21 Opt-In Ideas to Grow Your List

How often do you create freebies? Does it sometimes feel like that's all you do and you're running out of ideas? Or are you on the other end of the spectrum and you've never even made one before. Or maybe it's been a while?

opt-in ideas

It's important to continue to show value to your audience and bring them on over to your side, but sometimes, we run out of ideas on what to send give them. So here's a list of 21 different opt-in ideas you can use to grow your list!

  1. Audio file

  2. Video (you talking to camera)

  3. Video (screen tutorial)

  4. Business Checklist

  5. Cheatsheet

  6. Compilation of your top 4 blog posts in a PDF

  7. E-Book

  8. Templates

  9. Graphic packs

  10. Desktop/Phone wallpaper

  11. Discovery calls

  12. Discount

  13. Giveaway

  14. Systems/Products Checklist

  15. Workbook

  16. Worksheet(s)

  17. Written tutorial

  18. Recycled webinar

  19. Podcast

  20. Calendar

  21. Invitation to Facebook group

Audio file: these are super easy to make. If you want to give a talk, record a meditation, etc. you can just use your phone and save the file in a DropBox folder. Add quality to your recording by using lapel microphone. 

Video (you talking to camera): this is a really great way for you to make a fast and deep connection with your subscribers. If you feel like you can only convey something over video then do it! 

Video (screen tutorial): screen tutorials are super helpful because people love to watch you do the work. It allows them to see exactly what you're doing and then they can pause and play as much as they need to. I use ScreenFlow for my tutorials.

Business Checklist: people love checklists because they're small and easily digestible. You can turn anything into a checklist. You can do a simple Google Doc or be fancy shmancy and use Canva.

Cheatsheet: show your audience an easy way to get around a problem they may have. 

Compilation of your top 4 blog posts in a PDF: take your best blog posts and put them in a Google Doc. or create an e-book in Canva.

E-Book: who doesn't love a good e-book? They don't have to be super long either! You can make an e-book that's 3, 30, or 300 pages! As long as you're being helpful and you're conveying your message well, the length does not matter.

Templates: these are really great when you want to give your audience the exact layout on how to create or write something. 

Graphic packs: if you're a graphic designer or photographer, free graphic packs are a really great way to show off your work and get those raving fans!

Desktop/Phone wallpaper: people love to make their work settings/wallpaper pretty and inspirational. Design something or create graphic quotes for them to download.

Discovery calls: these are a great way to do market research and for you to meet new and potential clients. The most common length for a discovery call is about 20 to 45 minutes. Use scheduling software like SetMore, Calendly, or Acuity. All free.

Discount: offering a limited time discount is a great way to add urgency and bring people onto your list so you can introduce them to your products. However, use discounts wisely. People will forget to use them or they will not value them as much. You are almost better off giving something away for free as they will be able to see your value instantly. This way, you're not waiting for them to use the discount.

Giveaway: or contests are a super way to build your list. Remember to keep your ideal client in mind and only give away products and services that they would love. For example, you wouldn't want to give away and iPad because you would get everyone from 10 year old boys to 75 year old women entering. Give away a session with you, one of your programs, software, books, planners, journals, etc. Think about what they would absolutely love and create an amazing giveaway bundle. I use Gleam.io for my giveaways.

Systems/Products Checklist: One of my most popular opt-ins is an online business checklist. I made a list of all of the tools and software I currently use in my business and people loved it. I didn't create anything fancy for this one, I just put everything in an email that automatically went out to them once they signed up.

Workbook: I absolutely love creating workbooks because I feel this is a great way for a reader to go through a transformation without my individual attention. I've made dozens of workbooks and I know I have a lot of workbook junkies on my list too! I create all of mine in Canva.

Worksheet(s): simple worksheets are perfect for giving clients quick results. If you want to show how many subscribers a client needs in order to launch a program, then show them how with a calculation worksheet. #yayformath

Written tutorial: instead of doing a video tutorial, you could do a written tutorial. Just make sure you write the steps out clearly so they are successful.

Recycled webinar: record your webinars and use them for opt-ins! You can do this for free by going live in YouTube or I also like to use Zoom.us.

Podcasting: if you don't have your own podcast then pitch to be on some! Remember to bring something good with you to promote (your latest freebie!) and you'll get in front of an entirely new audience.

Calendar: simple creations like calendars are another strangely popular item. I have a really simple one that I use to create a rough draft of the coming quarter. I share this in my List Building Mania course.

Invitation to Facebook group: last, but not least, is the Facebook group. Do NOT push people into a Facebook group. Write a blog post about how awesome your community is, put a link up in your announcement bar, or in your side bar. Then once they join, make sure they're funneled into your list with a super awesome freebie that only your community can get.

There you have it my loves! Now, start creating and have fun!