Website Extras vs Reader Magnets vs Exclusive Content, and Why You Need Them All!

In the vast landscape of digital marketing, website extras, reader magnets, and exclusive content are three powerful tools that authors use to attract and engage their readers. While they may seem similar on the surface, there are key differences between them, including where they’re available and their intended purpose.

Before we talk about the distinctions between them, and why all three are valuable assets you should be adding to your content arsenal,

Before we talk about the distinctions between reader magnets and exclusive content, and why both are valuable assets you should be adding to your content arsenal, I need to also mention another type of content that should also be added to content library.

Online Content Extras: Allow Readers to “Window Shop” First

While content extras are not the main point of this article, you need to know you need this type of content on your author website. This is the content that any person can see when online.

Where to Find Them: This is the graphics on your social media feeds. This is the articles on your Author Blog. This is the website extras that you added to your book pages.

Purpose: This type of content allows your readers to “window shop” first, to see if your book is going to be worth their time and money BEFORE they buy your it.

Reader Magnets: Opening the Door to Engagement

Reader magnets are like the friendly handshake that welcomes potential readers into your world. They’re valuable resources or incentives offered to your readers you’ve offered in exchange for their email address. Reader magnets can take various forms, such as ebooks, checklists, guides, free trials, or coupons, and they’re often prominently displayed on the main page of your author website.

Where to Find Them: Reader magnets are usually accessible to anyone who visits your author website or engages with your marketing channels. This means your reader magnets, however many you choose to have, should be placed in the locations your readers will be when looking for a new book.

Purpose: The primary purpose of a reader magnet is to capture leads and grow your email list. By offering valuable content or incentives, you entice readers to provide their email address, allowing you to nurture them through the sales funnel and eventually convert them into paying, loyal advocates of your book.

Exclusive Content: Elevating their Customer Experience

Exclusive content is like the VIP pass that rewards your loyal readers and subscribers with special perks and privileges they won’t get anywhere else. It goes beyond the standard offerings and provides unique, premium content or experiences that are not available to the general public. Exclusive content can be from behind-the-scenes content, to insider information, to early access to upcoming chapters to your latest book.

Where to Find Them: Exclusive content is typically reserved for your existing readers, those subscribed to your ultra exclusive email list. It may be gated behind a login wall on your website, accessible only to those who have opted in or purchased something extra, like a digital product.

Purpose: The primary purpose of exclusive content is to enhance the customer experience and foster loyalty. By offering special perks and privileges to your existing readers, you strengthen your relationship with them, encourage repeat business, and turn them into brand advocates who’re more likely to share with their reader friends about the extras you have.

Why All Three Are Valuable:

While website extras, reader magnets, and exclusive content all serve different purposes and target different stages of your readers’ buying journey, all three of them are valuable assets in your content marketing strategy.

Website content piques your readers’ interest, reader magnets help you to attract and capture new leads, while exclusive content helps you to retain and delight existing readers.

By leveraging all three effectively, you can build a robust marketing ecosystem that not only attracts and engages your readers, but also retains them, ultimately driving long-term growth and success for your author business.

So, whether you’re enticing new readers or rewarding loyal readers, remember to harness the power of reader magnets and exclusive content to maximize your marketing impact.

So then what could you offer, here are some ideas to think about:

Content Ideas for Website Extras

Here are a few content ideas that are more ideal as extras on your website as opposed to being a reader magnet:

Content Ideas for Reader Magnets

Here are a few content ideas that are more ideal as a reader magnets:

Content Ideas for Exclusive Content

Here are a few content ideas that are more ideal as exclusive content:

What’s Next…

Looking to have your content made for you? Contact me anytime via email.

Dive deep into the Ultimate Guide to Mastering your Reader Magnet to know how to update and optimize all your content – blog articles, email newsletters, reader upgrades, and website extras.

You can Master Your Content with content kits available.

Want a deeper look into how to create content that’s entertaining, educational, engaging, inspiring, and persuasive.

Still wondering about the benefits of offering quality content? Take a look at this article.

Make sure to add the essential content elements to your author platforms!