Ways to keep your marketing freshly brewed...

My internet went down the other day, so I wrote this from a coffee shop after watching somebody ignore a free cookie.

A FREE cookie.

The cashier literally said, “You can take one if you want.”

And the guy just shrugged and walked away. A few years ago, that would’ve sounded insane to me. But honestly?

That’s kind of what happened to free song downloads🤨

Back in the day, offering: “download 3 free songs”

…felt valuable because access to music itself was valuable. Now? People have essentially infinite music in their pocket already.

That’s basically what’s happening with most lead magnets online right now. Most indie musicians and authors create the marketing equivalent of a free cookie.

“Join my newsletter.”

“Free update.”

“Behind the scenes content.”

“Free PDF.”

Technically fine, but emotionally forgettable. Cold audiences don’t become fans because you gave them a thing. They become fans because you gave them a feeling.

Curiosity.

Identity.

Escape.

Recognition.

Entertainment.

That’s why a lead magnet like:

“Which of my songs matches your emotional damage?”

…will usually outperform:

“Join my email list for updates.”

And why:

“Which character would survive in my fictional universe?”

…beats:

“Read chapter one free.”

People don’t want another task. They want an experience. Here are some lead magnet ideas I’d test if I were building an audience right now:

• “Which Of My Songs Fits Your Life Right Now?” personality quiz

  A short interactive quiz that matches fans with one of your songs based on their mood, personality, heartbreak level, life chaos, etc. Great for emotional connection and shareability.

• “If You Like [Famous Artist/Author], Start Here” quiz

  A short interactive quiz that matches fans with one of your songs based on which artist/author they choose.

• “Songs Based On Your Zodiac Sign” playlist + free downloads

  A themed playlist matching your songs to zodiac (or other) personalities, paired with downloadable tracks people feel personally connected to.

• Aesthetic wallpaper packs using your album/book art

  Phone wallpapers, desktop backgrounds, or moodboard-style visuals fans can use daily and emotionally attach to.

• Spotify playlists “made” by your fictional characters + downloads

  Playlists and downloads built around the personalities, emotions, or tastes of specific characters from your books/music universe to deepen immersion.

• “Songs For Specific Moods” vault

  A curated collection organized around emotional states like “driving at night,” “revenge arc,” “crying in the grocery store,” or “main character energy.”

The tricky part isn’t usually the ideas though. It’s execution. Because suddenly you’re trying to:

write copy,

set up automations,

design landing pages,

connect forms,

segment emails,

write nurture sequences,

deliver files,

test hooks,

and somehow still make music/books without your brain turning into soup😵‍💫

That’s usually where people get stuck.

Not because they’re untalented. Mostly because they’re trying to do the jobs of:

a creator,

a strategist,

a marketer,

a copywriter,

a funnel builder,

and an assistant...

simultaneously.

Which is mildly insane when you say it out loud. You’re ALSO trying to actually write books or make music without becoming a caffeine-powered goblin creature😜

Anyways, if you want help figuring out the best lead magnet for YOUR audience specifically, let me know which you prefer:

COACHING or,

If you’d rather have someone help actually build/setup the thing with you (or for you), then choose:

DFY

Either way, I’ll point you in the right direction, my friend. Email me, Megan, at AMS@ ams. ngo

Take care, and always...aspire to be better, my friend!

PS: On a side note, some lead magnets have a big, underlying problem: the platform stinks! I was never fully happy with platforms like Drip, Wordpress and Shopify so I decided to build my own - the platform of my dreams🤩 Now I’m offering it to people who also feel the pain of paying WAY too much for essential tools that don’t stink. Let me know if you want details.