Lead Magnet Examples & Tips
Visitor becomes a lead when they provide their contact information. A lead can then begin a one-on-one conversation with them about a subject they might be interested in. Here are 17 strategies to convert visitors into leads. I’ll also discuss some approaches to draw visitors to your magnets and some suggestions to magnify them.
You create a lead magnet by giving away valuable resources, product trials, and discounts in exchange for visitor contact information. Visitor becomes a lead when they provide their contact information.
List of Ideas to Get You Started
Find out about the most popular and effective ways to gather leads.
1. Free Tools
There have been a lot of companies leveraging the expectation of getting something for free on the internet to get prospects closer to their brand. Is it too much to give out free tools? Is providing free tools too much to ask for contact information? These days, everyone expects to get something for free on the internet.
Why would you want people to try your product if you’ve paid a lot of money to get them to your website? When you think about it, eliminating friction makes perfect sense. You may distribute free samples of your product’s functionality to reduce resistance. Ahrefs, a comprehensive SEO toolkit, is an example. Visitors can register for Ahrefs Webmaster Tools if they aren’t ready to buy them.
It works because:
- Free offers to solve a problem increase
- your brand awareness and attract visitors.
- You can show a sneak peek of your product and offer an upgrade to entice your customers.
- Provides the lead on a nurturing program.
2. Giving Away Product Trials And Samples
It’s important to remember that free tools should be free forever. You can offer your product a free trial if that doesn’t suit your needs. You can restrict a free trial by setting a time limit or restricting certain features. How about providing product samples? Are you still giving away too much?
Here, we have examples of two competitors who offer book summarization services. Blinkist offers a free trial of its full service for a limited time.
An interesting takeaway from this example is how it surveys visitors before letting them in. Why wouldn’t someone “invest” one minute or less to fill the survey and receive something for free?
Soundview is listed below and is its competitor. Although you can’t try out a product sample, you can sample a book summary. It makes sense since one book summary should sufficiently tell whether Soundview’s product is of good quality.
It works because:
- Users can try out your product before purchasing it.
- When someone signs up for a free trial, you can entice them to sign up for a newsletter (or some other lead nurturing process).
- The difficulty of using your product is reduced.
- During onboarding, you can collect market research data by surveying users.
3. Waiting Lists and Easy Access
You may want to launch your product with an early access lead magnet if you want to see it in action ASAP, want to test it with a small group of people before releasing it to the entire internet, or want to gauge feedback from those people. For instance, we have Chip, the money-saving application. From the looks of its website, it seems like the company had a successful launch.
It works because:
- You can build a list of people who might be interested in your product before it is launched.
- When creating a list, you can discuss product functionality. Savvy people within your niche are often early birds.
- You can ship quickly to a small/controlled group.
4. Bonuses and Discounts
To increase the proportion of people who buy your goods, you want to provide an extra incentive.
To establish a “direct line” for prospective buyers, you want to make purchasing your goods more accessible.
When people sign up for a free account, they receive free shipping and free returns. This is almost certainly a win-win situation. It solves both problems at once.
Because distributing its goods through other shops costs the company less than offering free shipping and returns, I surmise that free shipping and returns save the company money.
It works because:
- People love saving money, and getting an email in exchange for giving up their information is a pretty good deal.
- You may persuade your visitors to purchase from you if they are offered discounts.
5. Creating Sales Materials And Product Demos
Prospects having difficulty comprehending complicated products will probably not be persuaded to try a self-service trial. In such cases, prospects prefer to have some guidance rather than be bombarded with a range of buttons and dials. Guided product demos are an option. In addition to sales materials such as comparisons, fact sheets, and third-party reports on your product, you can also target specific market segments.
There is no doubt in Help Scout’s mind that giving new customers a 1:1 demo of the product is the best way for them to get acquainted with it and become satisfied customers.
You can use a chatbot to prequalify leads and schedule appointments with your sales team, as Metadata.io did in this example.
It works because:
- People who want a product demo are usually quite serious about the offer.
- Directly addressing the lead’s concerns or showing how your product’s benefits stand out is possible when you get in touch with them.
- You can use this subtle but effective solution if you don’t want to divulge information about your product publicly.
- This method usually attracts enterprise clients with high demands and specific requirements.
6. Free Assessments and Expert Advice
An expert providing free assessments or advice in exchange for filling out a contact form seems like a smart choice for all types of agencies and service providers.
An agency called Single Grain is offering a free, custom marketing plan. This is the best foot in the door for a marketing agency.
It works because:
- Get in touch with your target audience and deliver a customized message.
- It allows you to get started.
- It can create the reciprocity effect.
What About Offering Courses?
7. Courses
Qlik covers all bases about courses as lead magnets in this example:
- People searching for data literacy resources can find free courses on the platform.
- Taking free courses can lead to paid ones.
- Answering questions and taking paid courses prompts users to provide their contact information.
Qlik believes that the more people know about how data is used in business, the more customers it can attract. From points #1 to #3, you get to know what the user thinks about the product. From points #3 to #1, you know what the company thinks about the product.
It works because:
- Courses are valuable assets.
- You can educate your audience for a more extended period.
- You can generate organic traffic through courses.
8. White Papers
A white paper is an in-depth analysis of the problems faced by clients, the solutions offered by the company, and how those solutions compare to the competition. It’s halfway between a B2B sales pitch and an academic paper and is intended to be a serious document that shows the necessary data and facts.
Because product information is sprinkled throughout the post, I believe this is an excellent example of effective content marketing. Furthermore, Ultimaker can gather the information they need since the post includes a picture of one of their products. I believe this is successful because a) you are informed about the product without feeling like it’s being forced on you, and b) it’s true that other companies are not always as forthcoming about the actual expenses of owning a 3D printer.
It works because:
- Save your most in-depth and expert content for your most qualified audience.
- It’s a great way to demonstrate your expertise.
- You can use this chance to personalize your material for particular market segments.
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9. Ebooks
Some issues are just too extensive to address with one blog post. Ebooks answer those concerns. Ebooks are excellent lead magnets because they provide complimentary education on complex, professional subjects, which you would have difficulty finding elsewhere.
It works because:
- Ebooks entice those interested in learning more about your field. Lead nurturing programs may be an excellent way to target them.
- Ebooks are valuable content.
- You can distribute content via ebooks. Repurposed content can even be used to create them.
- Having someone’s attention for more than five minutes is a rare feat.
10. Virtual Summits/ Webinars
You can stand out when everyone else publishes ebooks by hosting webinars and virtual summits. A webinar is particularly effective (i.e., superior to your competitor’s educational materials) if the subject is conveyed better than spoken.
It works because:
- Industry professionals are attracted.
- Invite key guests to social events, especially if they are influential members of your profession.
- Creating content is not always necessary—the speakers can handle that.
- By having a live session, you can communicate with your audience.
- A recorded lecture can be used as evergreen content.
Reports Are a Good Option
11. Reports
People will take you more seriously if you show them how serious you are. Industry reports are one of the most serious content you can produce.
After hundreds of professionals are surveyed, reports are compiled. These professionals, who are usually, if not always, the company’s customers, are the ones who provide the information.
The information must be collected after many people have been interviewed to create something unique and novel. However, not every firm may do this. When you can accomplish something like this, it demonstrates the magnitude of your business.
One of the most significant benefits of getting leads is that reports naturally earn links, one of the most crucial factors in SEO.
It works because:
- Reports are valuable content.
- Linkbait can be achieved through excellent reports.
- Besides gaining leads, you can also gain brand awareness if your reports are cited online.
- Reports usually attract industry professionals. Press, too, is attracted.
12. Newsletters
There are many of those lead magnets all over the web. Some of those newsletters are content digests that are regularly sent to one’s inbox.
Some are a lead nurturing program’s gateway. Businesses often advertise their products or special deals between regular news stories.
It works because:
- It’s a great way to stay in regular contact with your audience.
- You can distribute any content, such as educational material, discounts, promotional announcements, etc.
- Marketing automation programs provide a good entry point.
13. Calculators
Many specialized calculators help determine ROI, financial, statistical significance, and other metrics. They are particularly effective at attracting B2B clients because many business decisions need to be calculated. For example, mortgage calculators are B2C.
You don’t have to connect a “lead magnet” calculator to your product; it can be about anything your customers care about.
14. Creating Checklists and Cheat Sheets
To finish their jobs, those engaged in repetitive work must repeat the same steps numerous times. It is unnecessary to recollect all the information that might make or break a complicated procedure or repeatedly look up the same minor facts. Cheat sheets and checklists can help make this job more straightforward and preserve sanity.
Developers love cheat sheets because of how beneficial they are. Here is a sample set from Opensource.com; each is a lead magnet.
Creating a press release can be a trying experience. You must cooperate with various parties, ensure everything is meticulously accurate, and appeal to news outlets simultaneously. A “press release checklist” lead magnet is hard to turn down.
It works because:
- It is an excellent method to draw visitors to the top of the funnel.
- Shared often.
- The audience can remember your brand multiple times through multiple usages, which is likely.
- It saves people time and reduces the likelihood of errors, which can positively impact your brand’s image.
15. Templates
One of the most prevalent ways to collect someone’s contact information at work is by sending them an ebook or a newsletter. Using a template is acceptable. Many people do it. They create their own if they don’t use someone else’s template. Templates consistently maintain the quality of a professional’s work without requiring them to repeat the same problem multiple times.
It works because:
- Using templates is a practical tool that can be used multiple times, which gives brands multiple opportunities for brand exposure.
- Excellent link bait can be created using templates.
- A template on a blog post can boost your rankings on search engines (if the search intent matches the post content).
11. Reports
People will take you more seriously if you show them how serious you are. Industry reports are one of the most serious content you can produce.
After hundreds of professionals are surveyed, reports are compiled. These professionals, who are usually, if not always, the company’s customers, are the ones who provide the information.
16. Swipe Files
Searching for inspiration is one of the most frequent reasons people go online. For that reason, there is also a special lead magnet.
Webprofits has compiled a swipe file of handpicked landing page examples from 73 high-growth firms.
It works because:
- It’s great for people seeking inspiration.
- Using swipe files, readers can save time by avoiding the hassle of sorting through the trash to find the wheat.
17. Competition, Quiz, and Giveaway Events
Giving away prizes in exchange for lead magnets is simple. You can attempt to grab the attention of persons who are waiting for the winner to be announced or attempt to direct them to your firm after the whole occasion has concluded. It’s hard to convert leads down the line because you might lure individuals not interested in your product (if the prize is distinct from yours).
Here is an intriguing example of combining a quiz and a contest. Visitors first take a personality quiz to determine their preferred home décor style. Then, they may participate in a contest to win furniture of that precise style. You may read the entire case study here.
It works because:
- You don’t have to create unique content to win; you need to have the money to sponsor the prize.
- Sponsoring a really attractive prize is excellent for driving brand awareness at the top of the funnel. You don’t need to do anything special other than sponsoring the prize.
Read Next: Everything You Must Understand About the Google Penguin Update
Finding Topics For Your Lead Magnets
Let’s consider a few suggestions on what your lead magnets should be about.
- Keyword Research – Your web site’s content and products are only accessible to customers who know the right words to use. You need to research, compare, and prioritize the best keyword opportunities to get there. Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer is one of many keyword research tools. You start with two things: keywords and a keyword research tool.
To find your seed keywords, examine your most popular existing material. If you don’t have any content yet or wish to disregard it for some reason, you may use words or phrases that you assume would be appealing to your target audience. For example, our most popular blog posts are on SEO. Since we desire to attract more people interested in SEO to our website, creating a lead magnet for SEO-related material is brilliant.
When you have identified your seed keyword, plug in the keyword, for example, “SEO,” and restrict the results to some popular lead magnet types. You can then prioritize those ideas based on provided SEO metrics like search volume or traffic potential.
Once you comprehend what kind of content can bring organic traffic or generate engagement, you can create lead magnets based on those subjects.
- Analyzing Competitors – Looking at a competitor’s website can give you ideas for creating valuable lead magnets. For example, you can look for topic patterns on their blogs or the content they promote on their homepages.
Ahrefs can provide the information you need to better understand your competitors by showing you which content has been most successful. Here’s how: First, you can see who produces content similar to yours by inputting your site into Ahrefs’ Site Explorer and selecting the Competing Domains report.
Next, you can discover the best content published on those domains using two reports. Using the Top pages report, you can discover pages based on the organic traffic they generate. You can even filter those results for linkbait types.
According to Top Content, the content with the highest engagement is measured by referring domains (the number of links to the content), Twitter shares, and Pinterest shares.
It is possible to obtain a far more comprehensive picture of the information associated with a specific subject using Ahrefs’ Content Explorer. For instance, if we wished to research SEO but only looked at lead magnets, we might enter our seed keyword with some keywords to uncover hundreds of results that we might examine based on their performance (traffic, Twitter shares, etc.).
It Is Important To Always Study Your Niche
You can find lead magnet ideas by paying attention to what people say in places where your industry and target audience congregate. You can examine social media groups, magazines, personal blogs, and communities to reap the benefits of a substantial amount of engagement or a trend. This will enable you to act on opportunities quicker than your rivals. You may also gain valuable insights from these conversations.
Once the announcement of the old Google Analytics being sunset, GA4 became a hot topic again.
After that, you can assess the keyword research tool for the search demand and difficulty level to rank a GA4 course lead magnet on the topic of GA4.
You can use a tool like SparkToro to discover relevant topics and hashtags (among other things) by inserting topics your target audience talks about.
- How To Boost Lead Magnets Traffic
A lead magnet is ineffective if it doesn’t receive any traffic. Let’s examine how we can make that portion of the lead-capturing mechanism function.
- Create Relevant Blog Posts To Drive Traffic
Take a look at the example. Here, HubSpot is publishing blog posts about its lead magnets to drive organic traffic from search queries relating to them. The results are impressive since this is a continuous flow of essentially free traffic.
You don’t have to restrict yourself to one template per lead magnet. UXPin provides an extensive selection of free ebooks by linking to multiple blog posts.
The blog can link to the books or promote the newest ebooks on the site’s navigation bar, in addition to blogging about subjects related to the books. By doing this, the books received over 6,000 links from the blog to those lead magnets, sending visitors there.
- Make Sure Your Landing Page is SEO-friendly
First and foremost, an SEO-friendly page requires understanding the search intent or what motivated the person to search (more about this later). To create an SEO-friendly page, you should follow the same format, content type, and perspective as the top 10 ranking pages for a particular query.
The SERPs indicate that people prefer blog posts to drive organic traffic for HubSpot’s sample templates. However, lead magnets that link directly to a calculator or feature one on the page are often more successful.
- You Should Use High-traffic Pages To Promote Your Content
You can use other pages’ traffic to boost your lead magnets. All you have to do is find a good place to advertise your lead magnet on one of your high-traffic pages.
- You Can Promote via Email
It’s a good idea to send a lead magnet to someone whose email address you already have.
Here are some reasons why:
- You can use lead capture forms to capture leads. However, with a new lead magnet that offers something premium, the lead may need to provide more information.
- Stay connected to your customers through your brand.
- Old leads can be re-engaged using the lead magnet.
Spread The Word via Social Media and Communities
If you plan on sharing lead magnets on social media, there are two things you should keep in mind.
Although your content might go viral, organic reach on social media has been declining for a long time. Traffic from social media shouldn’t account for a substantial portion of your conversions.
It’s worth noting that not every social network is a good match for your content.
- Online Ads Promotion
Depending on the situation, it is wise to advertise lead magnets via online ads. You and your prospects may currently be perfect strangers. However, well-targeted ads with a lead magnet can alter this.
Using an ad to target the right people saves you time and marketing dollars, saving you time and money. Instead of hunting for millions of people, you can focus on the people most likely to be interested in your product. In this way, Microsoft targets its high-value products on LinkedIn.
- Collaborate With Other Companies
Look for other companies that target the same consumer base but don’t directly compete with you. Then, determine if they’d be interested in collaborating with you on content. By working with them, you may pitch to their audience, and they may pitch to yours.
On the one hand, lead magnets can help you acquire visitors’ contact info. On the other hand, they may prevent users from accessing something that might assist you in selling your products or services from accessing it. Is generating leads more critical than receiving high volumes of organic traffic and, potentially, increased brand awareness? You must make this call on your own. You may attempt to obtain the greatest of both worlds by SEO-optimizing your lead magnets (as discussed in this piece).
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