Evolution of a Lead Magnet Title (with example)

What Is a Lead Magnet and Why Is the Title Such a Big Deal?

Lead Magnets are the overlooked heroes of online marketing. Unassuming, they stand like sentries on your Home page and social media accounts, ready to serve at a moment’s notice.

We want ours to be so obviously helpful that readers can’t resist signing up to read it (trading their name and email to have access to it).

In their most basic format, Lead Magnets are 3-10 pages long and in PDF format. They include a great cover image, an enticing title (bonus points for an equally interesting sub-title), with images, graphics, or infographics to support the content.

They also include lots of “white space,” a designer term meaning empty space with no words or images. White space breaks up content and gives the reader a chance to pause and absorb your content.

Few people read page after page text with nothing to separate them—that’s like reading a clinical report—and who wants to do that?

The goal of a Lead Magnet is to answer a single question or solve a single problem the reader is dealing with now. It’s not about what you know they need; it’s about what they’re searching for today.

Titling your Lead Magnet is everything. Potential readers sign-up for it, or not, based entirely upon that single piece of information. Does your title promise it can help your readers in the specific way they want to be helped? If not, keep working on it. It’s that important.

The Process in Action

I helped a friend develop her Lead Magnet title recently. Her ministry serves Christian women dedicated to praying for their children. Here’s how our conversation went (I changed her name for privacy).

Becca: I’m working on a new Lead Magnet.

Me: Great! What’s your working title?

Becca: 10 Truths About Prayer

Me: Now add a promise…

Becca: 10 Truths About Prayer That Will Change Your Prayer Life

Me: Are your readers praying for themselves or their children?

Becca: 10 Truths About Prayer That Will Transform Your Prayers for Your Child

Me: A bit wordy. Make it tighter (reducing the number of words while keeping the primary idea = stronger title).

Becca: Prayer Can Transform Your Child’s Life

Me: Better but informational. What’s the end result your readers desire for their children?

Becca: Transform Your Child’s Life Through Prayer

*** YESSSS!!! ***

See how that title “plants a flag”? Do “this” and you’ll get “that.”

Your readers (and mine) don’t want more information. They want to experience a change. They’re looking for someone who’ll stand up in the crowd and proclaim, “Do this (our message) and you’ll experience that (the change they want).”

Your CONTENT may be phenomenal, but if your TITLE is not clear, action-oriented, reader-focused, with a promised result that readers want, your Lead Magnet will not help as many people as it could. What. A. Shame.

Sound marketing connects you to your audience and grows your platform, but it’s not intuitive.

Fortunately, it’s not a gift you inherit (or don’t). It’s a skill. And skills can be learned. 

Hallelujah! 

Shape Your Content to Fit Your Title

Becca had specific content in mind to match her former title, 10 Truths About Prayer.

As we continued chatting, I mentioned that if she’d add a number that fits her content (or if she adjusts her content to coordinate with a number), her title could be:

10 Prayers to Transform Your Child’s Life.

I suggested a content plan for the title above:

• 5 Traits to Pray “In” + 5 Traits to Pray “Out”
• 10 Scriptures with Promises in Those Areas and
• 10 Prayer Prompts with Suggested Words

Compare her first title (10 Truths About Prayer) to this one. See how this last one is action-oriented, it makes a promise (IF readers apply her message), and it tells readers what info they’ll receive?

There is no “magic title.” Work the process. Refine. Tighten. Focus on the result your title promises. Make it clear. More readers will sign up and their lives will change (in this case) as they pray for their children, which is the goal of Becca’s ministry! BOOM!

Patricia Durgin is an Online Marketing Coach and Facebook Live Expert. She trains Christian writers and speakers exclusively, helping them develop their messaging, marketing funnels, conversational emails, and Facebook Live programs. Patricia hosted 505 (60-minute) Facebook Live programs from 2018-2020. That program is on indefinite hiatus. She’s also a regular faculty member at Christian writers and speakers conferences around the country.

Website: marketersonamission.com
Facebook: MarketersOnAMission