Email is one of the most important assets of any online business. In order to sell your online course to as many people as possible you need to collect email addresses and nurture your email list. The best way to get more email subscribers and build a relationship with them is through lead magnets.
A lead magnet is a marketing tool which in itself is a valuable incentive offered to potential buyers in exchange for their email address or other contact information. Their purpose is to collect leads and generate conversions. Prospects might not be willing to give their personal information for free, like their email address, but in exchange of some free resources they might do so.
When choosing what type of lead magnets your audience would digest, you need to collect information first. You can do this by creating polls, surveys, feedback forms or by checking the reviews, the comments and the questions sections.
10 Types of lead magnets your audience can’t refuse
Lead magnets come in various shapes and sizes; without further ado, let’s explore 10 great examples that can make a difference in the marketing strategy of your online course:
1. White papers
These take an intricate subject and present it in a nutshell. They are meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. White papers are addressed to the type of audience willing to take their time and dig deeper into the subject, needing more detailed information and clear explanations.
2. E-books
These can address broader issues and do so in a more entertaining way. They need to be authoritative but also accessible to a large audience.It isn't necessary for you to write new content for your e-books. You can compile your most popular blog posts into an e-book format. You just need to add a compelling introduction and a concise conclusion.
3. Webinars
These are great for connecting with prospective leads and customers and interacting with your audience. They bring a personal touch to your course. Webinars offer valuable information through which you instruct your audience on a subject of their interest and they are also an incentive in themselves which is always tempting. The best part of this lead magnet is the fact that it is interactive. It offers you a chance to relate personally with your audience, receiving feedback and crucial information at the same time.
4. Infographics
These give a concise view of an otherwise broad situation, all the while wrapped in really nice graphics. Great infographics make an impact and are easily remembered due to the decluttered content, clear and engaging outline and appealing design. They include just the right amount of information making it easy for your prospects to understand and learn the content they provide.
5. Checklists
These condense everything that the user needs to know into one, actionable list. It's really easy to create one and users love them. Nowadays, the digital natives have replaced pen and paper when taking notes and they are choosing digital alternatives to do so. Checklists provide the steps to take to reach a given target. If your prospects show interest in what you offer than these to-do lists will help them reach their goals.
6. Quizzes
These are highly interactive and engaging and most of all, easy to create. You can find plenty of online tools that cost very little or nothing at all that can help you build a good quiz or survey. This type of content is accepted by everyone because they don't take time to fill in and they provide prospects with feedback or a bonus. Entrepreneurs should use quizzes to find different information about the users and their needs, to be able to eventually adapt their content accordingly.
7. Coupons
These work really well because most people who make online purchases like to shop around for deals. A small discount to your course can be a sweet deal. You can insert them at any time and they will have a positive outcome in that they are likely to be used for conversions.
8. Videos
These are engaging and immersive. People always prefer watching educational videos to reading too many pages. Plus, almost all marketers include videos in their strategies. This is an innovative way of creating content that addresses the audience directly and it helps entrepreneurs provide their knowledge personally. You can include them as part of a mini-course or add them to your website on a weekly or monthly basis.
9. Case studies
These could give prospects at the bottom of your marketing funnel that one last push they need to buy your course, thanks to the built-in social proof. Not knowing if a product works is unsettling for most which makes them reluctant to purchasing your product. Thus, giving your audience the evidence of its success will give them confidence to give it a try. As part of your case studies you can have your satisfied clients give testimonials of their experience with your product or provide the statistics of your results.
10. Toolkits
These combine multiple resources into one, to create even more value. A toolkit might include a whitepaper or e-book, a video and also a template the user could adapt later on. You can be creative and organize your toolkit as you see fit. Knowing your audience will make the choice easier. By giving your prospects access to free resources of any form they will feel like you care and you want them informed whether they make that purchase or not, but it is likely that they would do so.
All in all
Building an email list is essential for your business. In order for you prospects to give that information to you, you need to give something back in return. And here come the lead magnets which are bits of your knowledge that you provide for free.
Every entrepreneur wants traffic on their website and so they try to get as many leads as possible. To do this you need to nurture those leads by providing free resources. This in turn gets you more customers, therefore more sales.
