvement project. For ideas on pre-made lead magnet templates click here https://blog.appsumo.com/lead-magnet-templates/
- Discount Codes
Who doesn’t love free coupons and discounts on services or products that you’re interested in? And, if you should see an image or banner on a website offering 15% off for that product or service that you’re seeking wouldn’t you click on it? Of course you would. Discount code lead magnets are two-fold beneficial for the following reasons: 1) you get the customer’s contact information, and 2) you have a chance to make revenue right away as they make a purchase to get their discount.
Example: Get 15% off your order with this coupon emailed to your inbox!
- Exclusive Deals
Similar to discount codes, deals can be offered to “exclusive members” of your email or SMS list. This plays an important role – as in – having a long time marketing promotional relationship plan utilized via email and/or SMS. Note: You will need to create content that provides exclusive deals for your subscribed members. This also serves as a way to build long term relationships with customers. Make your customers feel special when they sign up for your “exclusive member” club by keeping them updated with the inside scoop and exclusive deals.
Example: Become a free member to get exclusive order out/pick-up dining deals!
- Free Trials
Free trials are great for businesses/individuals who have an online tool or monthly service. This gives your potential new customers a free trial to take your services for a “test run”. You could let them enjoy all the benefits for free for a limited time or, a lite version of your services. Let them experience all of the awesome features! If you pack so much value into your free trial they won’t be able to stop themselves from continuing their subscription after the trial period expires.
Example: Enjoy our premium version of XXX for 30 FREE fabulous days!
- Consultations
Consultations are perfect for customers who know what they need, but just not quite sure where to invest their hard earned money. In a consultation, you can review a customer’s situation and tell them how you can help them. As a lead magnet this can be extremely valuable to you because the consultation tells you exactly what the customer needs or in some cases doesn’t need. Your post-consultation messages should target their specific problem and how you can help. A consultation is great for many businesses including handymen, software companies, fashion experts, marketing experts, and more!
Example: Don’t know where to start? Let us help you with the details. Get your free consultation today!
- Free Shipping Offers
For companies who ship tangible products to customers, offering free shipping is another great incentive to offer with a lead magnet. Similar to discount codes, this offer is great because you get their information and revenue from the purchase they make redeeming their free delivery. It’s a win-win.
Example: Enter your email to receive a coupon code for free delivery on today’s order!
Get More Leads
All business can benefit from a lead magnet strategy — or two – or three! Whether you’re offering a free consultation, 15 or 30-day trial of your services, or an information-packed ebook, you’re providing good value to your future customer. In exchange, the customer happily hands over their email or phone number. You can use this contact information to target them with marketing strategies in the future. And you’re building customer relationships along the way. Lead magnets are truly a win-win.
