How to create a lead magnet: Top strategies for high conversions
We all wanna know how to create a lead magnet that converts like crazy. I've put together a full guide to walk you through the best lead magnets strategies.
Getting traffic to your site is great, but it doesn’t really matter if those visitors don’t actually convert. The problem is many businesses don’t fully leverage their website as a lead-gen tool and just expect visitors to convert on their own.
Lead magnets aren’t some new, flashy trend. They’ve been a staple in marketing for years and are a core element of the lead generation funnel. But not everyone knows how to create a lead magnet that actually works.
To make things easier, I've put together a full guide to walk you through the best lead magnets strategies.
Here’s what you will learn:
- How to create a lead magnet that works like crazy?
- What are the common problems businesses make while creating them?
- How do you fix these problems to create good lead magnets?
How to create a lead magnet: 5 Strategies for attracting leads
Before we jump into how to create a lead magnet, let's quickly go over what it actually is.
A lead generation magnet is a free gift, in the form of monetary value, helpful content, or an interactive service, that you offer to website visitors in exchange for their email address.
Now, what makes a good lead magnet? The following key qualities:
- Something that’s genuinely useful
- Speaks directly to the needs or pain points of your target audience
- Is quick to access
- Solves one key problem rather than being too broad or general
Here are some strategies that explain how to create a lead magnet optimized for conversion.
5-Second rule
The 5-second rule states that if someone lands on your page and doesn’t understand your offer within 5 seconds, they’re out. People move very fast online. They’ll scroll, skim, and leave before you can even blink if your offer isn’t clear.
Your lead magnet should instantly tell visitors what you have to offer and why they should care.
Skip the fluff and go for direct, impactful language. For example, if you’re offering a free eBook, a headline like “Get Your Free eBook on Growing Your Email List” is way more effective than “Get Your Free Gift.”
Adding an image or a simple graphic related to your lead magnet is instant context. It’s natural for visitors to see images faster than read the text, so a high-quality, information-rich visual will help them get the gist right away.
It’s also a good idea to explain the key takeaways of your offer as above-the-fold content. Above-the-fold refers to the part of a webpage visible without scrolling, while anything requiring a scroll is considered below-the-fold.
A Nielsen Group study of 57,453 eye-tracking fixations found a sharp drop in attention at the page fold, with the 100 pixels above the fold viewed 102% more than those below it.
The 3-field sweet spot: Maximizing form efficiency
The “3-field sweet spot” is something you really need to nail when creating a lead magnet form. If your form asks for too much information, people will lose interest fast. Just add three simple fields—name, email, and one key qualifying question.
Asking for a name will make your follow-up communication more personal. The email is a no-brainer since that’s how you’ll send the lead magnet and start engaging with your leads.
Use one extra question field to add something that will help you understand your lead better. It shouldn’t be too complicated. Think of a simple, direct question that is relevant to your offer.
Let’s say your lead magnet is a free guide on improving sales, you could ask, “What’s your biggest sales challenge?.” You can use the response to this question to send personalized follow-up emails.
Effective lead scoring: Qualifying your leads
Another very good use of the third-qualifying question in your 3-field lead magnet form is asking for information that will help you score your leads.
You know your business better than anyone, so think about what’s the most important piece of information you need to qualify someone as a good lead.
For example, if you’re targeting a specific industry or region, ask for that info so you can prioritize leads who are a closer fit.
The key here is to focus on the details that will help you figure out how closely they match your ideal customer profile (ICP).
Don’t go overboard with extra questions that don’t serve a purpose. Keep it relevant and only ask for info you actually need to properly score and qualify the lead.
Experimenting with different lead magnet types
If you want to really attract leads, you’ve got to experiment with different types of lead magnets for different audience segments.
Here’s the thing: a targeted, beginner-friendly checklist converts way better than a long, comprehensive guide that tries to be everything for everyone.
Not every lead will be looking for the same thing. The best strategy to create a lead magnet is to categorize your leads into segments and then curate different offers for each.
For an audience who’s new to your industry, you could try the following examples of good lead magnets:
- Simple, actionable steps for getting started with a process
- Quick reference guides
- A series of short, daily lessons to walk them through the basics
However, for advanced audiences, go for these lead magnet ideas:
- Ready-to-use tools or templates that help streamline their work
- Real-world case studies that show how others succeeded using your product
- A live or recorded session that goes in-depth on a specific topic
Leveraging social proof and FOMO to increase conversions
People are naturally drawn to things that others are already enjoying or talking about. It’s just human nature. That’s why you need to market your lead magnets like they’re must-haves because they really should be!
For example, you could say something like, “Join the 1,000+ people who’ve already downloaded this free resource.”
When you mention how many people are already on board or how much others have benefited, it creates a sense of urgency. They start thinking, Wait, I don’t want to be the only one not using this!
You can highlight testimonials that show how others have had success with your resource. To make the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) stronger, add a phrase that demonstrates a limited-time offer, such as “Get it now before it’s gone!”
It gets people thinking they might regret not acting. Make people feel like they need it now, or they’ll be missing out.
Importance of testing lead magnets to adapt for better results
Anyone can learn how to create a lead magnet, but not everyone really gets good results. If something in your lead magnet strategy isn’t working, you need to know, and fix it, before it starts costing you conversions.
When you don’t test your lead magnets, you’re basically leaving potential leads on the table, and that’s a missed opportunity.
There are a few common issues that can come up with lead magnets, and they’re pretty easy to spot once you start looking for them.
1. The lead magnet is boring
If your lead magnet doesn’t grab attention, no one will sign up for it. Make sure you switch generic content to something specific with more detail that shows exactly what people will get.
Also, consider making your lead magnets more interactive. Think of quizzes, calculators, quotations, or assessments that give personalized feedback. Those are way more fun and engaging than a static PDF.
2. The lead magnet isn’t helpful
If you promise something in your lead magnet, you better deliver.
If it says "10 Less-Known Tips for Boosting Your Productivity," those tips should actually be useful and not just the same stuff everyone already knows.
Make sure your lead magnets are up-to-date too. If the info is outdated, people will lose trust in your brand.
Regularly update your content, and don't forget to ask for feedback. It could be as simple as sending a follow-up email asking what they thought or tracking how many people actually engage with your lead magnet.
3. The landing page doesn’t sell the value of the lead magnet
A lead magnet is only as good as its landing page. If your page isn’t convincing, it doesn’t matter how great your content is.
Make sure your landing page highlights the benefits clearly and immediately. Show people why they need your lead magnet and what’s in it for them.
Use strong, benefit-driven headlines and make your page digestible by using bullet points, icons, and visuals. Social proof is a game-changer, too. Show testimonials or stats on how many people have already downloaded your lead magnet.
4. The lead magnet isn’t available straight away
If people have to wait to get their hands on your lead magnet, they might lose interest. Make sure the download is instant or at least happens quickly after they submit their info. If there’s a delay, some leads may decide it’s not worth the wait.
After someone submits their info, send an automated email with a direct download link or offer the download on the thank-you page. Test your sign-up process regularly to catch any delays or bottlenecks.
FAQ
How to create an irresistible lead magnet?
To create an irresistible lead magnet, you should create a valuable, specific solution for a common problem. Keep it simple, visually appealing, and deliver instant access.
What's a good conversion rate for a lead magnet?
A good conversation rate for an average email opt-in lead magnet is between 5% and 15%, according to LeadPages. The most successful companies usually hit around 20-25%, while the very top performers manage conversion rates of 30% or higher.
How does a lead magnet work?
A lead magnet delivers valuable content or monetary value in exchange for contact information, It helps you build a list of potential customers.
Make high converting lead generation forms with Formaloo
Now you know how to create a lead magnet that actually works and get people to sign up. Use Formaloo to easily build lead generation forms for surveys, quote calculators, or lead magnets that catch people's attention and get them to take action.
The best part is you can fully customize your lead gen forms to match your brand. That means you can white-label your forms and embed them right on your website.
Formaloo's got a lead scoring system with which you can set up logic rules that automatically score your leads based on how they engage with your form.
So you’ll know which leads are the hottest and ready to be followed up with.
Plus, Formaloo offers advanced lead validation through email verification and using smart field types to filter out any unqualified leads.
Try Formaloo to start building high-converting lead magnets today!
