Looking for lead magnet ideas for web designers? I’ve got you.

Not building a list early in business is a big mistake. Many of us make it, myself included 🙋🏻‍♀️.

The terms list, sales funnel, and lead magnet can sound a bit cringe. But they don’t have to be.

When done poorly, sales funnels make you look like a digital used car salesperson. When done well? You become your dream client’s go-to expert. Someone they trust. Someone who actually helps them. And spoiler alert: you do!

How does a lead magnet for web designers actually work

Imagine a client. Let’s call her Claire. She finds you through social media, Google, or a friend’s referral. She’s still gathering info. She checks out your website. She likes it. But she’s not ready yet. She leaves, planning to come back.

But then… life happens. She stumbles onto another designer. That designer’s site isn’t better than yours. But… they have a lead magnet – a free guide that helps solve a problem. Claire downloads it.

She gets a couple of emails packed with helpful tips. The designer invites her to book a chat. Claire books. Soon enough, the project is theirs. Not yours.

Can we blame her? Claire didn’t hear from you after that first visit. No free guide. No email. No reminders of the awesome work you do.

Let’s change that.

Why lead magnets matter

A lead magnet gives potential clients a reason to stay connected. It helps you start a conversation. And it shows off your expertise.

Building a simple sales funnel is easier than it sounds. Here’s what you’ll need:

✅ 1. A CRM like MailerLite or Kit (my personal favourite!). Most are free for up to 1,000 subscribers. They’re easy to set up — and a great service to offer your clients too.

✅ 2. An opt-in web page and a thank you page. You can build these with your page builder.

✅ 3. An email series. Send the lead magnet first. Follow up a couple of days later with a bonus freebie. Then send another email inviting them to book a call, download your price list, or fill out a project brief.

✅ 4. And of course, a great lead magnet!

5 lead magnet ideas for web designers

If you’re stuck, here are five lead magnet ideas for web designers to help get your list-building started:

• 5 Important Things to Know Before Working with a Web Designer

• 3 Big Mistakes [Your Target Market e.g. Health Professionals] Make on Their Websites (and How to Avoid Them)

• 10 Website Essentials Checklist: Examples of What Works & What Doesn’t

• A Web Designer’s Inside Secrets to Creating a Killer Website

• 7 Must-Have Features Your Website Might Be Missing

🔥 Tip: Want more ideas? Try asking ChatGPT: “Please list 5 ideas for a lead magnet a web designer could use to attract ideal clients who are [your target market e.g. health professionals].”

Here’s to making your web design business smarter, not harder.

Em x