It doesn’t matter what niche you blog in or who your target audience is, if you’re not actively building an email list, you will struggle to grow your business.

Email allows you to reach out to your potential clients right where they live – in their inbox – and to stay connected even if they don’t visit your site or follow you on social media.

But first, you have to get them on your mailing list, and that starts with a compelling opt-in offer, also known as a lead generator. (Short on time right now? You can Pin this post for later.)

Disclosure: Links in this post (and anywhere on The Savvy Solopreneur) may be affiliate links. Find out what that means here.

Challenges

A 7- or 30-day challenge is a great way to entice readers to join your mailing list. Offering them a structured series of emails, Facebook Lives, or videos, that leads to a desired outcome not only shows off your expertise in your niche, but helps your subscribers get closer to their business or life goals.

I have personally opted in to online business challenges, blogging challenges and yoga challenges. So I know they work!

Checklists & Worksheets

Sometimes the simplest opt-in gifts are the best, and that’s certainly the case with checklists and worksheets. In fact, because these one- or two-page PDFs are easy to use and quick to read through, they’re often much more popular than longer ebooks, videos and other downloadables.

Not only that, but if you pull them from your own business documentation or start with done-for-you content, you can create a new opt-in incentive in minutes.

Templates

If there’s one thing we all love, it’s an easier way to do something. Whether it’s writing an email, creating an sales page, designing a graphic, or formatting a blog post, having a template to start with makes the whole process faster and more efficient.

Here’s another reason templates make such great list-building offers: Your potential clients want to know how you work. Templates offer them the opportunity to peek behind the scenes of your business and see exactly how you handle everyday tasks. They show of your business skills and give your readers a much-needed boost of confidence as well, knowing that they’re following your proven methods.

Free Webinars

When it comes to list building, you really can’t do better than webinars. Regardless of your niche, offering a one-hour free training will really get your subscriber numbers up. In fact, one recent survey by On24.com shows that on average, a webinar generates 488 registrations.

Not bad for a few hours of work, huh?

Want to make lead generation even easier?

The collection of planners, forms, Teach Your Tribe kits and complete, done-for-you workshops at CoachGlue.com offer endless opportunities to provide your subscribers with exactly what they need to help start or grow their business.

You can easily turn one of their planners into a 7-day email challenge to help your potential clients grow their businesses. Webinar In a Box gives you all the checklists you need to create a lead generating webinar, and the included “assistant checklist” or outsourcing agenda would make a great resource for your readers.

And speaking of webinars, both the Teach Your Tribe kits and done-for-you workshops include webinar scripts, slide decks and handouts. All you have to do is choose the time for your event and invite your readers. What’s more, Coachglue are currently running their 12 Days of Christmas sale. Check out today’s offer here.

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