Have a fabulous lead magnet? Not sure how to get it out into the world? Here’s how to promote your lead magnet, and the simple graphics you need to make it absolutely irresistible.
A lead magnet is a fabulous way to grow your email list. Basically, it’s awesome content that you give away for free when someone signs up for your email list.
But how do you promote your lead magnet? How do you get it in front of the person you made it for? And how do you show it off? Luckily, that’s the easy part.
There are a TON of ways to promote your lead magnet, and to make it truly irresistible, all you need is a few simple graphics. I’ll show you my favorites, PLUS I’m giving away a free set of hand-drawn arrows. They’ll fit perfectly into your new graphics!
Heads up – I’m going to give you a lot of ideas, but most are variations on a theme. In other words, once you’ve made a couple of graphics, you can repurpose them all over the place AND use them as a template for future lead magnets.
Score.
Lead Magnet Ideas
These ideas will work with pretty much ANY lead magnet. If you haven’t made yours yet, here are a few ideas:
- Checklist, Cheat Sheet (or any single page PDF)
- Workbook (or any multi-page PDF)
- Template, swipe files
- Coupon code or discount
- Video
- Challenge
- Mini Course
- Resource library
- Facebook group
- Webinar
- Quiz
- Printables
- Anything you can think of!
Need more inspiration? Check out my list of 101+ Content Upgrade Ideas
Places to Promote Your Lead Magnet
Promoting your lead magnet doesn’t have to be time consuming or feel like a sales pitch. Put a sweet graphic or a simple sentence in a few key spots, and you can get back to your life. Your promotion will work on auto-pilot, building your list in the background.
What does your lead magnet promise? Write that in a sentence or two. Add in a graphic, and you’ve got a promotion. We’ll expand on this in a minute (stay tuned J), but here are some spots you can place your promo:
Promote on your blog
- Sidebar
- Header
- Footer
- End of blog post
- Within blog post (great if you offer a content upgrade with your post)
- About page
- Pop-up
Build a landing page
Make a simple page that’s all about your lead magnet. This doesn’t have to be complicated. State the problem, and share how your lead magnet provides a solution. Include a graphic, and maybe a bullet list of benefits someone will receive. Short and sweet!
And now you have a link to share EVERYWHERE.
- Social media
- Guest posts
- Email signature
- Business card
- Links in your bio on different sites
Share on social media
- Pinterest graphic
- Twitter profile or Facebook cover photo
- Social media graphic to share
- Link in your social media bio
- Facebook ads
- YouTube description
Take your graphics up a notch with a set of FREE hand-drawn arrows:
Graphics to Make Your Lead Magnet Irresistible
The best way to get eyes on your fabulous lead magnet is to SHOW A PICTURE OF IT. Easy, right? Well, yes. There are lots of ways to show your lead magnet in a graphic – pick one or two that you can do now, and get started!
1 – Make a clipart image of the pages
If your lead magnet is a digital download (PDF, workbook, template, printables…), make a little clipart mockup of the pages or item. Make a single-page clipart, or show multiple pages to really add value.
Import your PDF pages into a graphics program, add a light drop shadow, and rotate a couple pages if you want. Save it as a PNG with a clear background.
2 – Create a screen mockup
This works with just about ANY kind of lead magnet: video, webinar, Facebook group, workbook, you name it. You’re just showing the item on a screen:
- Desktop monitor
- Laptop
- Tablet
- phone
Use a stock photo with a blank screen, and just add an image of your lead magnet as a layer over the photo. Or use clipart of a device like a phone, and slip an image of your lead magnet in.
3 – Show a printed mockup
For a lead magnet that can be printed out, show it printed out! Use a nicely styled stock photo of a desk, and insert an image of your download. Seeing your item in use is one step closer to actually signing up and using it.
Need help? Follow my tutorial: 5 Steps to Add a PDF to a Photo.
4 – Add a button to your graphic
When you make a lead magnet to go with a particular blog post, design a graphic with a button for the post. Keep it simple – include an image of your download (pages or on a screen), and then make a button with the words DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE GUIDE (or whatever your item is). Hint: just draw a rectangle with rounded corners. When you add the graphic to your post, make it a link to your opt-in form.
This also works well for a sidebar graphic, and anywhere it makes sense to click a button.
5 – Include a small image on your pin for Pinterest
Include a little image of your lead magnet images you pin to Pinterest. Simple is best here – make a clipart image of the pages or a screen mockup (See #1 & 2).
6 – Add a graphic to every opt-in form
Use that little graphic you made of the pages or a screen and add it to every opt-in form you make, which is easy to do in email list services like ConvertKit. Don’t trust people to read all of your text – SHOW THEM what they get!
7 – Tease your offer
If you’ve created a one-page printable like a checklist or tracker, don’t show the entire thing up close! You’ll give away the answer, and no one will have a reason to sign up for your list!
Tease your solution by putting a semi-transparent overlay on top of the image, or show just a corner.
8 – Make a graphic of the title
Sometimes your lead magnet doesn’t have a simple image you can use. If you’ve created a course or challenge, that’s a bit harder to show in clipart form.
Make a graphic by typing out the title in an eye-catching font or two, and put a solid background or a photo with an overlay behind it.
Add it to a screen mockup or leave it as is and use it in your sidebar, on social media, or anywhere!
This is also a great way to promote a coupon code or discount – just use eye-catching text!
9 – Show a photo of the result
Another way to show off a lead magnet that doesn’t lend itself well to a simple clipart image is to show the result when someone uses your offer.
Do have offer a 7-day challenge to organize a closet? Show a clean closet. 30 days of parenting tips? Use a photo of a happy parent and kids. Can you help someone improve their productivity? Show a beautiful desk or workspace. Be sure to include a title!
The answer you provide may be intangible, but the results are very real. Show us!
10 – Give us a photo of you and the promise you make
In a digital world, it’s so important to make a real-world connection.
Make a very simple graphic that includes your photo and the solution you offer. It can be anything from “Start a blog in 7 days” to “Learn how I run my business in 10 hours a week”. Just make it real.
And don’t be shy to use your photo! People want solutions from others just like them.
11 – Use a combination
If you can show off your lead magnet in more than one way, do it! You can show a checklist on a screen, plus printed out on a desk. If your video includes a workbook, show both! You have worked hard to provide value – make that obvious to anyone who sees your promo.
12 – Add a finishing touch
If you want someone to look at your lead magnet, point to it! Add an arrow to your graphic to highlight this Amazing Thing You’re Giving Away.
To help you out, I’ve designed a hand-drawn set of arrows you can use for free! Download your set here:
With a few simple graphics in the right places, you can promote your lead magnet on auto-pilot. Pick a few of today’s ideas to implement, and start getting the word out! Grow your list and solve someone’s problem at the same time, because you’re awesome like that.
How do you promote your lead magnet? Share below!