How to Use Lead Magnets to Grow Your Email List | by Nashville Branding Photographer & Workflow Systems Educator Dolly DeLong Photography

Tell me if you can relate: you want to grow your email list, but you have no idea where to start. If you’re nodding along, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is, that most small business leaders are totally lost when it comes to building an email list that converts and they think it is pointless to even begin. The good news is, that you’re in the right place, AND now is the PERFECT time to get your list up and running! 

Building a profitable email list is not as hard as it might seem, and it all starts with one simple thing: creating a lead magnet. In today’s blog, I’m going to walk you through what a lead magnet is, why it makes all the difference to email list building, and how you can create one TODAY.

What is a lead magnet?

Great question. A lead magnet is any sort of content or media that attracts qualified leads to your business and (if done right) converts those leads into sales.  

You see lead magnets all the time. They’re free downloads, email newsletters, $10 off coupons, and the list goes on. And the whole reason they work is that the potential customer on the other end of the screen wants what the lead magnet has to offer. That’s why so many people enter their emails to get the lead magnet – because they want whatever thing the lead magnet is offering bad enough to give up their email address. And that’s where the magic happens!

Will a lead magnet REALLY help me grow my email list?

Yes!! If I could shout it from the rooftops I would! Lead magnets are absolutely essential to a robust email list that converts into sales. Here’s why …

A good lead magnet is one that does the hard work of qualifying customers for you. If someone wants to download a 10% off coupon for your e-store, that’s because they’re thinking about buying something. If someone downloads your family photo style guide, they probably are about to get family photos done and need a good photographer. The way the lead magnet works is that it attracts leads who want what you’re selling, and by capturing their email address in exchange for a bit of valuable content, you can follow up on their initial interest.

You can begin to send a recurring email to your email list reminding them of your product or services. The people who are on that list because they downloaded a lead magnet are way more likely to buy than just your average Joe. That’s because they have already shown interest in your product and therefore are more likely to buy. And even if they do not buy right away (because let’s be honest, most people need at least 8 or 9 interactions/impressions with your brand before they make a purchase) having them on an email list can help them get to KNOW you over time, which builds trust! 

In short: having a relevant lead magnet on your website or out in the wild will attract the right leads who you can follow up with and in the end build a profitable email list. 

How do I create a lead magnet?

My first tip to creating a lead magnet is this: start with the end in mind. What do you ultimately want your potential customer to do? When you figure out your ultimate call to action, you can work backward and deliver a valuable lead generator that seeds a little bit of content your lead will ultimately want more of in the end.

From there, you want to really get into your customer’s head. What does your customer want? What problems are they facing? What do they need help within their life? When you offer a lead magnet that your customer actually needs, they’re much more likely to download it, and later take action and buy from your business.

How to Grow Your Email List in 2022 (& beyond)

If growing your email list in 2022 is one of your goals, you need lead magnets! And the great news is, once you’ve got an idea, they’re not that hard to create.

If you’re ready to take the next step and need some ideas to get your creative juices flowing, click here to download my Lead Magnet Master Idea List. You’ll find an idea that fits your business or be able to adapt something to fit your audience. 

And then, the email list building can begin!

Or, if you are ready to dive into the deep end of learning more about Lead Magnets, I have created a mini-course called “The Lead Magnet Mini-Course” where I answer HOW to create a Lead Magnet, WHY you need to create a Lead Magnet, WHERE you can create a Lead Magnet and finally THE FOLLOW THROUGH method many small business owners neglect to take when putting their Lead Magnet out online (aka, the Follow Through involves all things automation and systems which is the HEART of this training!) Either way, take advantage of learning more about how to start growing your email list TODAY!

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Meet Your Friendly Nashville Branding Photographer & Workflow Systems Educator

Dolly DeLong is a Nashville-based family & branding photographer and a creative business owner who educates on all things Pinterest & Dubsado (and how to use these platforms as systems in your business)!  Dolly loves serving families, and business owners with her timeless, radiant photography.  And, she also loves educating other business owners on how to set up systems and workflows that will ultimately help them save time in their business.

She has a heart for serving the larger business community. Dolly shares her knowledge of tools like Pinterest, Dubsado, Email Marketing, and Business Systems with new creative business owners & family photographers in an encouraging and supportive way because she believes that even muggles can become automating wizards. Plus BONUS: Systems is where the MAGIC happens!

Dolly’s faith and love for her family motivate her to help other business owners find the joy and freedom she’s found in running a successful small business.

Whenever she has a spare moment, she enjoys watching TV (i.e. Survivor), loves eating way too many sweets, and listens to podcasts while running or walking. To work with Dolly DeLong Photography LLC, fill out her contact form here.

Interested in learning how to best automate a part of your business but you have no clue where to begin? Check out www.systemsandworkflowmagic.com/automate to begin your automation journey today!

Interested in learning how to best automate a part of your business to attract your ideal clients by creating a Lead Magnet and have NO clue where to start? I created this FREE PDF “The Lead Magnet Master List ” and if you click over here you can access it!