5 Tips for a Successful Lead Magnet
As a business owner you may have heard a time or two that building your email list is THE thing to do.
Well it's not just a bunch of BS... it's true. Social media is such a great place to make connections but it isn't the end all be all when it comes to marketing your business because unfortunately, you don't own the followers you have on social. This means, they could be gone in an instant.
A huge plus about having a solid email marketing strategy is also that you're about 40 times more likely to convert on email than you are on social media. SAY WHAT?!
So what do we do? We have a solid email marketing plan. By nurturing those social leads into your email list you're able to keep them in a more secure place while providing them with ALL the value as well as promote to them whenever your heart desires.
How does it all begin you ask? With an amazing opt-in. This is going to be something that your potential client needs to have on their journey. It's a freebie, so no it wont solve all their problems. It will however give them tangible advice, tips, or tricks to get them just a smidge closer.
So without further ado, let's get to my 5 tips for a successful opt-in!
1. Make it specific to your dream client
The thing about your opt-in, is you want it to be really specific. This means you're not going to be creating some freebie willy-nilly. No, this takes some knowledge of what your ideal client is actually looking for. It means meeting them where they're at right now and providing some value to them that they'll actually care about. A lot of times, a freebie just isn't that enticing and that's why they don't convert. So ask yourself these questions:
Does this help my ideal client get from Point A to Point B? It probably isn't going to transform their life but it should get them one step closer.
Does this lead them to want to purchase my offer? AKA does it have anything to do with your offer?
Will this leave them wanting more or will they download and ditch?
These questions will help you develop what freebie is best for your opt-in. You want to meet them where they are but lead them to where you want them to go. If it's something that they LOVE then they're going to keep reading the emails you send them. Think of it as your "first impression".
2. Make it beautiful
Now, we might not all be pro's at designing but making your opt-in visually appealing to your audience is going to do a couple things.
One it's going to look more professional - you know - like you actually know what you're talking about...aka building that trust factor.
It's also going to make you feel more confident in what you're promoting. If you see something that's blah - you're not going to get excited about it, and news flash, either will your audience.
I recommend creating something that fits with your branding so everything is cohesive.
There are a few different programs you can use, but my tried and true favorite is Canva. You have so many options to choose from even on their free version.
While using a template they have is great, I suggest getting some ideas from them instead and then creating your own. This makes it more personable and less a little like everyone else's.
3. Promote your opt-in
You can't just set it and forget it every time and hope for the best!
Well…I take it back, you might get away with it if you have got some solid blog traffic but we don't all have that organically.
Here's where you'll want to create some on-brand promotional graphics to share on your social media channels, on Pinterest and of course on your website.
For your website, you can place your opt-in in multiple areas. The home page, the side bar, above the fold, on a pop up, a landing page, or even throughout your blog posts are all good places to start!
Another way is using ads. By promoting your freebie on your ads, you're able to meet more of your ideal target audience in a broader spectrum.
This is an alternative to promoting a paid offer on ads because let's face it, people aren't always in the mood to buy from someone they barely know. By giving them value from the get go, allowing them to get to know you, and continuing to provide amazing content, you're more likely to convert more of those leads later on.
4. Make it simple
Do not overload them with information here. Think of this as an easy solution to one problem. It shouldn't solve all their problems - that's why they'll continue to open your emails because you'll keep providing them with solutions via other content or offers.
This is just the "hello, how are you" part of the conversation. You're reaching out to give them a lil' somethin' somethin', not trying to marry them at the first meet!
The second part to this is making sure they don't have to follow a bunch of steps just to get to the freebie. You'll want to make it one actionable step. Something like, "subscribe and your freebie will be delivered to your inbox", or once they subscribe, they're sent a link and all they have to do is click. You want to keep them enticed not only through the freebie itself, but also how they get to that freebie.
If they have to work for it, they're less likely to go through the process of getting it and using it. Which is the whole goal.
5. Make sure you follow up
In order to remain relevant to your new lead, you'll need to keep showing up. I recommend setting them up in a simple automation/funnel in your email marketing so that they know you care.
Simply ask them what they thought of your opt-in and if it helped solve their problem with a short intro of you. First, this is great market research to see if what you're doing is still working, but also it makes you seem more authentic and personable. This is super beneficial in email marketing!
Are you ready to get started with your lead magnet and opt-ins? Make sure you check out the Grow Your Email List challenge and learn more about how to go from point A to point B from setting up your email marketing to learning how to grow your list day by day!
