Why Writers Need Lead Magnets

"Likes" on Facebook is one type of Lead Magnet



John Kremer, the author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Book , says
publishing is about building relationships. From my experience, often, who you
know is as important as what you know. Yes you have to write an outstanding
proposal and manuscript (foundational) but reaching the right person and readers
with your writing is a key part of the publishing process.



One of the ways you build relationships is through consistent
and regular communication. As I've mentioned in these articles in the past,
every writer needs to be growing an email list. Whether you write fiction or
children's books or nonfiction, you still need an email list. If you don't have
a list of wonder how to begin one, I have an inexpensive ebook called The List Building Tycoon.




The focus of this article is on creating a lead magnet. A lead
magnet is a list-building device. For someone to get the desired object (more on
what they can be in a minute), this person has to give you their first name and
email address. In exchange for them giving you their email address, then they
join your email list. On every email list, the subscriber has the option to
unsubscribe. Each time I send out to my list, people unsubscribe. It's part of
the process and nothing personal. You want people on your email list who want to
be there so you want to give them the ability to unsubscribe.



To create a lead magnet, first focus on your readers and the
type of people you want to attract. What do they need that you can provide for
them? Is it an ebook? Is it a teleseminar? Is it a video?



Lead magnets are tools to get people to subscribe to your list.
I have a number of these types of tools:




Free Ebooks









Straight
Talk From the Editor, 18 Keys to A Rejection-Proof Submission









Platform-Building Ideas for Every Author









Get More Mileage
from Your Content




Free lists of information



My free
list of over 400 literary agents (addresses, websites, phone numbers,
emails)



Free teleseminars and training






AskSteveLaube.com







AskBobBly.com









AskTerryWhalin.com









YourBookReviewed.com





AskBuildBookBuzz.com


many others



There is not a single way to create these lead magnets. Some
people do it with a simple video. The key is to have multiple ways for people to
sign up for your email list. Then you have to promote these lead magnets on
social media to encourage people to get your information. If you follow me on Twitter, you will notice I cycle through a number of these lead magnets through
my Twitter stream (which also shows up on LinkedIn and Facebook). Nothing
happens overnight but consistent action will build into something powerful which
you can use to touch your audience and readers.



Do you have a lead magnet or a number of lead magnets? How are
you promoting these lead magnets? Let me know in the comments below.



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What is a lead magnet? Why do writers need them? Learn the details here. (ClickToTweet)