LeadMagnetGeniusWhichever format you choose, the content of the lead magnet should be a strategic slice of your full offer. Here are some tips to create a lead magnet that naturally leads into your course or program:
Target a Specific Problem or Goal: Identify one burning problem that your course or coaching solves, and address that in the lead magnet. If your course is comprehensive, you can choose one module’s topic as the magnet focus. For example, if you have a 10-module course on Digital Marketing, you might offer a lead magnet solely about “Mastering Facebook Ads” (one crucial aspect). This way, you attract those interested in that problem and can later show them your course covers that and much more. A mistake would be a lead magnet that’s tangential or too broad such that the leads aren’t particularly interested in your core program (e.g., a generic “Online Marketing Trends 2025” PDF might get lots of downloads, but many won’t be interested in a structured course).
Ensure it’s Beginner-Friendly: Usually, you target people who are not yet experts (otherwise they might not need your course). So make the lead magnet accessible to beginners or those slightly along the path. As one course expert notes, a free course or resource aimed at beginners in your topic tends to work best, because those people will then naturally need a more in-depth course as the next step. Don’t make your lead magnet too advanced, or you’ll either intimidate people or attract the wrong crowd.
Provide High Value, but Don’t Solve Everything: This is a balancing act. Your lead magnet should impress the audience with quality and usefulness – hold nothing back in terms of accuracy and actionable info. However, it should not solve the entire problem end-to-end. There should be logical next questions or deeper support that the paid course/coaching can fulfill. Think of it this way: if your paid offer is the whole cake, the lead magnet is a delicious cupcake. It satisfies them for now, but they’ll want the whole cake later. For instance, your checklist might show what to do, but the course shows how to do it step-by-step. Or your mini-course gives them a result, but also reveals how much more is possible with the full course. An example from an actual course creator: he offered a free beginner’s course (about 2–3 hours of content), repurposed from his main course, and found it to massively outperform other generic PDFs because students who finished the free mini-course were extremely primed to buy the full program. It delivered value but also demonstrated exactly what more they could gain.
Reflect Your Teaching/Coaching Style: Use the lead magnet to set expectations and create familiarity. If your course has video lessons, try to include video in your lead magnet (like a welcome video in a PDF or a small video series). If your coaching style is high-energy and motivational, let that voice shine through even in a written guide. Consistency in style helps prospects feel like, “Yes, I vibe with this teacher/coach,” which is crucial for them to take the plunge for a paid program. It also means when they do join, they feel they already know you, which eases them into the paid content.
Include a Call-to-Action for Next Steps: Don’t wait until later emails to mention your course or coaching – the lead magnet itself can and should tee up the next step. This doesn’t mean turning it into a sales pitch, but a simple “What to do next” section can work wonders. For example, at the end of your eBook or mini-course, have a page that says “Ready to Dive Deeper? Join the Full [Name] Course” or “Apply for a free strategy session to see if my coaching can help you achieve [goal].” In a video, you can mention, “In my full program, we spend a whole week on this topic,” subtly letting them know more is available. The CTA in the lead magnet is usually low-pressure (“learn more here” or invitation to a webinar or consult) rather than “buy now,” but it plants the seed.