Lead magnets are all the rage right now – with good reason! Businesses with lead magnets have higher conversion rates, higher web traffic, and larger profits. Simply put: lead magnets work. 

Plus, there’s no limit to the different types of lead magnets you can have for your business. But to help you along, here are 10 lead magnet ideas to explode your email list and help you convert your audience on autopilot.

Lead Magnet 101

A lead magnet is a marketing term that defines an item or offer that is given away for FREE in exchange for contact details like an email address.

But just slapping “FREE” on any resource won’t always work. You need to cater your offer to your audience and what they are looking for or need right now. Your lead magnet should:

• Solve a problem
• Offer a quick win
• Provide instant gratification
• Be specific
• Demonstrate your expertise

Learn how to create a lead magnet that converts here.

10 Types of Lead Magnets

1. Ebook

This tried-and-true lead magnet is one of the more popular options because it’s super easy to make, and most people know exactly what to expect when they sign up for ebooks. You could easily compile several of your blogs together or create fresh, new content for your “ebook.” See how easy that was? 

Either way, e-books are usually classified as over 10,000 words long and are a great way to provide free value without distributing physical copies. Plus they are very accessible since your audience can read ebooks on their laptops, tablets, or e-readers. 

2. PDFs

We all have that one topic that we could talk about for hours, right? I mean I could talk branding strategy all WEEK. My blog posts on branding topics tend to be longer than other topics because I have so much to say. (Psstt, you can find these branding blog posts right here)

Unfortunately, not everybody has time to read a 30,000-word blog post (jk, my posts aren’t that long). But you get my point. Offering this content as a PDF allows your audience to download your post and read it at their leisure. 

This is super handy for those of us who stockpile their reading materials for those long-haul flights or waiting rooms. 

3. Webinar

Whether it’s live or prerecorded, webinars work really well as lead magnets! If you have valuable information, walk your audience through it live. Record the live and let your audience access it on replay by exchanging their email. 

Webinars are a great way to get your audience’s interest directly while also developing your brand culture or vibe. Remember, people connect with people, so when they see you on the webinar, the connection will be that much deeper – meaning you have a better chance of converting prospective leads using webinars. 

60% of webinars are oriented at creating brand loyalty (because it really works). 

4. Resource Library

If you have built up and compiled tons of valuable content, let your audience peruse your library in exchange for their email! If your library starts getting really large, you can easily start charging for access down the line too. 

5. Templates

Templates are the perfect lead magnets for service providers that want to give their audience a little help creating their own content. People love free fill-in-the-blank templates. These plug and play lead magnets could look like Instagram Story templates, cold pitch email templates, or even lead magnet templates for your ebook! 

Honestly, there are so many different types of templates out there, I could probably write an entire blog post about them!

6. Mini-Course

Online education is HUGE. So hop on this bandwagon and create a lead magnet that educations your audience using a mini-course. You can include homework, worksheets, videos, quizzes, and more! 

Just remember, this is a MINI course that you are providing for FREE. Make sure it solves their problem quickly and specifically. Save the longer, more complex problems for your paid course.

7. Videos

I have to include video resources on this list because videos are MASSIVE right now. Videos are not only engaging, but 72% of customers would rather learn about a product or service by video. That’s a huge percentage!

An educational video can be a great lead magnet while also building your brand culture and brand awareness.

8. Checklists

Checklists are a great option for pretty much any industry. Everybody wants their lives to be organized, right? Checklists can help them keep tabs on important things they need to do or remember in any area of their life or business. These are easy to make lead magnets and relevant to your audience.

9. Spreadsheets

For all my organizers out there – this lead magnet might be a perfect free resource for you to offer your audience. Spreadsheets can make people’s lives feel more organized and functional. Unfortunately, no one actually wants to sit down and create or set up a spreadsheet for themselves!  That means your FREE spreadsheet is invaluable for your audience!

10. Quizzes

We all love learning more about ourselves, right? Not only are quizzes fast and easy entertainment, but they give your audience some insight into their own goals. Add in a fun twist to your lead magnet list and create a quiz. Plus, it’s a great way to raise brand awareness.  Don’t forget that their answer is accessed by providing their email.

BONUS: Discounts

Give your audience a discount on your offers in exchange for an email. This works really well for eCommerce stores in particular.

Lead magnets can be super diverse across industries and even across audiences. Ultimately, lead magnets should convince your audience to give you their email in exchange for your valuable offer. Remember, emails are the gateway into someone’s personal digital space, and getting a hold of them is not always rainbows and butterflies! 

Have questions? I’d love to hear from you! Contact me so we can hop on a call and set your business up for success!