The 3 best lead magnets for launching your email list with a big bang

Lead magnets can be a key ingredient in your list-building plan that hasn't got. This article will explain why they are important and how you can get started with them today.

After some time the listening experience of these small business and marketers managers discuss the importance of their email list begins to look like that particular scene and the accompanying music from The Lion King.

It seems too good to be real. 380% ROI on average ? No way. Eighty-nine percent of professional believe that they prefer email to generate leads? It's not enough.

However, there's a rationale behind this. Email marketing isn't just only a single-sided relationship between companies and customers. As with the Lion King, email is beloved by all in the commerce kingdom.

In actual fact, 73% of customers consider email to be their preferred channel for receiving marketing messages and interactions.

That's not what you're struggling with.

The problem you face is much more practical in nature: You know that you require an email address, but how on earth do you create it from scratch?

Furthermore, how can create a quick list without compromising on quality?

The solution, dear reader, is as simple as:

It is necessary to have to have a lead magnet.

That's what we'll address today. First, we'll explain why and then demonstrate how, and finally top it all by providing a complete lead magnet solution to energize your lists within ten minutes.

Let's get started.

What is an effective lead magnet?

The most important distinction that separates lead magnets from any other type of marketing through content -- more on this later -the fact that lead magnets are paired with a particular reward contingent on users taking the desired step (e.g. signing up to your email list).

This box for subscriptions on Backlinko's homepage does not not a lead magnet. While the tips and tricks could be exclusive only to Brian Dean, they are not provided in an exclusive resource, in exchange for the user sign-up.

However, the case study found at the bottom of the same page is an excellent lead source because the resource is gated through an email address block. Only after the users decide to take the action they want and sign up to be subscribers they can access the case study.

Both buttons take the user to the same location -- Brian's email list However, it's the second that incentives potential subscribers with an event-based incentive.

As a rule of thumb The easiest method to remember what classifies as an lead magnet and the ones that are not is to employ the "if you want to, then" formula.

If the user completes an action that is desired If the user takes the desired action, they will be awarded an xyz reward in exchange.

If the user doesn't do the right thing If the user does not take the desired action, they will not be able to exchange xyz.

That's enough for the dictionary. In addition to the definition above What is the process (and why) do lead magnets work?

The process behind lead magnets typically looks like this:

The steps can vary -the user may begin on the lead magnet's landing page however the connection between reward and action is essentially the same.

Which brings us to the "why" behind the lead magnets.

They give your visitors an incentive, right there and then, to hand the information they have provided to you and convert into leads immediately. (The really excellent lead magnets in the end, however. Further details on this will be discussed in a second, too.)

Lead magnets can solve the most pressing marketing challenge experienced by more than 61% of professional around the world by creating traffic and prospects in one fell one swoop.

Another way to think of it as the distinction between texting someone using a dating app and warming them up with witty humorous messages or requesting the similar person to dine with you while you're already at the restaurant.

Do it right and you'll have an email subscriber in a fraction of the time that it takes to execute your formal content plan. Don't do it right and your users will flounce, rightfully so, and never return.

That isn't hyperbole It's true, in fact.

Minimum 70% of the users who abandon your website after the initial visit do not return.

Making sure that the lead magnet is right isn't just about generating more leads, it's about making the strongest impression that visitors can make when they do become leads.

The answer is simple: leveraging the right touches in the right place at the right moment with those who are in the right place at the right time.

For more information you can read further.

Lead magnets that work are well-targeted and address pain points

Before you dive into a hopeless hole of despair, trying to determine when the best time, place, and method you'll create an effective lead magnet that will entice people, be encouraged.

Lead magnets that are highly effective share isn't the duration of the time to develop them, nor the budgets behind them or even the talent of the designer It's all in the way they are targeted.

Simply put, the more aligned and relevant the lead magnet is to the audience you're trying to get to, the better the lead magnet's performance for both your company and your clients.

Remember, your goal with any type of content -- whether it's a lead magnet, blog article, or even a webinar -- should never be to make it appealing to the large majority of the population.

The best principle should be appealing to your targeted target audience.

In the end, 71.7% of users who reported content as irrelevant identified it as to general.

In comparison, just 2.9% of the same users believed that the content wasn't relevant because it was not sufficiently advanced or detailed.

In case you do take anything more from this piece this moment, it should be this:

Anything that is lead magnets or any other type of product which aims to please all is likely to please a few but be ignored by a lot of people.

So, now that the soapbox is out of the way, how do you ensure that your lead magnet is relevant to your target audience? After nailing your customer research down, you should analyze your audience's issues.

Pain points, if you've never heard of this term before, refer specifically to the issues the users of your business are having that are relevant to the business you run. They are not the solutions to those problems.

The comic created by Ceralytics beautifully illustrates the distinction between problems and solutions .

Potential issues could include:

I need to compress my files with no risk of the quality being affected.

I'm in need of a memorable logo for my company.

I'd like to reduce my interval between pitching and delivering.

However, they would not but they could have to be:

I want to save my files with .PNG format.

I require a color palette to help my client.

I need an automated process.

Why? Since the first part is issues that aren't solved yet. solutions. The second half are the (possible) solutions to them.

While pain points are a helpful method to focus the attention of your lead magnet, it is not always the case that pain points are the best good content.

There's a myriad of issues that consumers can experience throughout the day. If they're not something users are passionate about finding solutions to -- i.e. looking for solutions to -- then even if they're pertinent, your lead magnet won't make the waves you're hoping for.

A good lead magnet must be both profitable and fueled by passion.

So if it's a pain area that people would love to solve -- i.e. it's possible to find Reddit threads in need of assistance, or there's an industry for similar high-end products, it can be positioned in the upper right corner and can result in an engaging and targeted lead-generating magnet.

If, on the other hand, it's a pain point which users aren't yet eager to resolve or are willing to spend money to make go away, then it will fall on the left side of the matrix, and shouldn't be your next lead magnet.

For instance, this is how I'd sort my users' pain points with regard to content strategy:

In other words, here's what is at stake:

Lead magnets that work have relevance to the intended audience and address specific problems.

(Coincidence? It's probably (Probably not.)

If you'd rather take things easy, I recommend opening our download generator from a different tab and following along. However, no matter how you build your lead magnet, apply these tips and techniques to help it be different from other lead magnets.

Three simple lead magnets you can develop and the best way to create them to make them stand out

We'll be focusing on three different formats todaythe three formats we consider our top choices for lead magnets and those which have proven to be the most effective for us. But should you be interested in investigating different types, Blogging Wizard has an comprehensive guide to lead magnets which I highly suggest.

If not, here are the types we'll be working on for the remainder of the article:

Sound good? Then without further ado Let's get started.

#1. Give your checklists visual accents for lasting impact

The checklists should be simple to comprehend and comprise items which users are able to interact with by completing the checklist either on a computer or by using a pen. They're generally less visually-intensive in comparison to other types of formats.

Be aware that I say less visually-intensive, but not totally visual-free. Overall, the majority of marketers who work in content marketing would prefer material that incorporates aesthetic appeal , and this also includes checklists.

Why? There are many reasons why checklists need to contain visuals. However, the most noticeable is the effect the image has on awareness of brands. Within three days after exposure users could keep as much as 70% of what they see if it was paired with an image.

In more practical terms, adding illustrations to your checklists can make them memorable and distinctive and helps keep your company top of mind when users are putting the checklists to use.

However, you don't need to be a master of artistic design to make the most of an agenda. Just a few visual hints can go a long way.

For instance, take the time to look over the (abbreviated) blog writing checklist created by CoSchedule.

Evaluated objectively, it's not an extremely sophisticated design yet it incorporates icons, colors and visual hierarchy to make the content itself -- the 21-item checklist -- stand out compared with other options and boost the perceived value of the product.

Similar approach is evident in this editor's checklist of content by Vertical Measures.

Does the content in this checklist relevant and helpful for readers? Absolutely. But would someone remember that it came from Vertical Measures or turn to them as a reliable source for blog post content if it did not feature branded colors and the logo?

Perhaps, but it's not likely, and not easily.

Simple, no matter what type of marketing you're involved in, always the goal.

Final word:

Checklists must incorporate color and your brand logo for them to be memorable and enhance their overall impact. The main contents could be written in text, however the best steaks benefit by a properly-positioned garnish.

#2. Give your numbered lists large margins and lines

Sequential lists, regardless of whether they're indented or numbered with bullets, are subject to the same requirements as checklists, but there's one thing they need above all else:

Blank space.

Also referred to as white space or negative space, allowing plenty of margins and space between items in your list improves readability , comprehension, and helps to clarify the connections between different objects.

The difference between a list with spacing and one without may seem subtle, but the impact on engagement of users -- as well as overall usability is anything but subtle.

Here's an example of what I'm referring to:

If the list is just four-items long as in this example, narrow margins and tight composition might be acceptable However, think of similar spacing on the case of a list with 20 items.

Better yet, take a look at it to see it yourself.

The main difference between the two lists is one 0.20 more lines, however the capability to scan and digest the information is a world of distinction.

And if your numbered list can guide an individual through a procedure there's no reason you can afford to skip.

Actually, I mean "afford" to refer to it in the sense of the literal I am referring to "afford" in the literal sense, as well.

A greater amount of white space will boost conversion rates during checkout by up to 33%  in the same way as it was for Xerox and Xerox, as well as fostering more user-friendly experience and the overall level of engagement.

This improvement in conversion and understanding has been demonstrated repeatedly by different research teams, and there's no component of your online identity or productwhich doesn't be benefited from using well-applied spaces , including the use of numbered lists.

This is the gist of it:

Numbered lists need an aesthetic balance between their components to ensure their value for users. If the reader must look at the screen with a glare to read your lead magnet, you're unlikely to deliver a compelling user experience or show the worth of your company's brand.

Which makes for a lead magnet that attracts traffic and then it loses them all in one breath. Ouch.

#3. Make sure lead magnet ebooks are 2,000 words or lesser

If the header above seems strangely unique for you, there's a reason. This tip applies when you're creating ebooks as a form of an attention-grabbing lead magnet.

For an ebook formatted as a lead magnet -- whether it's a case study an e-book, a story or even a chapter excerpt in a bigger bookit's best to limit the length to about seven minutes worth of reading, or 2,000 characters.

The data comes from studies conducted by the blog platform Medium regarding the best length of long-form posts.

The vertical horizontal axis (the bar that runs from top to bottom) shows the amount of duration of this post. The horizontal axis (the bar that runs from right to left) represents how long the post would take to read in a normal speed.

You can observe that viewership peaks around the 7-minute mark and then begins to fall as the time goes on. While this data applies to blog content and not lead magnets specifically and the connections are easy to draw, and even more, the takeaway is clear:

People don't want to invest hours on a resource or even an excellent one.

And as a business, it isn't beneficial for the company if employees devote hours to it or even if your guide of 50,000 words can be the top book about how to crochet adorable sea creatures, it's just not easily digestible and your customers will not be able to read the book in one go and peruse your other offers any time soon.

After all it is true that reading pleasure is at the all-time lows across the US .

It is probably due to the fact Americans are more so than other group anywhere in the world, spend their weekends working.

This brings us to the main reason: most people do not have much free time.

If the purpose of the lead magnet was to entice people to join your mailing list to ensure you can encourage them to purchase, an ebook which takes them one time to go through (assuming they get that far) will not do your company or the customer any good.

Keep it brief and direct. It's a win-win for everyone.

How can the lead magnets get bigger and strong

Basically, think of the lead magnets you use as multivitamins. They're not going to fix the problems with your email lists overnight, but they will provide you with -- and the people who join your mailing list the boost you require to get where you want to go quicker.

In that same spirit of conciseness, here's a short summary of what we've covered in the past:

Lead magnets are offers, usually as downloadable documents, that provide users with a reason to join your email newsletter.

The top lead magnets will be targeted at their intended recipients. The more general the lead magnet you choose to use, the more lukewarm the reception will be.

Lead magnets can take any form, however the most straightforward to start with are checklists, numbered checklists, or ebooks.

When you're putting together your list of tasks, ensure that you add a few visual components. Without them, your brand -- even if the list is amazing -- is forgettable.

Lists with numbers benefit from visuals, as well, but they require space between elements to make them usable. Crowding your list doesn't increase its value but it does make it less understandable.

Lead magnets that are packaged in the form of ebooks are required to follow the same guidelines for long-form content Keep it brief and to the point. A minimum of 2,000 words or 7 minutes reading time is optimal.

Maybe you're interested in line spacing or character counting. I'm not going to judge.