Lead Nurturing Ideas for Authors to Monetize
Engage and capture subscribers, buyers, and evangelists

Why Should Authors Use Lead Magnets?
To some, this is a still a valid question, but many authors today know that they are responsible for building their own following of interested buyers. Publishers expect it; some even ask for an audience of 20,000. Building these relationships will pay off in future sales. Use lead magnets methods to entice subscriptions to your email list, newsletter, blog, or membership site.
Seventy to eighty percent will buy your second book after the first, and that percentage only drops another 10-20% with a third. So, nurturing fans is financially rewarding, if not emotionally as well. The effort to share your writing process, book store appearances, other writings and collaborations, shows in the extended lifetime value of your customers. Your goal is to speed up the process for folks to know, like, and trust you by welcoming them into your world.
For all of us, owning our own platforms of followers, prospects, and customers is vital, just due to the fickle nature of social media platforms and their constantly shifting algorithms. That’s why experts recommend investing in your own blog and newsletter. Add a group membership program or podcast and that’s even better. All these elements play well together. Even if you aren’t active on social media platforms, at a minimum, brand each with your logos, link to sign up for newsletter or blog, basic information about services and link to contact. Let people know what you do and what drives you to do it.
Choose Partners to Help Share the Messages
Please don’t stress that you have to build your audiences instantly. My favorite recommendation is to find partners who are willing to introduce you to their audiences ~ which also means tremendous credibility. Building these collaborative relationships is symbiotic. You can share your audience and their messages with these parties and use theirs in exchange. If they have affiliate programs, offering you a percentage of their sales of books, other products, and services for referrals to your followers, you can begin to monetize these efforts while increasing exposure. Read “30 Ways to Leverage Other People’s Platforms” to get ideas.
You don’t have to worry about a ton of new content either. Borrow content (with permission) from these new partners. When podcasters interview you, you not only get seen by new prospects, you also have links, related posts and graphics to share and promote. Double down by resharing your partners’ posts as well.
Types of Lead Magnets to Choose
I’ve grouped over 70 types of lead magnets by those that are assets you can develop and share, access that you can provide, and offers that you can make. Many of these can be monetized, either as subscriptions, individual sales, or bundles of products and services. As you consider the easiest to embrace, think of partners who have lead magnets that you can share. Once you build out yours, let your partner network know what you have that’s available for them to garner new subscribers for both of you.
Begin With the End Game in Mind: Calls-To-Action
Always, always, always include a call-to-action with each lead magnet.
Every creative gem and freebie needs to include a nudge to take some action. It can be to buy a book, sign up for you email list, attend a book-signing event, or watch a joint webinar you hold with a partner. Whatever you want to have the audience do, make it big, bold, and easy to do. Create ads for your own stuff; put them in your own emailings, blog, and your own videos. Then prepare materials to swap with our collaborators.
AI Tools Make An Author’s Life Easier
For just a little effort, you’ll find AI tools can help break through writer’s block, brainstorm scenarios, help develop characters, research period history, draft content for your special touch, and create amazing graphics, such as book cover art.
See the Big Picture: Increasing Your Exposure and Revenues
Once you’ve used a lead magnet until it seems old or dated, convert it to a micro-product available for purchase. You might like Gumroad as a platform for that. Bundle related pieces together. As my friend and digital marketing guru, Denise Wakeman puts it: “Repurpose and repromote!”
Oh, and the surprising part? Expect to make friends of partners and followers. Enjoy the ride.