Are you planning to sell an online course or are you already selling one?
If so, then the most important tool you need to have in your luggage is a giveaway, or in other words, a freebie.
If you've never heard of it before: It's a free offer that you offer in exchange for the name and email address of your target audience. By signing up for this offer, they will be added to your email list and help you increase the number of people you can send your marketing emails to.
By the way: The term "freebie" may no longer be used in this way since 2022. This is because a freebie implies that you get something for free. However, as data now has a high value and the freebie is only issued in exchange for the email address, it must now have a new name.
But because the term is so familiar, it is still often used.
Why do you need a lead magnet at all?
Having an audience on social media is obviously very valuable, but an ever-growing email list is every online entrepreneur's dream. It doesn't belong to Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest. It's your list. With an email list, you can announce news, encourage repeat purchases or win back old customers.
If one of your chosen social media channels were to disappear tomorrow, all your fans/followers would be gone too. Your precious email list, on the other hand, cannot simply be deleted by an external platform - as can happen, for example, if an account on social media is blocked.
When it comes to selling your online courses, having a quality list of dream clients that you email regularly and maintain a good relationship with will make your business more profitable.
What kind of freebies or lead magnets are there?
As a rule, you can use different freebies. Here are a few examples:
- A PDF guide.
- A checklist.
- A quiz.
- A workbook.
- A free online session via video
- A toolbox with helpful tools.
- Sometimes a part of the online course that you want to sell simply fits.
Tip: On the Memberspot platform, you can upload free offers in addition to the online courses you offer for sale.
A lead magnet is a great tool to grow your audience. If you want to successfully sell a course or product online, you absolutely need an audience!
How are freebies structured that magically attract your customers?
First of all: A lead magnet must be valuable. Because this is often one of the first contacts your potential customers have with you. So you have to use the lead magnet to convince them of how great your offer is and generate trust!
So what makes your offer more attractive than the others? Why should someone sign up with you of all people?
The most important components of an irresistible free offer are:
It solves a problem that helps your target group,
- to learn something.
- something to do.
- to get something.
It is very important and makes work easier or helps to achieve goals.
It covers a specific topic and it is focused. Don't try to cover everything you know or teach. Stay specific.
It doesn't take much time. People love information that they can absorb quickly and easily.
Pay attention to how much time you want your audience to spend with your freebie.
It gives you a taste of the online course you want to sell.
At the end there is a clear call to action. After all, you want to sell something. Regardless of whether it's a product, an online course or something else.
Offer immediate added value! This creates trust and makes your followers fall in love with you and your product!
What topic should your freebies cover?
Your freebie needs to be strategic and create an entry point into your world - a "free" offer is an invitation to get to know you. It's about your expertise, your teaching and your values.
What do you want your target group to learn? Or what do they need to know before they buy your matching product? Focus on that.
And remember: free doesn't mean it's not valuable.
So make your offer as good and as clear as possible so that your ideal customer will definitely want to sign up for it.
Does a lead magnet need its own landing page?
Once you have created your lead magnet, you will need to promote it. After all, you want to use it to grow your list. So you need a direct link to your giveaway. Be sure to use a dedicated landing page for this.
Your lead magnet deserves its own place - and the success of your marketing depends on it. So give it the place on your website that it deserves!
Of course, this also requires a registration form (Call to Action) with which you can register or sign up for an e-mail list.
After the landing page comes the funnel. But how are your contacts guided through the funnel?
The funnel, or sales funnel, starts with your ad, because first of all you need to get the attention of your prospects. The next step is to arouse their interest. With the registration form, you invite the prospect to take action. The registration form should be a separate web page to the landing page. Your visitors will be redirected to it if they want to sign up for your offer.
Ensure a consistent look with the landing page. It creates more trust and professionalism if your landing page matches the design of your other branding.
Only ask for the information you urgently need. In most cases, the first name is sufficient in addition to the e-mail address. You should not do without it, as you can use it to personalize your subsequent campaigns.
This is very important now! As you are working with the personal data of third parties, you always need the consent of your potential customers. This is mandatory under the GDPR. An opt-in is also required by law for contact from your side. Regardless of whether you only send newsletters by email or make phone calls. The opt-in must explicitly state which method your customer agrees to in detail.
Why is the "email sequence to get to know each other" important?
Remember: the purpose of your lead magnet is to grow your email list. And the purpose of your email list is to build an audience of dream clients that you can market and sell to, regardless of whether you might be a consultant doing most of your business over the phone.
People buy from people they know and trust.
So your offer isn't just about growing your list. It gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself to your new subscribers, build a relationship with them and help them get to know, like and trust you. It is therefore important that you make a good first impression.
What content and what order is important for the email sequence?
First e-mail
Thank you for registering and send a link to download the free offer.
Keep your promises. Your potential customers are already waiting for it!
Second e-mail
Introduce yourself and your story and build a connection! Tell them what brought you to where you are now. Maybe your story is relatable to them and they are stuck in the same place you were a few years ago. Show your target audience that they don't have to be where they are now forever and that there are so many opportunities waiting for them!
Third e-mail
Create opportunities! Start sharing your expertise and show your audience that you understand them. How they feel or where they are, but that there is so much more waiting for them. Give them insights into what goals they will achieve in your course. This is an opportunity to subtly prepare them for your online course or program that happens to address the exact area of their life they are stuck in!
Fourth e-mail
Share your results! Highlight successes with a client - someone who reflects where your new subscribers are now and where they want to go. Show how you've helped them, and if possible, include a testimonial too! You can do this through customer stories, social proof and testimonials. New prospects will get insights into the results and thus get a better feeling. (If you're just starting your online course, you can skip this email for now, but keep it in mind).
Fifth e-mail
If you have not yet received a response, you can send a reminder to these interested parties in the next step. Point out the goals of your course again and clearly communicate what they can expect. You have the opportunity to include relevant added value, such as a blog post.
Or you can present your offer again, which includes prices and the offer model. If you host your online courses on a course platform such as Memberspot, you can point out that the offer is bundled in one place and does not have to be switched from application to application. Memberspot also has the advantage that your members can exchange information with each other in a protected community, as Memberspot is a German platform and therefore GDPR-compliant. So list all the advantages that make you unique.
It is also a good idea to include a call to action.
Remember that this campaign is designed to get your subscribers to open and read your emails! It should not come across as spam and should not be too intrusive. Put yourself in the shoes of your target group and how you would like to be addressed.
Now it's your turn! Find your perfect lead magnet and place it in such a way that it attracts the attention of your target group. Remember to give a clear message to your visitors and an insight into the goals of your online course. Of course, a clear call to action is also a must! The free offers will increase your reach and your email list will grow. Now nothing stands in your way. We wish you every success in selling your online course.
Don't have a course platform yet, or are you dissatisfied with your current provider?
Then try out Memberspot for 14 days free of charge and without obligation and see for yourself! Just click on this link!
By the way, we also take care of moving all your content from your current provider to Memberspot.
We hope you enjoyed reading it. 📚
Best regards
Your Memberspot team 💙
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