This past week, a few people asked me, "How do I know when to start charging for the products I create?"
Another person asked, "How do I create a paid product that people will actually want to buy?"
Questions like these remind me that it's not always clear the direction our business should take or how we can start monetizing our work. So, in this newsletter, I'm going to share with you the strategy I learned and continue to use to turn lead magnets into paid products.
This is the most straightforward and easy process of creating something your audience wants and investing time only when it's worth pouring more time into. That way, you don't waste tons of time on products that no one actually wants.
Sometimes, the best business moves happen completely by accident.
That's exactly what happened when I created what I thought would be just another basic lead magnet. What began as a simple list of ideas somehow turned into one of my most valuable offers—without me even trying.
Here's how I stumbled into creating a premium product and the straightforward lessons that could help you do the same (but maybe with actual intention).
Start With A Simple Lead Magnet
My lead magnet was embarrassingly simple: 75+ High Demand Niche Ideas.
I chose to write "75+" instead of the actual number (which was 91) because it sounded better in the marketing. Little did I know this small decision would make future updates incredibly easy without having to change any of my promotional materials.
The first version was nothing special—just a straightforward list with zero explanations, no stories, no context, and nothing fancy at the beginning or end. Just ideas, one after another. Basic doesn't even begin to describe it.
How Iteration Turned It Into a Winning Lead Magnet
As I started giving away this list, something unexpected happened. People actually wanted my lead magnet—a lot of people. It helped me get over a thousand leads from this one product. That's when I realized I needed to make this even better.
The problem with the first version was that leads could quickly skim through it without getting much value. And if they didn't find value in my work, why would they bother with any of my other products or services?
So, I started making improvements. I added more content and context. When I offered the updated lead magnet again, the response was even better. People weren't just downloading it—they were leaving positive reviews and comments. My basic list had transformed into something people genuinely liked.
This feedback loop motivated me to keep improving. Instead of just making the lead magnet longer, I created a complementary email sequence. Anyone who downloaded the list would receive a series of emails packed with additional tips and insights on niche selection. These emails helped solve specific problems and achieve actual goals—and that's when everything really took off.
The Power of Continuous Improvement
Today, I'm working on the fourth version of this lead magnet simply because people keep showing interest. And that's the secret I discovered to turning simple freebies into premium products:
Start with something basic, then let your audience guide you.
Here's the process I follow now:
Create something simple: Your first lead magnet doesn't need to be complicated or fancy. Just keep it straightforward and easy to consume.
Test interest: Share it with your audience. If it gets lots of downloads or engagement, you're onto something good.
Make updates based on feedback: Add value where needed. Don't go overboard—focus on improving one thing at a time. Keep adding value if the feedback stays positive.
Listen to your audience: Pay attention to comments, reviews, and messages. When people consistently engage with and praise your content, that's your signal to invest more time in developing it further.
Decide the next step: If interest remains high, consider whether to keep it as a lead magnet or transform it into a premium product.
Should You Turn It Into a Paid Product?
If you've updated your lead magnet multiple times and people still love it, you might wonder: "When should I start charging for this?"
Here's how I approach this decision:
Option 1: Keep it as a lead magnet. A high-value freebie builds your credibility, authority, and trust. It positions you as someone who delivers more than expected, making people curious about your paid offerings.
Option 2: Upsell it as a premium product. If the content has grown significantly in depth and value, it might be worth charging for. Use the reviews, testimonials, and social proof you've gathered to justify the price.
The choice depends entirely on your overall strategy. Either way, you've created something valuable, and that's what matters most.
Your leads want value from your content and products. If you keep making improvements, they can't help but notice. The real challenge is getting them to see the potential value before they actually experience it.
Your Next Move To Turn Lead Magnets Into Premium Products
Start small—just enough to test your market. If people respond positively, then improve it. If not, move on to something else. There’s no stress and no wasted effort.
That's literally all you need to do.
Begin with something simple
Update it if it gains traction
Then, update again if interest continues to grow.
If people keep loving your product, add more value, doubling down on what your audience wants.
By the third version, you'll have a truly valuable product that could potentially earn you revenue by adding a price for this new premium version. Plus, you'll have collected plenty of comments and reviews to screenshot and use as testimonials when promoting the premium version.
But to get started, you need a lead magnet people actually want. That's why I created the Lead Magnet Blueprint Framework—to make it easier for you to create lead magnets and digital products that your audience will love.
The biggest problem creators face is knowing how to structure their lead magnet’s content. They struggle with what to write, how to create compelling titles and subtitles, and how to organize everything effectively.
The blueprint framework solves all of that by making the entire process of creating a digital product straightforward. If this is something you need, you can get it here:
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