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Email Marketing Basics · Lesson 4 of 14

Creating Incentives

People are more likely to share their email address when you offer something valuable that solves a problem.

1 Learn the concept

People are more likely to share their email address when you offer something valuable that solves a problem. This is called an incentive, or lead magnet. It can be a guide, a checklist, a discount or a template. This lesson explains how to design an incentive that attracts the right subscribers.

Four columns of incentive types with examplesIDEAS FOR INCENTIVESGuideA short how-toPDFChecklistA one-page toolto use todayDiscountMoney off a firstorderTemplateSomething peoplecan copy and edit
A good incentive solves a small problem quickly.

2 See it in action

  • Solve a specific problem for your audience.
  • Make it quick to use and easy to deliver.
  • Match it to your product so the subscribers are relevant.
  • Promote it where your audience already is.

Worked example

Designing an incentive for a trainer

Audience: busy people starting to exercise.

Problem: they do not know what to do each day.

Incentive: a free one-week workout and meal planner.

Headline: "Your first week, planned for you."

Result to look for: signups from people who match her real customers.

3 Study an example

Example scenario

A personal trainer offers a free one-week meal planner in exchange for an email address. People who download it are interested in nutrition, which is exactly her audience.

4 Apply it and download

  1. Brainstorm three incentives.
  2. Choose one.
  3. Write the headline and description.

Worksheet Incentive idea sheetOpen, print or save as PDF

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