Written by: Sunu Philip, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
A lead magnet funnel is a system used to attract ideal clients with a lead magnet and get them to buy something from you.
When set up right, a lead magnet funnel can be extremely effective in bringing in a stream of ready-to-buy leads for your high-ticket offers.
However, not all websites with lead magnet funnels in place bring in enough leads and sales.
If you’re planning to set up a lead magnet funnel on your website, here are the top mistakes you’ll want to avoid.
Mistake 1: Not Validating Your Offer
If you don’t have the right offer in place, it’s not yet time to think about your lead magnet funnel.
If you’ve just started your business and you’re not yet sure what you want to offer your audience, that’s where you have to begin.
The Solution:
First, identify what exactly your ideal client needs and how you can provide it to them.
Your offer can be a product or service that helps your ideal client solve a major pain point that they’re facing.
When you have your offer in place, start promoting it and get enough sales.
As you get new clients, you can also ask them for testimonials that will add weight to your offer.
Only when you have enough sales under your belt is your offer validated. Then you can start thinking about setting up a lead magnet funnel that will guide your audience to a free resource, and from there, to your offer.
Mistake 2: Creating a Generic Lead Magnet
Wanting to give your audience a free resource as a lead magnet is great, but putting out a generic lead magnet will do your business no favors.
You might feel a lead magnet that covers everything you offer will help, but the problem is that it’s not specific enough for your ideal client to take the next step with you.
They might sign up for your lead magnet, but they don’t have clarity on how exactly you can help them solve their problems. So, they don’t directly jump into work with you.
The Solution:
Reverse engineer the process and start with the end in mind.
Identify what particular product or service you want to sell. Then create a lead magnet that aligns with this offer.
The lead magnet gives your ideal client a peek into what you can do for them, so they’ll be more likely to jump in with both feet and sign up for your offer.
Mistake 3: You Don’t Know Your Audience
Do you really know who you’re trying to reach with your lead magnet? If you’re offering your lead magnet to the wrong people, you won’t have many takers.
Let’s say you have a bird and a cat at home.
If you place birdseed in the cat's bowl, the cat won't eat it. If you keep cat food in the bird's cage, the bird won't want it.
Also, if the cat is already full-bellied, it won't want a can of tuna - even if it's freshly opened.
It's absolutely essential to present the right lead magnet and offer to the right audience. And it has to be presented at the right time... when they're really looking for it.
The Solution:
Find out who your ideal client is and how you can help them with your lead magnet and offer. It has to speak directly to their need.
Get yourself in front of people who're really hungry for what you're offering, and offer them the right resource that will solve a major pain point in their life or business.
Mistake 4: Not Having a Plan on What’s Next
Another major mistake people make when setting up a lead magnet is that they don’t have a plan for what’s next - after people sign up for the lead magnet.
You might have the best possible lead magnet that your audience really wants. You might even get a whole lot of sign-ups.
But if you don’t have a plan to nurture them after they get on your email list, you’re missing a huge opportunity.
You want them to feel that you treasure them and that they’re a valuable part of your community. This will get them to warm up to you and to any offers you may pitch to them eventually.
The Solution:
Keep in mind that the purpose of getting people to sign up for your lead magnet is to open up a new channel of communication to reach them.
Introduce yourself and build a genuine relationship with them over a series of emails. Send them regular updates, seek their thoughts, and make them feel important.
The more you keep in touch and show up in their inbox, the more they’ll get to know, like, and trust you… which in turn makes them more likely to buy from you.
Mistake 5: Trying to Get it Perfect
The problem with aiming for perfection is that you spend so much time thinking and planning for the ideal lead magnet funnel that it doesn’t get done.
You might never get it all perfectly right on the first go, and that’s ok. It doesn't have to be perfect - it just needs to be done.
The Solution:
Get your first lead magnet funnel out there. Then test it out to see how it’s working. You can always tweak the system and make changes as required.
Any online system that has multiple components requires testing. What works now might not work for you a year down the line.
Change is inevitable, so it’s ok to take the trial and error route. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn as you go.
Mistake 6: Trying to Do it All Yourself
I’m so guilty of making this mistake. When I started my business, I thought I could do it all on my own. The problem is that I have my weaknesses - I’m not good at all facets of running a business.
I’m sure you know what you’re not great at. Pushing yourself to do the work you’re not good at will keep you from working on things that can be moneymakers.
Instead of wasting your time and effort on something you’re not comfortable working on, why not let someone else do it for you?
The Solution:
Find an expert or professional who’s great at doing the things you tend to stress over. They can easily guide you through the process because that is their strength.
With expert handholding, you’ll be able to minimize your frustration and play to your strengths rather than playing to your weaknesses.
Shameless plug: If you need help setting up your lead magnet funnels, I have over 12+ years of experience with it. I’ll be happy to help!
Setting up a lead magnet funnel on your website is a surefire way to get a steady stream of leads who’re interested in buying from you.
Be sure to avoid the mistakes outlined above, and you’ll be able to get your lead magnet funnel up and running in no time.
Interested in setting up a lead magnet funnel on your website? You can visit my website to avail my help.
Sunu Philip, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Sunu is an international lead magnet expert specializing in creating a lead magnet and launch funnels that help coaches and consultants consistently sell their high-ticket offers with ease. She has been in the digital marketing industry for the last 12+ years, working with varied industries, and has helped her clients generate £3 Million+ yearly income through SEO and inbound marketing strategies. A high-school teacher turned online marketing consultant, Sunu is passionate about supporting people who love to transform the lives and businesses of their clients.
Over the past 2 years alone (since she embraced the title ’The Lead Magnet Lady’), Sunu has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and small business owners share their story, build their tribe, increase their impact, and get more leads and sales by designing and setting up an efficient lead magnet and launch funnels for their businesses.
