Discover the Most Effective Lead Magnets for Building Your Coaching Business

If you’re a coach, chances are you are always on the lookout for new ways to bring in qualified leads, book discovery calls, and grow your email list.

The options are vast—ranging from cold calls to Google ads, but let me tell you, one lead generation strategy stands out among the rest. I’m Torie Mathis, marketing agency CEO and digital marketing coach at the Smart Arsenal.

After struggling with various lead generation tactics, I discovered the most effective method: lead magnets.

Why Lead Magnets Work So Well

A lead magnet is a freebie you offer potential clients in exchange for their contact information. It’s an essential tool for any coach looking to build their client list, and here’s why it’s so effective:

1. Incentive to Sign Up: Many people are hesitant to give out their contact information, but if you offer them something valuable, they’re more likely to take the plunge.

2. Building Rapport: Lead magnets help establish trust with your audience by providing them with valuable information, setting the stage for higher ticket services.

3. Collecting Data: As people sign up for your lead magnet, you gather useful information about their needs and interests, allowing you to fine-tune your marketing efforts.

Here’s a detailed look at some of the best lead magnets for coaches.

1. Free Report or Guide

Offering a free report or guide that covers a specific topic related to your coaching program is a stellar way to show your expertise. You likely already have a lot of this content created for your clients, so repurposing it into a lead magnet can be a breeze.

Aim to provide the first actionable step towards solving a prospect’s problem to make you the logical next step in their journey. You can use tools like Canva to create eye-catching PDFs and deliver them via email marketing software like Kartra.

2. Cheat Sheet, Checklist, or Resource List

This type of lead magnet offers quick wins by saving your leads time or money, or by making something easier to accomplish. Use content you already have, or think of something valuable you would typically provide early in your work with a client. These handy freebies not only attract leads but also demonstrate your competence.

3. Worksheet or Workbook

Worksheets or workbooks help leads take actionable steps and see tangible results. Follow up via automated emails to provide more tips and insights, and offer additional resources to further solidify their trust in you. Use Kartra or Canva to create and deliver these materials easily.

4. Free Mini-Course or Training

Offer a free mini-course or training session to display your expertise. Whether it’s an email course, a webinar, or even a physical workshop, the key is to deliver value without overwhelming your audience.

Think of it as an appetizer that entices them to explore your full range of services. Tools like Kajabi or Kartra can help create and deliver these courses efficiently.

5. Exclusive Content

Exclusive content such as an ebook, video series, or audio series can keep your leads engaged and coming back for more. Consider “dripping” the content over a period to avoid overwhelming them, and use platforms like Canva or Kartra to facilitate the process.

6. Free Consultation or Discovery Call

Offering a free consultation gives prospects a taste of what it’s like to work with you while allowing you to gauge their fit for your services. Use tools like Calendar or Kartra for seamless scheduling, but be cautious of freeloaders who may waste your time.

7. Contest or Giveaway

A contest or giveaway related to your coaching services can generate buzz and attract leads interested in what you offer.

Avoid generic giveaways like iPads or Amazon gift cards; instead, focus on items directly tied to your services to ensure you attract the right audience. Use platforms like Gleam IO or Rafflecopter to manage your giveaways.

8. Q&A Session

Hosting a Q&A session related to your coaching business can draw in leads interested in specific aspects of your services. Frame it as an exclusive feature for email subscribers to ensure you capture those valuable email addresses. Use tools like Zoom or Kartra for hosting.

Where to Get Lead Magnet Ideas for Coaches

Stuck on what kind of lead magnet to create? Here are a few places to get inspired:

– Current Content: Repurpose your blogs, ebooks, guides, or client materials.

– Competitor Analysis: Review what similar blogs in your niche are offering and aim to improve upon these ideas.

– Ask Your Audience: Use surveys and polls to crowdsource ideas.

– Market Gaps: Identify what your competitors are missing and fill that gap.

– Brainstorming: Discuss ideas with your team or colleagues to come up with a winning concept.

How the Lead Magnet Process Works

Once you’ve created your lead magnet, you need a way to deliver it to prospective clients. Use an email service provider to create a signup form, ideally on a landing page.

Platforms like Kartra offer pre-built templates, email sequences, funnels, and forms to streamline this process. Promote your lead magnet on social media, blogs, email signatures, Facebook groups, and more to attract leads.

The Secret to an Effective Lead Magnet Strategy

The key to making lead magnets work is delivering value while leading your audience to eventually work with you. Don’t miss the opportunity to turn those leads into paying clients.

But lead magnets are just one part of a smart marketing strategy. Let me ask you a question, do you know how your marketing stacks up?

Find out by taking the SMART Marketing quiz. Get customized results on how to get smarter with your marketing—you’ll learn exactly what YOUR business should focus on, get customized recommendations on how to get the best bang for your marketing buck, and unleash your business’s true potential.

It’s like having a personal marketing coach by your side!

And remember, you don’t need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or a dedicated staff to market your business, You don’t even need a lot of time.

What you need is to be smart, and lead magnets are smart for your business.

If you're ready to grow your business with smart marketing you can:

1. Sign up for weekly FREE Business Bytes with CEO, Torie Mathis

2. Get a SMART Funnel and begin to automate your marketing

3. Learn Digital Marketing with a Smart Marketing Course

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TORIE MATHIS

Torie Mathis helps entrepreneurs grow their business with Smart Marketing.  She is a best-selling author, Army veteran, international speaker + trainer, and the CEO + Creative Director at Lake Shark Media. She also teaches entrepreneurs how to get smart with digital marketing at toriemathis.com