The three best lead magnets to launch your email list with blast

Lead magnets may be the secret component that your list-building approach is missing. Learn why this is the case and how to start using them now.

After a few minutes watching the small-business and marketing executives discuss the benefits of their mailing lists starts to resemble that one scene, and its accompanying music from The Lion King.

It's almost too good to be true. Average ROI of 3800% ? No way. 89% of professional believe that email is their primary channel to generate leads? This is a little too much.

But there's a reason for this. Email marketing is not only a single-sided relationship between companies and their customers. Like The Lion King, email is beloved by all across the world of commerce.

In actual fact, 73% of consumers consider email to be their top-choice channel to receive communications from marketers and to interact with them.

It's not the problem you're struggling with.

Your issue is more pragmatic in its nature: you know you'll need an email address however, how can you build it from scratch?

And moreover, how do create a quick list while preserving high-quality?

Your answer is as simple as:

You need an effective lead magnet.

That's what we'll take care of this morning. We'll first explain the reasons, then show you how, and finally top the whole thing off with a done-for-you lead magnet that will get your lists in as little as ten minutes.

Let's get started.

What exactly is a lead magnet?

One of the main differences that separates lead magnets from every other kind of content marketing - more on the subject in a momentthe fact that lead magnets come paired with a specific reward dependent on the users' taking the desired step (e.g. sign up for your email list).

In other words, this subscription box that is located on Backlinko's homepage does not not a lead-generating tool. The tips and tricks may indeed be exclusive to Brian Dean, they are not provided in as a specific resource to the person joining.

Conversely, this case study found in the lower part of the same page is a lead magnet since the information is locked through an email address block. It's only after users' take the desired action and become subscribers they are able to access the study.

Both buttons lead users to the same destination that Brian's list of email addresses -- but it's only the second that incentives new subscribers to sign up with an event-based incentive.

A general rule, the easiest way to remember what classifies as an lead magnet and what does not is to employ the "if you want to, and then" formula.

If the user performs an action that is desired, the user will receive an xyz reward in exchange.

If the user doesn't do the right thing, the user will not receive xyz in exchange.

However, that's enough to get you started on the right path. In addition to the definition above, how (and why) are lead magnets effective?

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 action and reward remains the same.

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

They offer your users an incentive, right there and there, to give the information they have provided to you and turn into leads in a matter of minutes. (The are really good lead magnets, anyway. More on this in a second, too.)

Lead magnets can solve the most pressing problem in marketing faced by 61% of professionals across the globe by driving the necessary traffic and prospects in one fell swoop.

Another way to look at it as the distinction between texting someone using a dating app and warming them up with witty humorous messages or requesting the exact person to eat dinner together when you're in the same restaurant.

Do it right and you'll have an email subscriber in a fraction of the time that it takes to execute the formal plan for content. If you do it incorrectly, users will flounce, rightfully that is, and will not return.

It's not a stretch It's true, in fact.

At least 70% of visitors who abandon your website immediately after their first visit will never come back.

So getting the lead magnet right isn't just about generating more leads -- it's about creating the most powerful first impression when people actually become leads.

Short answer: By using the appropriate touch points in the right place at the right moment with the right people.

To find out the answer to this question, read on.

Great lead magnets are targeted to address the problems

If you're about to fall into a pit of despair trying to determine the best time the best time, place, and method you'll build a lead magnet that attracts people, be encouraged.

The thing that lead magnets with high-quality performance share isn't the amount of time required to create them, the budgets behind them or even the talent of the creator It's all in the way they are targeted.

Put simply it's that the more compatible and pertinent the lead's content is for the people you're trying connect with, the more effective the lead magnet's performance for both your company and the customers you serve.

Remember, your goal with all types of contentbe it a lead magnet, blog post or webinar -- shouldn't be to appeal to large majority of the population.

Instead, your golden principle should be to reach your specific audience.

It is true that 71.7 percent of those that rated the content as insignificant flagged it as being not sufficiently general.

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

In case you do take anything else away from this article now, then let it be this:

Whatever product you choose to sell including lead magnets that seeks to please everyone is likely to please a few but be forgotten by many.

With that soapbox gone, how do you ensure that the lead magnet you've chosen to use is appropriate to the people you target? Beyond nailing your customer research down, it's helpful to analyze your audience's issues.

The term "pain points," if you've never come across this term before, refer specifically to problems your users are facing and relevant to your business. They're not an answer to these problems.

The comic created by Ceralytics nicely demonstrates the difference between the two types of problems. .

The pain points might be:

I'm looking to compress my files with no risk of loss of quality.

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

I'm trying to cut back the time I spend between pitching and deliverable.

They would not, however they would not be:

I want to save my files in .PNG format.

I require a color palette for my client.

I need an automated process.

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

But, although the use of pain points is a great approach to narrow the scope of your lead-generating content, they are not the only ones that make an ideal content.

There's an array of problems that users encounter throughout their day, and if they're not ones that people are passionate about working on -or i.e. active in seeking solutions to -- then even if the issue is important, your lead magnet won't make the waves you're hoping for.

An effective lead magnet has to be filled with passion and also profitable.

If it's a problem area that people would love to address --- i.e., you can see Reddit threads in need of help, and there's already an industry for similar high-end products, it can be positioned in the upper right corner and could result in an audience-relevant and targeted lead-generating attraction.

If however, it's a pain point that users aren't already keen to resolve or are willing to be willing to pay for it to go away, then it falls on the left part of the matrix and probably shouldn't be your next lead magnet.

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

In other words, here's what it boils down to:

Lead magnets that are successful have relevance to the intended users and target specific pain points.

(Coincidence? No, probably it's not.)

If you'd rather make things easier you can try opening our downloader in a brand new tab and following along. But regardless of how you put your lead magnet together follow these suggestions and techniques to help it be different from other lead magnets.

3 easy lead magnets to create and how to create them to make them stand out

We'll be focusing on three formats this morning -the three formats we consider our top choices for lead magnets, and the ones that have been most successful for us. However, If you're looking to explore different forms, Blogging Wizard has an exhaustive guide on lead magnets I would highly recommend.

Otherwise, these are the types we'll be working on for the remainder of the piece:

Sound good? Now, with no further delay we'll dive right in.

#1. Make your checklists visually appealing for lasting impact

The checklists should be fairly self-explanatory and include anything which users are able to interact with by checking off items, whether on a laptop or by using pen. They're typically less visual in comparison to other types of formats.

Be aware that I say less visual-heavy and not visual-free. In general, those working within content marketing prefer material that incorporates visual appeal  which is the case with checklists.

Why? There are a few reasons why checklists need to include visuals. The most notable is the effect the image has on awareness of brands. Within three days after exposure individuals can hold as much as 70% of what they are seeing in conjunction with a photo.

If you want to put it in some more pragmatic terms, including illustrations to your checklists can make them distinguishable and memorable and helps keep your company top of mind while users put the checklists to use.

But that doesn't mean you have to have a wildly artistic design to make an impact with an agenda. Even just small visual touches could make a big difference.

For instance, take a look at this (abbreviated) blog writing checklist from CoSchedule.

If you look at it objectively, it's not an exceptionally sophisticated image yet it incorporates colors, iconography, and visual hierarchy to create the information itself - such as the 21-item list stands out to other products and enhance the perceived value of the offering.

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

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

Perhaps, but it's not likely to be the case, and it's not easy.

It's simple, regardless of what kind of marketing you're involved in, always the aim.

Final word:

Checklists should incorporate colors and the logo of your company to help them stand out and enhance their overall impact. The meat of the text could be in the content, but an excellent steak can benefit by a properly-positioned food garnish.

#2. Provide your numbered lists with broad margins with line spacing and line spacing

Sequential lists, whether they're numbered or indented by bullet points, meet the same requirements as checklists, however, they do have one requirement that they must have above all other things:

Blank area.

Sometimes called white space or negative space, adding plenty of margins and space between the items on your list increases readability , comprehension, and makes it easier to understand the relationship between items.

The distinction between a list that has spacing and one with no might seem insignificant, but the impact on engagement of users -- and the overall user experience isn't subtle at all.

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

When the list is only four items long, as in this example, thin margins and the tight composition might be acceptable However, think of the same spacing in a list that's 20-items long.

You could even check it out for yourself.

There is only one difference between these two lists is one 0.20 increase in line spacing, but the ability to scan and absorb the data can make a huge distinction.

And if your numbered list will guide someone through a process, it's not a difference that you should be able to ignore.

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

Increasing white space between items could boost conversions at the checkout process by as much as 33% , as it did for Xerox, while fostering more user-friendly experience and user engagement level overall.

This increase in conversion rates and understanding has been demonstrated repeatedly by different research groups, and there isn't a single aspect of your online presence -- or products -which won't benefit from a well-designed blank space , including numbered lists.

Here's the essence of the matter:

The lists with numbers need to have a visual balance between their elements to retain their usefulness for users. If the reader must look at the screen with a glare to read your lead magnet, you're not likely to provide a compelling user experience or prove the importance of your brand.

This makes it an effective lead-generator that attracted traffic, but also loses them in the same breath. Ouch.

#3. Limit lead magnet ebooks to 2500 words or lesser

If this header appears strangely unique to you, there's an reason for that: this advice only can be used when you're writing ebooks for an lead magnet.

An ebook designed to function as an lead magnet whether it's a case study an e-book, a story or even a chapter excerpt of a book- you want to keep your ebook to just 7 minutes reading time and 2,000 characters.

The number is derived from a study carried out by the platform for blogging Medium regarding the ideal length of a post that is long in form.

The vertical horizontal axis (the bar from the top to the bottom) represents the total amount of time that users spent reading this post. The horizontal axis (the bar that runs from right to left) represents how long the article would take to read at a normal pace.

You can observe that audience engagement is at its highest after the 7-minute mark before it begins to decrease with the length of the article. With the caveat that the data is applicable to blog posts and not lead magnets specifically and the connections are easy to draw, and even more it is obvious:

Users don't want to spend hours on a resource and even the best one.

And as a business you run, it's not beneficial to you if they spend hours on it, or even if the 50,000 words guide will be the top book on how to crochet cute sea creatures, it's not easily digestible and your customers will not be able to read the book in one go and then peruse your other products anytime soon.

After all, reading for pleasure is at the lowest level across the US .

Which likely coincides with the fact that Americans most of all other people anywhere in the world, spend their weekends working.

This brings us to the main issue: we aren't able to afford a lot of time to spare.

When the goal of the prospector is to encourage people to join your mailing list to ensure you can encourage them to purchasing, an ebook which takes them one time to go through (assuming they can get there) isn't doing your company or the customer any favors.

Make it concise and to the point. This is a win-win situation for all.

How to make lead magnets grow up big and strong

Basically, think of leads as multivitamins. They're not going fix the problems with your email lists overnight however, they can help you and the people who join your email list- an increase in growth you'll need to get where you want to go more quickly.

In that same spirit of conciseness, here's a brief summary of the topics we've discussed today:

Lead magnets are promotions, usually in the form of downloadable documents, that provide users with a reason to join your email list.

The top lead magnets are designed to their intended audiences. The more generic your lead magnet's content is and the wider the reception will be.

Lead magnets may be in any format, but the most straightforward to start with are checklists, numbered list, and ebooks.

When you're putting together your checklists, make sure that you add a few visual components. Without them, your brand regardless of whether the list is amazing -- is forgettable.

Lists with numbers benefit from visuals also, however, they require space between elements to make them usable. The fact that you're crowded doesn't increase its value -- just less comprehensible.

Ebooks packaged as lead magnets must follow the same rules for long-form content -- keep it short and straight to the point. A minimum of 2,000 words or 7-minute read time is optimal.

Perhaps you're interested in line spacing or character counting. I won't judge.