Hey there, fellow authors!! If you’re looking for a comprehensive way to come up with a reusable and never-ending content strategy that can guide all your other content while building your author list, continue reading!!
Think of reader magnets as the shiny bait at the end of your marketing hook, enticing potential reader to take the plunge into your world.
But here’s the kicker – they’re not just about reeling people in; they’re about guiding your entire marketing strategy from start to finish.
You know what a reader magnet is! It’s a content piece that so valuable that your readers will happily hand over their email address to get! And what’s fun – it can be an ebook, a ticket to an online event, a storybook guide, or even a coupon to get something more – the possibilities are endless. But why are they so darn important?
Let’s break it down.
The Reader Magnet’s Role
Imagine, if you will, that you’re fishing (bear with me on this analogy). You cast your line (your marketing efforts) into the vast sea of potential readers. Now, without a hook or bait, you’re just waving your fishing rod around aimlessly, hoping someone somewhere will see your line.
But with a well-designed reader magnet, you’re dangling a juicy worm (or a sparkly lure, if that’s more your style) that catches the eye of even the most elusive fish (your ideal target readers).
Creating Your Reader Magnet
Alright, so how do you create a reader magnet that’s so irresistible your readers will jump up and down to get??
First things first, you need to know your readers inside and out. What are their pain points? What keeps them up at night? Once you’ve got that down, brainstorm some valuable content that addresses those pain points head-on.
To help you determine which pain point your readers might have, check out these 10 common problems reader might have with your book.
To give you an example, let’s say you run a fitness blog and your audience is always asking for quick workout routines they can do at home. Voilà! This lead magnet could be a free ebook title “5-Minute Fat-Burning Workouts for Busy Moms.” It’s a quick, actionable, and exactly what that audience is looking for.
Now, I know your romance books are a fictional story, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an issue you can’t help your readers solve, just like that one.
Repurposing Your Reader Magnet
Now comes the fun part – spreading the word!!! But here’s the secret sauce: repurposing your content instead of starting over again and again.
Take that ebook idea and sprinkle its essence across all your marketing channels like fairy dust. Turn it into graphics for Instagram with snippets of tips and tricks, create videos demonstrating each exercise for YouTube, write blog posts expanding on each workout routine, and heck, why not record an audio version for your podcast??
By repurposing your lead magnet into different formats, you’re reaching out the readers with different learning techniques while reaching them wherever they hang out online. Some people might prefer scrolling thru Instagram, while others are more into binge-watching shorts on YouTube or Tiktok videos. Cover all your bases, and you’ll reel in a diverse school of fish.
Where to Place Your Reader Magnet
Alright, now that you’ve got your reader magnet and its various incarnations ready to go, where do you stick ’em? Everywhere!! Well, almost. Here are some prime spots to showcase your shiny new bait:
Website Pop-ups: When a reader lands on your author website, greet them with a pop-up offering your reader magnet. Make it easy to dismiss if they’re not interested, but tantalizing enough to make them think twice.
Social Media Profiles: Update your social media bios to include a link to your current freebie’s landing page. If you have a link-in-bio page, edit this to reflect your most important lead magnet at the top. Pin a post about it to the top of your profiles for good measure. Keep it visible, but not obnoxious.
Blog Articles: Remember those blog posts you wrote? Sprinkle text links to this reader magnet throughout this article, using pop-up forms, that lead your readers to a delicious feast. You can even choose which type of form to add to your article: pop-up form, inline form, pop-over form, or lightbox form for maximum impact.
Email Signature: Yup, you heard me right. Add a subtle mention of your reader magnet to your email signature with an active link. You never know who might click out of curiosity.
Guest Posts: If you’re guest posting on other blogs or contributing to online publications, weave mentions of your reader magnet into your author bio or within the content itself. (as long as it’s relevant and not spammy).
Email Nurture Sequence
Do not, do not forget to write an email nurture sequence for your reader magnet, for each of your reader magnets.
This is a marketing trick that many forget, many don’t consider important. Along with your welcome email (that has the download link to your freebie), you need 3-5 emails that automatically follow your first. This is a great way to “nurture” your readers and keep them coming back for more.
Analyzing and Optimizing
Phew, you’ve done it! Your reader magnet is out there in the wild, reeling in leads left and right. But the work doesn’t stop there, my friend. Keep a close eye on your analytics to see which channels are bringing in the most leads and which ones could use a little TLC.
Experiment with different formats, messaging, and placements to see what resonates best with your target readers. maybe those Instagram graphics are driving tons of traffic, but your YouTube videos are falling flat. The whole point of social media is to experiment. so tweak, iterate, and refine your strategy as often as needed until you’ve got a well-oiled lead-generating machine on your hands.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, authors – the lowdown on reader magnets and how they can transform your marketing game. Remember, it’s not just about capturing leads; it’s about nurturing those readers to become advocates who can’t get enough of your books and your characters.
So go forth and conquer! Create something awesome! And watch those readers come flooding into your list like eager fish biting at the bait. Happy fishing, my friends!
Oh, here are three problems your readers might have… and the content templates to get them done:
If they don’t understand something:
StoryBook Guide
If they want a way to remember details:
Cast of Characters
If they crave diving deeper into your character:
Character Adventures
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 Magnets 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!