The Best Lead Magnets for Your Solopreneur Blog

Email list building is one strategy you shouldn't miss as a solopreneur. You may think of it as old-fashioned but without email, you won't be able to effectively get your message across. Communicating with your readers through email is direct and personal.

But how exactly do you gain your prospects' contact information? You don't just ask; there has to be something of value that people get in return. That bribe or incentive is called a lead magnet.

As a solopreneur, you would think that creating lead magnets takes time. For example, while online courses and webinars are great to have, you're not sure how you can make time for them. They require a lot of planning and preparation.

In this post, I want to show you a list of lead magnets that you can generate based on the content you already have. Spend only a day for these lead magnet ideas and see your subscriber list grow in no time.

5 Simple Lead Magnet Ideas for Solopreneurs

1. Mini ebook

Ebooks are effective lead magnets because they bring together pieces of expert advice in one place. You don't have to write a 100-page ebook; aim for a shorter one that's jam-packed with great content. The trick is to take 5-6 of your best blog posts on a single topic and combine them. Each blog post represents a chapter.

 2. Resource guide

Weeks ago, I scoured the internet to find a massive list of websites where I can contribute guest posts. Finally, I found a resource that lists over 1,300 guest post sites. The problem? I could not access it unless I enter my email address. Smart move. So, I had no choice but to opt-in as there was no one else that gave this kind of value. Below is the screenshot of the resource guide:

The idea is to create a resource guide that no other solopreneur blogger offers. First, identify a need in your market. Choose a guide that caters to that need. Like the example above, all you have to do is find resources on the web and compile them into one huge list.

3. Printable quotes

If your solopreneur business focuses on self-development or fitness, offer printable quotes that your audience can hang on the wall. Printable quotes are fun and give a sense of hope. They act as tools that your audience can use to their benefit and help them grow. Make sure to choose quotes that represent your niche. Don't know how to use Photoshop? Leverage free and graphic design options like Canva and PicMonkey.

4. Checklist

A checklist is essentially a list of tasks that a person needs to follow. Checklists are useful lead magnets for niches like health and wellness, digital marketing, self-help, and home maintenance. They're for people who want to get things done without going through the hassle of remembering the steps. Below is an example of a checklist for social media managers by Sproutsocial:

5. Gated content

This lead magnet is simply a piece of blog post or a portion of your entire post that is inaccessible unless a reader subscribes. Gated content is the simplest lead magnet that takes only a few minutes to create because you just have to select from your best blog posts.

I would recommend that you choose a content piece that's an ultimate guide or list post. Next, gate the second half of that content. If you use OptinMonster as your email service provider, they offer a Content Lock feature to help you gate your content.

Essential Characteristics of a Lead Magnet

Before you create your first lead magnet, you should know what makes an effective lead magnet. No matter what kind of lead magnet you create, the following characteristics below will guide you. Applying them ensures that you get new subscribers every time.

• Targeted - An important characteristic of a lead magnet is that it should appeal to your target audience. Cater to your ideal customers based on their demographics and interests. If not, you'll only give out a lead magnet that doesn't meet their needs.

• Actionable - Whatever your lead magnet is, people should be able to take immediate action after consuming it. Ask yourself, "What can my audience do with the information that's found on my guide or checklist?"
• Demonstrates your expertise - Lastly, use your lead magnet to build your credibility as a solopreneur - not someone else's. It should talk about the niche you serve, and related to your product or service.

How else would you grow your email list without lead magnets? Thank you for checking out today's post and I hope this has given you great ideas to grow your solopreneur business each day.