How to Create Irresistible Lead Magnets with Content Marketing

As a business owner, you know that generating leads is essential to your success. But what's the best way to go about it? Content marketing is a great option - and using lead magnets can help you attract even more leads.

So what exactly is a lead magnet? It's simply an incentive that you offer potential customers in exchange for their contact information. People rarely like to give away their email addresses or names but they're often happy to do so if they're getting something valuable in return.

In this post, I'll share how you can get more leads by creating leads the right way. You need to keep certain best tips in mind and create a variety of lead magnets to build your email list.

The building blocks of a great lead magnet

Here's a breakdown of what goes into a solid lead magnet that customers will click on and download. 

Make your lead magnet relevant

First, make sure your lead magnet is relevant to your target audience. There's no point in offering a discount on gardening supplies if your target market is businesses.

To make your lead magnets truly meaningful and interesting to your audience, begin by learning who they are and what their interests are too. You can do this by looking at your Google Analytics, studying customer feedback, and by looking at the kind of lead magnets your competitors offer.

Keep your lead magnets simple

Second, keep it simple - the more complicated your lead magnet is, the less likely people are to actually take advantage of it.

By this, I mean that you should avoid sharing complex reports or large files as lead magnets unless your audience is one that likes heavy data. Or providing an ebook when the topic is better suited for video format.

And make the process of getting or downloading lead magnets easy too.  Your audience shouldn't have to go through hoops to get something free. The best way to make sure that accessing your lead magnet is easy is to use a plugin for digital downloads. 

Make your lead magnets valuable

Third, make sure it's valuable - your leads should feel like they're getting something worth their while in exchange for their information.

For example, for someone who's looking to improve their blog traffic, a list of 101 Traffic Hacks would be more valuable than a generic eBook on blogging.

The value of your lead magnet will also depend on the quality of your offer. For example, an ebook that's well-written and researched will be more valuable than one that's hastily put together. And your audience will tell the difference.

Creating a value-laden lead magnet can be a lot of work, but the effort is more than worth it when people flock to your site and email list.

Now that we have a few lead magnet tips in mind, we can get down to the best lead magnet ideas you can offer.

9 Best lead magnet ideas for your website

There's virtually no limit to the kind of lead magnet you can offer. But to get you started, here are some great lead magnet ideas that will help turn your website traffic into leads.

1. Ebooks and Reports

Offering an ebook or report is a great way to provide value to your leads while also getting them interested in your products or services. Plus, it's a lead magnet that's relatively easy to create - all you need is a document and some images. You can create one for free on your own or hire a freelancer to create it for you at a low price. 

An example of an ebook as a lead magnet

2. Whitepapers

Like ebooks and reports, whitepapers are a great way to provide value to your leads. But they tend to be more comprehensive than ebooks and reports, making them ideal for businesses that want to create an image of themselves as experts in their field.

3. Checklists

Checklists are another simple but effective lead magnet option. They're quick and easy to create, and they're a great way to help your leads get organized and achieve their goals by providing them with a shortcut to getting the information they need. 

Example of a lead magnet offering a free checklist. Source: OptinMonster

4. Cheat Sheets

Cheat sheets are similar to checklists, but they tend to be more specific. The idea is to make it easy for your audience to perform a task. For example: you might create a cheat sheet that outlines the steps for creating a successful blog post. Or creating a monthly grocery shopping list for people who want to up their fitness levels. 

5. Templates

Templates are another great option for businesses that want to position themselves as experts in their field. They can be used to help your leads complete a variety of tasks, from creating a social media strategy to designing a new website.

6.  Toolkits

Toolkits are similar to templates, but they're more comprehensive. They typically include a variety of tools, resources, and templates that your leads can use to complete a task. For example, providing your customers with email templates, signature examples, a list of email marketing tools, and more to help them launch their own email campaigns. 

7. Swipe Files

Swipe files are a great resource for creative professionals, such as designers and copywriters. They typically include a variety of examples, from website designs to sales letters, that your leads can use for inspiration.

A swipe file is a great lead magnet. Source: SeedProd

8. Online tutorials and courses

If you have the expertise to share, consider offering an online course or tutorial as a lead magnet. This is a great way to set yourself up as an expert in your field and provide value to your leads at the same time.

9. Free trial of a product or service

If you have a product or service to sell, consider offering a free trial as a lead magnet. This is a great way to get your leads interested in your products or services and get them to take the next step.

There you have it, a set of great lead magnet ideas that you can build to attract more people to your website and convert them to leads.

50% of marketers say that when they use lead magnets to increase signups they boost their conversion rate. While creating lead magnets needs a lot of effort, you’ll only benefit from the work by getting more customers. 

Conclusion

No matter what type of lead magnet you opt to offer, remember to keep it relevant, valuable, and simple. With those three elements, you're sure to attract more leads and grow your business.

You should also create a variety of lead magnets - although you can start with one or two and add more over time. And finally, don't forget to promote your free offerings - they won't do you any good if no one knows about them.

By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to creating irresistible lead magnets that will help grow your business.