If you feel like you‘ve tried everything to generate leads for your b2b tech company but come up short, you‘re not alone.
Recent surveys show that 58% of tech marketers battle to produce enough qualified leads to meet revenue targets.
But the problem isn‘t a lack of tactics. You‘re just not leveraging the right bait.
See, quality lead generation in 2023 comes down to offering website visitors something irresistible in exchange for their contact information.
These irresistible exchange-of-value offers are called lead magnets.
Now I know you may be skeptical given all the outdated lead gen advice out there.
But give me just 5 minutes to walk you through the ins and outs of lead magnets – why they crush traditional techniques as well as the formats working today and tools to build them.
I guarantee you‘ll walk away with a refreshed perspective and actionable blueprint for attracting more of your ideal customers with less effort.
Let‘s get started!
Why Your Current Lead Gen Approach Flops
Before we dive into the value of lead magnets, it‘s important to understand why they so thoroughly outperform other lead capturing tactics floating around out there.
Here‘s the reality – most lead gen strategies were built for a world before smartphones, social media, and endless content noise.
They follow an interruption-based model either cold calling and emailing strangers or door-to-door sales invasion.
But today‘s buyers loathe hyper-targeting and view overly salesy outreaches as tone deaf to their needs.
This leaves you back at square one burning budgets chasing uninterested prospects. Not fun.
On the flipside, lead magnets embrace a permission-based approach. This builds trust and willingness to share contact details by leading with value not vendetta.
You attract engaged prospects by offering helpful educational resources and experiences relevant to problems they already need solved.
The result? Visitors convert on their own after seeing you understand and can fix their pain points they actively need resolving.
This exchange of value principle underpins why lead magnets significantly lift conversion metrics:
[insert graph showing lead magnet vs other conversion metrics]Now that you know why lead magnets are so effective, let‘s explore popular formats that work and cutting tools to create them.
Lead Magnet Goldmines: 7 Formats Yielding Motherlodes
Lead magnets come in a variety of formats from ebooks to interactive contests all offering exceptional value in exchange for subscriber contact infoentered via forms.
Let‘s breakdown the strengths of today‘s top performing options:
1. Ebooks
Ebooks and guides top the list for accessible and effective lead magnet offers. By packaging advice, how-tos, or insights into downloadable documents, ebooks provide utility for visitors looking to solve their problems.
They also establish your subject matter expertise and can be segmented to hyper-targeted topics.
For example, an ebook titled "A CISO‘s Guide to Vetting Managed Security Providers" serves an urgent reader need while positioning you as an authority.
Ebook lead magnet pros:
- Fast and inexpensive to produce using templates
- Easy to distribute via links in emails, ads, landing pages
- Allows embedding calls-to-action to demos, trials, etc
- Builds subscriber lists rapidly to nourish
2. Whitepapers
Whitepapers take ebooks to the next level – long-form technical documents aimed at moving enterprise-level leads down the sales funnel.
These deep dive formats reflect extensive research expertise blending educational content with subtle product promotion.
For example, a predictive behavioral analytics platform could publish a study comparing various cyber threat detection techniques and matching models.
Sprinkled throughout would be commentary on how the vendor solution applies said techniques for superior attack prevention.
Whitepaper lead magnet pros:
- Establish undisputed market sophistication
- Attract senior executive eyes based on market education
- Enable inserting advanced product capabilities as value-ads
- Offer as part of multi-touch nurturing journeys
3. Webinars
Webinars represent one of the most interactive lead magnet formats available by bringing thought leadership to life.
Prospects sign up to join a digital event led by your experts discussing topics aligned to buyer challenges.
You then capture their info exchanging for exclusive insights they can‘t find elsewhere.
Post webinar, the high value audience identified can be transitioned into demos and free trial offers.
Webinar lead magnet pros:
- Position your experts and their knowledge
- Foster engagement via audience polling, Q&As
- Dial up the exclusivity via promotion
- Transition viewers into buyers journey
4. Free Trials
Nothing builds buying conviction like hands-on software experience. Free trials convert idle prospects into active users ideally seeing the problem-solving value firsthand.
Vendors grant access to product demos for a 7-30 day period in exchange for registration details plus insights into feature engagement.
Combining demos embedded into your website/sales conversations with trials provides a persuasive 1-2 punch.
Free trial lead magnet pros:
- Prospects experience real ROI seeing products in action
- Usage data insights fuel salesteam consultations
- Nurture trial users via in-app messages and email drip campaigns
- Transition percentage seamlessly into paid buyers
5. Interactive Calculators
Online calculators represent one of the simplest yet effective lead magnet formats. They attract visitors by quantifying savings, diagnosing problems, or projecting outcomes from using your solution.
Visitors enter details on relevant factors and are shown impressive outputs if they register to access the calculator.
For example, a cyber insurance vendor could offer a calculator totalling policy cost savings by preventing various breach scenarios. Prospects would input their currentSolution pros:
- Increase website stickiness with addictive calculators
- Quantify value prop with personalized outputs
- Capture and segment high-intent visitor data
- Use figures to initiate sales conversations
6. Instructional Videos
Video-based training courses can be packaged as marquee lead magnets with big name presenters for credibility.
Topics should focus on developing skills prospects need but can‘t easily self-teach rather than pure product pitches.
For example, an encrypted endpoint protection platform could recruit a guest hacker to teach courses on penetration testing, digital forensics or PCI compliance.
Instructional video lead magnet pros:
- Recruit industry celebrity presenters
- Structure video course curriculum for max impact
- Drip release parts via email nurturing new modules
- Upsell course graduates into certifications
7. Assessment Tests
Assessments appeal to visitors desire to benchmark themselves leading to competitive sharing.
The classic example – a cybersecurity maturity model that scores a company‘s processes after answering survey questions.
Visitors enter their email to both receive their score plus get matched with related remediation resources.
Assessment test lead magnet pros:
- Tap into visitors‘ competitiveness
- Diagnostic outputs position your expertise fixing gaps
- Smartly structured assessments feel like quizzes fostering sharing
- Aggregate benchmarking data on industry holes
Those represent proven top performing lead magnet formats for capturing hordes of qualified subscribers in 2023.
Now let‘s explore cutting SaaS tools for building them.
7 Lead Magnet Maker Tools For Mass Conversion
While you can manually create lead magnets in general apps like Word, dedicated conversion-focused software streamlines production plus optimization.
These lead magnet creation platforms range from simple landing page builders to advanced memnership site and funnel designers.
Based on your content format and delivery model, certain tools fit best. Here are my top picks across needs:
1. LeadPages – Landing Page Powerhouse
LeadPages pioneered simplified lead capture and conversion page building with drag and drop editors.
It allows creating instant stand-alone and embedded lead gen pages gated by opt-in forms to access content.
Beyond page builder strengths, LeadPages packs other conversion focused features like:
🏁 Built-in Lead Magnet Templates – 100+ pre-made formats optimized for gated content types – ebooks, kits, courses etc.
🏁 Lead Links – Create tracked URL links leading to gated offers for easy promotion.
🏁 Alert Bars – Floating banners that load site-wide to advertise magnets with CTAs.
For mid-market businesses prioritizing landing page conversion, LeadPages is a robust platform.
The main downside is pricing starts at $37/month for pro features excluding advanced email nurturing workflows.
2. ClickFunnels – Marketing Funnel Machine
While LeadPages focuses solely on high-performing landing pages, ClickFunnels is built around multi-touch marketing funnel orchestration.
It makes creating complex automated lead nurturing sequences no harder than basic landing pages using drag-and-drop.
Advanced lead magnet features include:
🔴 Membership Sites – Offer exclusive access to gated content libraries like premium video courses behind subscription paywalls.
🔴 Pre-Built Funnel Templates – Access full turnkey high-converting sales, tripwire, and lead magnet funnel blueprints tailored to verticals.
🔴 Course Platforms – Create tiered training courses gated into modules sold individually or bundled.
The downside is ClickFunnels runs higher cost starting at $97/month. But it equips growing firms with sophisticated marketing tools once reserved for enterprises.
3. Unbounce – Smart Landing Page Constructor
While LeadPages and Unbounce both enable building high-performance landing pages, Unbounce edges into advanced personalization and analytics.
It guides users creating targeted experiences rapidly through 100+ focused lead capture templates.
But Unbounce‘s AI-powered Smart Builder takes optimization farther auto testing page elements in real-time to match individual visitor preferences for lift.
Unbounce lead magnet perks including:
⬥ Goal-Focused Templates – Tailored lead gen formats from contact forms to two-step opt-ins.
⬥ Lead Flows ̛- Connect landing pages into structured nurturing workflows.
⬥ 750+ Template Building Blocks – Accelerate custom page creation.
With pricing starting at $99/month, Unbounce fits mid-market and enterprise teams banking on conversion rate optimizations to scale growth.
4. Instapage – Landing Page + Paid Ad Manager
Instapage competes neck-and-neck with Unbounce providing high-performance customizable landing page building for ad channels.
The softwarecentralizes visual editor coding workflows plus ad management.
Robust lead magnet creation capabilities include:
⬥ Ad Management Platform ‐ Launch integrated performance marketing campaigns from Instapage directly.
⬥ Conversion Analytics ‐ Gain visitor behavior insights and run A/B testing.
⬥ 100+ Lead Gen Templates – Jumpstart creation for salesfunnels.
Monthly pricing also hits premium levels starting at $149/month. But the powerful analytics justify costs for scaled lead gen programs.
5. Thrive Themes – WordPress Optimizer
Now for companies leveraging WordPress, Thrive Themes takes a different approach.
Instead of standalone landing pages, Thrive bakes optimized lead capture directly into designed sites with its Themes.
For example, its content building blocks insert lead flows mid-post and page to capture emails as visitors scroll without exiting.
More baked-in lead magnet features include:
🔘 Content Upgrades – Deliver additional gated resources to known contacts
🔘 Scroll Triggered Opt-Ins – Activate popups based on visitor position.
🔘 Quiz Funnels – Interactive assessments to nurture leads.
As a WordPress-centric platform, Thrive Themes pricing remains affordable at $19+/month making tools accessible.
6. ConvertKit – Email Marketing Focused
ConvertKit anchors lead magnet results around email marketing centricity.
It structures designer email sequences integrating capture forms to convert at critical touchpoints.
Key features include:
🔺 Multi-Form Creation – Place opt-in widgets anywhere – sidebars, headers, popups.
🔺 Tag-Based Segmentation ‐ Track landing page form channels for segmentation.
🔺 Automation Rules ‐ Set subscriber triggers to advance/nurture through journeys.
Pricing tiers span $29->159 monthly scaling all business sizes. The focus on email generates extreme engagement and conversion.
7. MailerLite – Affordable Multi-Channel Lead Collector
Lastly, MailerLite competes as an affordable ConvertKit alternative combining email with sophisticated landing builders.
Magnetic capabilities involve:
🟢 Pre-Made Opt-In Forms – Embed sign up and contact forms out of the box.
🟢 Popups and Messengers – Launch attention-grabbing site alerts.
🟢 Broad Opt-InPlacement ‐ Insert lead flows across all digital channels.
Free plans support 1,000 subscribers then scale up reasonably from $10->199 monthly. The lead collection flexibility provides complete view of subscriber journeys.
Those 7 tools represent leading options specializing in enabling all types and complexities of lead magnet creation.
Maximize Lead Magnet Performance
Even using dedicated lead magnet maker platforms, success requires optimizing magnet formatting, promotion, and sequencing for your audience.
Here are 7 proven methods to maximize magnet efficiency:
1. Hyper-Target Underserved Reader Needs
Lead magnet content and offer framing should fill very specific audience knowledge and skill gaps competitors ignore. Use surveys and 1:1 outreach to pinpoint then address frustrations.
2. Communicate Scarcity And Exclusivity
Reinforce the unique value of your gated asset highlighting rare advice or data readers won‘t find searching online otherwise. Limit magnet availability windows.
3. Personalize Calls To Action
Options like visitor name fields and conditional content based on interests/role tailor messaging improving relevancy and conversion rates.
4. Right-Size Barrier To Entry
Ask only for essential contact details in initial conversion flows to access offers. Too much info upfront limits magnet conversions. Gradually qualify subscribers through progressive lead flows unlocking more exclusive content.
5. Maintain Multi-Channel Promotion
Repurpose ebook, checklist, video or other magnet content across website, email, social media, and ads. This drives traffic and conversions simultaneously from all directions.
6. Optimize For Mobile Visitors
With over 60% of traffic now on smartphones, ensure all landing page experiences and forms easily convert mobile users.
7. Continually Test And Optimize
Use page analytics to identify high-traffic but under-converting magnets. Run A/B testing on form placement, description copy, content format etc until conversion lift plateaus.
Stick to those 7 tips and your lead magnet performance will rival top marketers.
Go Capture Your Dream Customers
Hopefully you now see that lead magnets don‘t need to be scary or frustrating to create and optimize like old school tactics.
They represent the most effective yet easier permission-based approach to inbound lead generation.
This guide outlined popular magnet formats yielded game-changing results alongside tools to produce them.
You‘re now equipped attract and convert visitors at scale. The work left lies in researching your audience‘s pain points and producing magnets tailored to alleviate them.
So put these strategies into play starting today and watch your hard-won subscriber lists, sales opportunities, and revenues hit unprecedented levels.
Now go make those magnets! Just shout if any part of the process gets tricky. Happy to help!
