Graceful Resources

Online Scheduling and Web Design Help

lead magnet

3 Reasons to Take the Lead Magnet Survey

by

Most surveys are about as enticing as extra paperwork at the department of motor vehicles.

Nobody likes to answer a long sequence of questions.

Nobody chooses to take a survey just for fun – although Typeform software does make surveys more of a dynamic human experience.

Perhaps most companies stopped trying to connect with people online when they labeled customers as site users.

Thankfully, for your human experience, Typeform is used for the Lead Magnet Survey here on the Graceful Resources website.

That may not be enough of a reason to convince you to take the survey, so here are three other reasons to take this survey which is designed to gather data on what lead magnets (also called opt-in incentives or ethical bribes) are working best to grow small business email lists today.

Lead-Magnet-Survey

3 Reasons to Take the Lead Magnet Survey

  1. The Lead Magnet Survey only takes about three minutes to complete.

    The Lead Magnet Survey (click here to open the survey in a new window) can easily be completed on a mobile device and it’s not one of those generic surveys that have no end in site.

    You’ll be back to your other responsibilities (or your work break) in less than five minutes. No worries.

  2. The Lead Magnet Survey is an example of a lead magnet strategy itself.

    You may be inspired to create a similar assessment for your own online platform, and, if interested, Typeform best practices can be taught to project participants in the upcoming online Lead Magnet Project.

    If you look closely, you will discover the Lead Magnet Survey actually represents four different lead magnet strategies!

  3. Your professional opinion matters.

    If you have ever opted-in to an email list to get a coupon, receive a free guide, watch a video series, or for some other reason (and who hasn’t?), you have experience with lead magnets.

    The latest survey results were discussed publicly for the first time on Friday, May 5th at 12 pm ET.

    The event was the Authority Traffic School Session hosted by Sonia Simone, Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Rainmaker Digital.

    (Authority is an advanced content marketing training and networking community organized through Copyblogger – click here for more information about Authority).

Surveys are Predictably Boring

Nobody can hide from that truth.

But a survey about lead magnets should itself be a good lead magnet.

Click here to take the Lead Magnet Survey to discover for yourself.

Thanks.

5 Essential Characteristics of a Lead Magnet

by

A lead magnet goes by many names (see what is an ethical bribe?), but what is most important to know, is that a lead magnet is essential for your business growth.

Your lead magnet inspires people to join your email mailing list when they visit your website or landing page.

Without an email mailing list, you can’t grow your business online.

Why Your Email List Matters

Without an email list, you can’t build relationships with your audience.

Without an email list, you can’t notify your audience of new posts.

Without an email list, you can’t share information with them about your new online course, ebook, project, etc.

Without an email list, you can’t segment your audience based on their interest (ConvertKit is recommended for this aspect – here’s why).

Without an email list, you can’t grow your business online and be profitable.

Without an email list, you can’t give yourself time and money back for what really matters in life.

Characteristics of a Lead Magnet

5 Essential Characteristics of a Lead Magnet

You now know that an email list is critical for your online success.

But without a good lead magnet, you can’t start or build a relevant email list.

Not all lead magnets are created equal.

A professional lead magnet has five essential characteristics.

Rather than outline the case for each of these five lead magnet characteristics in a really long and less memorable post, the essential characteristics are now packaged for your quick reference in a (you guessed it) lead magnet!

Specifically, the lead magnet is a 9-page guide titled The Five Essential Characteristics of a Lead Magnet. Click here for your complimentary copy.

You’ll also receive professional advice once a week to apply to your own lead magnet and to your corresponding web pages and email marketing.  There is no spam and you can unsubscribe from the list at any time.

If you choose to stay on the email list, you can also showcase your own lead magnet web address free of charge on the Lead Magnet Examples page here on the Graceful Resources website.

If you need professional assistance with a new lead magnet and the technical integration of web pages, opt-in forms, and email marketing, you will also receive a 25% discount to the strategic Lead Magnet Project.

Receive Your Free Guide

Cheering for your online success – one project step at a time!
Brent

What is an Ethical Bribe? Here’s Another Perspective

by Leave a Comment

An ethical bribe is a fancy term for an opt-in incentive to join an email mailing list.

In other words, it is a lead magnet (here are some lead magnet examples for your reference).

A Form of Business Exchange

A lead magnet or ethical bribe is a form of exchange.

You gain someone’s contact information (e.g. email address) and the other person receives your ethical bribe.

For example, the person who signs up for your mailing list receives the benefits of the ethical bribe (such as a free resource guide) and the additional benefits of the email subscription. Your business, in exchange, receives the person’s contact information (typically an email address) to stay in contact and build a relationship with the person.

A good ethical bribe will:

  1. Attract the right leads to your mailing list and business.
  2. Grow your online business automatically.
  3. Give you time back for your family and friends.

Another Way to Look at an Ethical Bribe

Long before the information age, an ethical bribe had a very common name and that is…

Free samples.

Chances are, if you walk into a local bakery or café, you will still be treated with a delicious sample from the chef.

Ethical-Bribe

Why do these small businesses give away food for free?

The reason is obvious.

The free sample demonstrates their expertise in food preparation.  If the sample is delectable, you will likely pay for more of it.

You will also feel the need to reciprocate the free offer.

In the digital world, your online ethical bribe is your free sample.

Keep it simple and related to your area of expertise.

Just like a bakery chef shouldn’t offer free wine tastings of someone else’s wine, you shouldn’t design a lead magnet that is unrelated to your line of work.

The gesture may be appreciated by someone, but the connection is lost.

Give your leads a free sample that builds trust in you and has them asking for more from the ethical bribe chef!

Ethical Bribe Example

For your additional reference, click here for an ethical bribe (lead magnet) example that outlines the other four characteristics of an essential lead magnet.

Receive the Free Guide

Cheering for your online success – one project step at a time!
Brent

How to Promote Your Website for Free

by

You’ve got a great message or product to share with the world!

And you should profit from your passion so you can serve more people. You may have a website or landing page already published – awesome if you do, but no worries if you don’t yet.

One you have at least one landing page in place, you are ready to build an email list so you can stay connected to your audience.

(If you need help getting started, there’s an inexpensive Graceful Resources project launching in April titled How to Build an Email List – Even Without a Website)

Why Your Email List Matters

With an email list, you can build relationships with your audience.

With an email list, you can notify your audience of new blog posts.

With an email list, you can announce your offerings to people who already know you.

With an email list, you can segment your audience based on their interest (ConvertKit is recommended for this aspect – here’s why).

With an email list, you can be profitable and expand your great message or product to a global audience.

How to Promote Your Website for Free

How to Promote Your Website for Free

There are multiple common strategies to promote your website (and email list) for free such as:

  1. Publish and optimize blog posts to generate organic SEO traffic
  2. Share your web content on social media
  3. Add a link to your website or landing page in your email signature
  4. Talk about your web page in person at events
  5. Include your website in your professional profile on LinkedIn

Here is one more professional uncommon option that is available to you today:

Promote your website for free on this website (specifically, on the Graceful Resources Lead Magnet Examples page)

There’s just one catch…

Ok, there are two (but they’re both helpful to you):

  1. You need a lead magnet (if you need help creating a lead magnet, the upcoming Graceful Resources project will cover that step too). 
  2. You need to be a Graceful Resources email subscriber (it’s completely free).

When you become an email subscriber, you will now experience three benefits:

  1. FREE weekly project lessons learned to apply to your current or future landing pages, website, and email marketing.
  2. Announcements about deadlines for affordable professional projects to help you build a strong email list and online business.
  3. FREE professional publicity for your website on the Graceful Resources Lead Magnet Examples Page.

Your Passion Matters

You have a special gift to share with the world, and you should profit from your passion so you can serve more people.

If you have ever wondered how to promote your website for free, you now have another professional option through Graceful Resources:

Graceful Resources Lead Magnet Examples Page

Cheering for you!
Brent

Subscribe Today

Lead Magnet Example: Before and After

by

Entrepreneurship at its core is about transformation.

Successful entrepreneurs are in the business of creating (and selling) some form of transformation for customers.

Elva Edwards is no exception and you’ll discover her inspiring story in a moment.  Her signature image below is heart warming:

Hands_w800

Whether you are a soon-to-be or active online entrepreneur, you have an amazing gift to share with the world that can transform other people’s lives.  You should also profit from your passion so you can serve more people.

To reach your online goals, you need to plan the work and then work the plan. The marketing strategies are constantly evolving, but with a solid foundation in place with the right web technology tools and processes, you can start the transformation you are offering others.

Transformation Starts with a Lead Magnet

For you, as an online entrepreneur, the transformation you offer starts with a lead magnet – an extra but related incentive for people to join your respective email mailing list. Once an email list is established, you have a direct communication channel to stay connected to your audience.

ElvaEdwardsPhoto

Dr. Elva Edwards is transforming people’s lives. She just launched a new platform called ChildhoodLoss.com to help adults heal from the loss of a parent when they were children.

Elva was born in West Texas and lived on a farm with her parents, grandmother, and sister until her parents were killed when she was only 19 months of age. She and her sister fell into the loving arms of their grandparents who moved to the farm to live with them.

She authored a book about her experience of healing from the loss of her parents as a child. It is called “A Texas Tragedy: Orphaned by Bootleggers.” Based on her book, Dr. Edwards is now planning to launch an online program to help other adults heal from a loss of a parent when they were children.

Lead Magnet Example: A Before and After Transformation

As a first step to build her email mailing list, Elva created her first lead magnet called “The Top Three Acts of Kindness to Heal the Loss of a Parent When You Were a Child”.

As you compare the two examples below, you can see that her lead magnet went through a transformation as well:

  1. Original Lead Magnet Document
  2. Revised Lead Magnet Document

(If interested in Elva’s platform, you or someone you care about can opt-in to her mailing list at ChildhoodLoss.com.)

Your Lead Magnet Example

Your first or next lead magnet is right around the corner too.

If you are not sure what lead magnet works best, this free 3-minute lead magnet survey may give you some insights.

If you are seeking project guidance to design and connect a professional lead magnet to your business email mailing list, don’t miss the interactive Lead Magnet Project.  It is an online community-based project environment for entrepreneurs. No tech or design experience required! 

And if you are seeking direct design help with a PDF lead magnet guide or checklist you’ve already outlined, layout designer Anas Abouzaradi at GoodLeadMagnets.com transformed Elva’s lead magnet and is highly recommended. Please feel free to let Anas know you were referred to him by Brent Peterson.

Anas also created the design for the lead magnet on this site: 5 Essential Characteristics of a Lead Magnet.

Anas will also be helping participants involved in the Lead Magnet Project and you can share your lead magnet concept and draft with project members for their valuable feedback.

Hope this helps,
Brent

p.s. You can discover other lead magnet examples on the Lead Magnet Examples Page – and you add your own lead magnet information free of charge if you are a Graceful Resources email subscriber.

Best Lead Magnets? Take this Quick Survey to Find Out

by

What are the best lead magnets to grow your email mailing list? Here’s a 3-minute survey to help you find out.

No email opt-in is required to participate or to see the latest results.

You also have the option to add your website free of charge to the new Graceful Resources professional listing of lead magnet examples.

Here is the information that is included in the public listing:

  1. Type of Your Lead Magnet
  2. Name of Your Lead Magnet
  3. Target Audience for Your Lead Magnet
  4. Web Address for Your Lead Magnet
  5. Your Name

Take the Quick Survey

What is a Lead Magnet?

In the online commerce world for your own business, a Lead Magnet is an extra incentive to inspire someone to join your email mailing list.

In essence, it is a form of exchange.  You gain someone’s contact information (e.g. email address) and the other person receives your lead magnet.

For example, the person who signs up for your mailing list receives the benefits of the lead magnet (such as a free resource guide) and the additional benefits of the email subscription.  Your business, in exchange, receives the person’s contact information (typically an email address) to stay in contact and build a relationship with the person.

Pen On Notebook With Computer Keyboard, Mouse And Cell Phone

What are the Best Lead Magnets?

That’s the question this new survey is designed to answer.

Your participation will also help others and provide you insight for your own business.  If you’d like to share the survey with other professionals, there are social share options (e.g. Facebook, Twitter) at the end of the survey. The social share buttons open in a new window before you click on the button to see the latest survey results.

Thanks,
Brent