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How a Lead Magnet Could Help You Reach More People
‘Lead magnet’ sounds like a marketing buzzword, but for writers looking to increase their audience, it can be a powerful tool.
A lead magnet is simply a gated piece of valuable content that you can offer in exchange for a reader or prospect’s email address.
That might be a set of social media templates, a guide to getting started in self-publishing, or a swipebook of high-converting landing pages. You might research a guide to freelance rates, or a list of markets in a niche area. An author might offer the first chapter of a new book, or a previously unpublished short story.
A good lead magnet has substance and perceived value — far beyond a standard blog post or newsletter article — because you are asking people to do something (complete a form) and give up something (their email). There has to be quid pro quo.
For example, freelance mentor Elna Cain gives away a business plan template for freelance writers. Copywriting guru Between the Lines offers a range of magnets, including a cold pitch email guide and a master list of 100+ call to action ideas.
Come Write With Us offers a step-by-step toolkit for pitching editors. Dark fiction writer KD Rye and author Jane Gibson both…
