The video and audio version of this episode will be embedded here for those who prefer to watch or listen to the full content.
If you’re still using the same lead magnet strategy from 2019, you’re not just missing out on list growth—you’re actually costing yourself sales, social media followers, and valuable re-engagement opportunities. Here’s how the micro magnet approach can transform your business results.
Growing your list remains one of the most important things you can do for your course business. We all know that. But in 2025, the way most people are approaching their lead magnets is completely wrong—and it’s costing them serious money.
The traditional “one big, super valuable lead magnet” approach isn’t just ineffective anymore. It’s actually working against you. Here’s why, and more importantly, how to fix it with a strategy that can genuinely transform your business.
[Audio and video version of this episode are embedded below if you prefer to listen/watch the full version]
Why Lead Magnets Do So Much More Than Grow Your List in 2025
Your lead magnets now have three crucial jobs, not just one:
1. Supercharge Your Social Media Engagement
When you create posts using the “many chat funnel” approach—where you ask people to comment for a freebie—you can see engagement rates explode. I’ve personally seen posts go from my usual 20-40 comments to over 400 comments when I use the right micro magnet strategy.
But here’s the thing: most people are creating these posts and getting crickets because they’re sharing what I call “mega magnets” instead of “micro magnets.”
2. Reactivate Your Existing Audience
This is the game-changer most people miss. Your lead magnets should be working to re-engage people who already follow you, getting them to put their hand up and show intent around specific topics.
When someone comments for your micro magnet, you can add them to a related funnel sequence. This means you’re getting warmer leads flowing through your funnels consistently—people who have already shown engagement around your topic—without having to pay for ads.
3. Generate Multiple Touchpoints for Sales
I recently had a client purchase our premium programme after opting in for 25 different micro magnets throughout the year. That’s 25 different points of engagement, 25 times they went deeper and got more value before deciding to buy.
If I only had one or two big lead magnets that I promoted repeatedly, that person wouldn’t have had those multiple touchpoints and likely wouldn’t have purchased.
Why the Old “Mega Magnet” Strategy Is Failing You
Most course creators have been taught to create one or two big, incredibly valuable lead magnets—think mini-courses, detailed eBooks, or massive bundle packs. The old advice was “make it so valuable, people would pay for it.”
Here’s why this approach is now working against you:
Time-Consuming to Create
These big lead magnets take days to create. If every new lead magnet requires a day and a half of work, how realistic is it to create many of them? And you need many to keep things fresh and novel.
People Get Bored
When you’re sharing the same lead magnet over and over, people switch off. Your audience craves new, novel content that makes them think, “I haven’t heard that before. I really need to know this.”
Too Much to Consume
Here’s the counterintuitive truth: when you give someone something for free, they don’t value it as much. So your amazing 15-video mini-course becomes a to-do list item they never complete.
Then when you try to sell them something, they think, “I should finish that free thing first”—but they never do. You’ve actually created a barrier to sale.
The Micro Magnet Solution
Micro magnets are the exact opposite of mega magnets:
- Lead with curiosity, not value: Instead of “Get my $297 worth of content free,” you pose a question and provide the answer
- Keep delivery super simple: Think Google Doc screenshots, not polished high-production materials
- Follow the 20 by 20 rule: No more than 20 minutes to create, no more than 20 minutes to consume
Real Example That Worked
Marketing expert Maria Wendt shared a brilliant example: She posted about email open rates, mentioned her emails get X% open rate, then asked, “Would you like to know what my top 10 best-ever subject lines are?”
Her “micro magnet” was simply a screenshot of her email service dashboard ordered by open rate, pasted into a Google Doc. That’s it. 20 minutes of work maximum.
The post went viral because she told a great story, posed an intriguing question, and people desperately wanted the answer.
How to Implement Micro Magnets Without Overwhelming Yourself
The key insight: You don’t need separate funnels for each micro magnet. All your micro magnets can feed into your main funnel. Segmentation comes later when you have 20,000+ people on your list.
Recommended frequency: Create at least one new micro magnet every two weeks to maintain novelty and give your audience fresh reasons to engage.
Use AI to your advantage: I’ve created an AI prompt that helps identify viral-ready micro magnet ideas and can even help write them in minutes. This removes the biggest barrier—time and creative block.
The Compound Effect of Multiple Touchpoints
When someone engages with multiple micro magnets over time, each interaction:
- Builds more trust and connection with your brand
- Demonstrates your expertise in different areas
- Keeps you top-of-mind when they’re ready to buy
- Provides social proof through engagement
This creates a compound effect that traditional single-magnet strategies simply can’t match.
Your Next Steps
- Audit your current lead magnets: Are they mega magnets that take forever to create and consume?
- Identify 5-10 micro magnet ideas: Think about specific questions your audience asks or problems they face
- Create your first micro magnet: Use the 20 by 20 rule—keep it simple and valuable
- Set up your social media post: Lead with curiosity, tell a story, then offer the micro magnet
- Direct people to your main funnel: Let the micro magnet warm them up for your core offer
Ready to Build Your Automated Sales System? If you can see how this micro magnet strategy would work for your business, but you want the funnel system that goes behind it—so when you’re reactivating all these people and getting great social media response, you also have a totally automated way to bring them in, warm them up, and make sales—then you’ll want to join our Automated Challenge.
This isn’t just theory. It’s a hands-on, build-it-together challenge where by the end, your funnel will be ready to go live. We even have a live launch party where everyone posts their first piece of content once their funnel is complete.
The results speak for themselves: funnels that went live during our last launch party have made hundreds of sales in just a couple of months.
What’s your biggest challenge with lead magnets right now? Have you been stuck in the mega magnet trap? Let me know in the comments below—I read every single response!
