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Dream Clients

3 lead magnet mistakes you should avoid as a service provider

No matter how much (or how little) experience you have in the online business world, by now you will already know the importance of building an email list and why a lead magnet is such a great way to do it.

But, as an online service provider, list building can be tricky if you are using the same strategies as infopreneurs or digital product sellers. In fact, I am willing to state right here, right now, that if you are using those strategies, you are setting yourself up for disappointment when it comes to finding dream clients!

In this blog post I am going to share 3 common mistakes I see A LOT of online service providers make with their opt in offer, and why you should avoid these pitfalls if you want to build a list of potential dream clients who will wait in line to book your services.

Let’s dive in…

Mistake #1: Using Your Service & Pricing Guide As A Lead Magnet

When you are promoting a paid offer online, you should always make sure that important information regarding your offer is easily accessible. This becomes even more necessary with services because people are less likely to jump through hoops to learn about a service, especially if they don’t know you.

I’ve seen many online service providers use their service & pricing guide as an opt in – this is a big mistake for two reasons…

  1. Your service & pricing guide does not offer any sort of value to your audience and does not give you the opportunity to build trust with people who come into contact with your business. A lead magnet should be a gift to help your audience overcome a struggle they are facing, which would in turn position you as an expert in your niche. Your service & pricing guide could be delivered in a later email in your welcome sequence once the new subscriber is more familiar with you and your business, but it should NOT replace an incentive meant to encourage people to subscribe to your email list.
  2. Asking people to subscribe to your list in order to receive your service & pricing guide is making it harder for potential clients to work with you. Nobody wants to have to jump through hoops to hire someone – it just sets a bad tone for what it may be like to work with that person. Your service & pricing guide should be easily accessible so that potential clients can effortlessly find information about your packages and how to go about hiring you. 

If you are stuck on what to create as a lead magnet, I wrote a post over here with 3 ideas for online service based businesses to get you going. 

Mistake #2: Using Discovery Calls As An Opt In

Ever since I started offering my services online back in 2018, I never, EVER needed to use discovery calls to find dream clients. It wasn’t something I was comfortable doing, there was always a time difference between myself and clients, I was adjusting to my new role as a mother and found it hard to make time (and gather the energy) for calls. I also worried about spending time on something that may or may not convert into a client signing up for my services – which, if you ask those who do offer discovery calls, happens A LOT!

Yet, discovery calls were the norm for online service providers…

The reason I believe it is a mistake to offer a discovery call as an opt in is that you are giving up your valuable time to someone who can easily turn around and not even give you a second thought. 

Yes, it is a good way to find out if you and the potential client is a good fit and it can really benefit your new subscriber, but if you know exactly who your dream client is, if you have a solid brand in place, if you clearly state your boundaries and working conditions, and if you have a seamless onboarding process ready to book new clients, then discovery calls are not necessary. 

Instead of dedicating 30 to 60 minutes on a few different people each week, you can pour that energy into creating a super helpful lead magnet that will offer true value to your potential client and give you back that time to spend on something that really needs your attention. You can offer value without being 100% hands on – as you would need to be with a discovery call!

Mistake #3: Creating An Opt In That Competes With Your Service

This is a BIG NO-NO because when you create a freebie that directly competes with your main offer, you are building a list of subscribers who are unlikely to hire you. You are attracting subscribers who would like to DIY instead of outsource – not a potential paying client.

So what do I mean when I talk about an opt in that competes with your main offer?

Say for example you are a WordPress Web Designer. A lead magnet which directly competes with your main offer would be a training that shows your audience how to DIY their own website.

Or if you are a graphic designer, an opt in that competes with your service would be a guide on how your audience can create their own logo.

Your lead magnet should not give your audience a win that you are meant to be providing them with through your service, otherwise, why should they hire you?

Your lead magnet can however give your audience a win in something they’ll need to do BEFORE taking the step in hiring you, or it could help them overcome an obstacle you find many of your clients struggle with that is not necessarily part of the service you provide in your packages.

Creating and using a lead magnet to grow your email list is just the beginning of building an audience filled with potential dream clients! Now, you need to nurture your list so that your subscribers see you as an expert in your niche and you become their go-to-gal. 

Having an email list will do you no good if you are not consistently providing your subscribers with helpful, value-packed content that actually benefits them in some way. And, since they’ve already taken that crucial first step of signing up for your list to get hold of your lead magnet, you KNOW that they are interested in what you have to say.

So now you just need to show up and say it!

However, if you are not careful, this can very quickly slip to the bottom of your priority list when you are so wrapped up with client work – ask me, I know!

This is exactly why I created this awesome resource to help you prepare 2 months of email newsletters to nurture your subscribers into becoming your dream clients…

subscribe to download 2 motnhs of pre-written emails to turn subscribers into dream clients
TAGS:attracting dream clientsbusinesscanva templatescontent creationcontent planningdream clientsemail listemail marketingservices
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Hi, I’m Nihaad!

Hi, I’m Nihaad!

I help lady bosses attract their very own tribe online with polished, on-brand graphics that truly sets them apart from the rest – giving them the confidence to stand in front of their dream clients.

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  • Branding
  • Canva
  • Dream Clients
  • Graphic Design

Recent Posts

  • The types of Pinterest graphics you need to promote your biz and boost brand awareness
  • How to transform any Canva templates into unique graphics for a consistent brand look
  • How to keep the integrity of your brand when using Canva templates

It’s one thing to have a beautiful brand design. It’s one thing to have a beautiful brand design. It’s something else entirely to actually implement it so you can reap the benefits of a recognizable brand.

I’ve seen so many online business owners launch a stunning business brand, only to have them completely lose track of it because they’re disorganized or simply have no idea how to apply the brand to their visuals.

If you want to build a business that’s memorable so you can capture the eyes (and hearts) of your audience for a sold out launch, then you need to be consistent in the way you use your brand.

That being said, here are 5 small ways to intentionally implement your brand this week:

1️⃣Replace your old email newsletter header
2️⃣Update your Instagram Highlight covers
3️⃣Publish an Instagram post using a Canva template customized with your branding
4️⃣Create updated promo graphics for your core offer
5️⃣Update your Pinterest Profile cover

Need help to do this quick, quick? 

Click your way over to the link in my bio for Canva templates to create a consistent brand for your biz!
At the end of last year I received a message via m At the end of last year I received a message via my Etsy shop from someone who found my Canva templates on Pinterest.

The interesting bit? The screenshot she sent was of a template set that I updated more than 2 years ago!

What does that tell you?

Pinterest will bring traffic to your stuff, YEARS down the road!

It’s a great way to send people to your website so they can learn more about your business and all the incredible ways you can help them.

Pinterest is also a fantastic way to build awareness around your brand so that your audience becomes more familiar with your business.

And, what better way to do this than to establish a consistent brand with stunning visuals?

As it is with content sharing platforms, there are two ways to build brand awareness with your visuals:

1️⃣ THROUGH YOUR PROFILE

When someone lands on your profile, you want your brand visuals to draw their attention so they instantly become familiar with your business. This way, each time they see your content, they’ll immediately identify it as yours; which will make you top of mind.

2️⃣ THROUGH THE CONTENT BEING SHARED FROM YOUR PROFILE

Using a consistent aesthetic for your visuals when sharing content will allow for your audience to recognize your work while scrolling. This is a powerful way to build familiarity and connection, while also standing out from every other business they come in contact with online.

Wanna know which Pinterest graphics you should use for each of these so that you can build brand awareness with your visuals? 👆Swipe for the breakdown!
I’ve been lurking around in some Facebook groups I’ve been lurking around in some Facebook groups (in a non-stalker-like manner, please don’t be concerned 😅) trying to find reasons holding people back from making use of Canva templates in their businesses.
 
Want to know what popped up the most?
 
👉👉👉The fear that their graphics will end up looking like everyone else’s.
 
Of course, that’s a valid concern to have. None of us want our businesses to get lost on the internet!

So how exactly can you get the most out of using Canva templates while still making sure that your visuals stand out from the next business out there?

1️⃣ Write your copy beforehand
2️⃣ Customize text with your brand font
3️⃣ Change all design elements with your colour palette
4️⃣ Add your own on-brand photos in the image placeholders
5️⃣ Make use of on-brand stickers, animations, patterns or textures

Tap the link in my bio for the full blog post where I dive into each of these tips a bit more, or swipe for a quick breakdown.

Seriously, if you want your audience to stop feeling bored out of their minds… give them reason to go ‘what’s going on over here 👀’ by keeping these 5 simple customization tips in mind the next time you use Canva templates!
 
Thank me later, friend!

Speaking of Canva templates, remember I launched a brand new set of Pinterest templates in the shop designed to make your audience take a closer look at your sh*t!

Click your way over to the link in my bio ❤️
Last week I stumbled across a Reel made by a mom o Last week I stumbled across a Reel made by a mom of 7 where she gave her best piece of advice on how she gets it all done: “If it takes less than 5 minutes, do it now”
 
I’ve been trying to implement this in my day to day and it’s a freaking game changer!
 
😮‍💨 The dishes are not piling up in the kitchen sink…
 
😮‍💨 The kids' toys are not taking over the entire house…
 
😮‍💨 The laundry gets packed away instead of standing around until the next time we do the washing 😅😅😅
 
This got me thinking about our businesses...
 
What is a small task you can do right now, that your future self will thank you for?
 
👉👉👉 Here’s one: Take one piece of content, create 3 different Pinterest graphics for it and pin it to at least 2 relative boards in your profile.
 
Now I know what you’re thinking - “Designing Pinterest graphics will take longer than 5 minutes, Nihaad!”
 
Uhm… yeah it will! If you're not using Canva templates!!!
 
And, thankfully, I just dropped a new set of Pinterest templates in my shop for you to complete this 5 minute task yourself.

🎁🎁🎁 Don’t wanna buy templates right now? No prob, friend! You can totally grab some Pinterest templates from my free Canva library! 🎁🎁🎁

Click your way over to the link in my bio ❤️
Creating stunning visuals for online businesses is Creating stunning visuals for online businesses is kinda my JAM 😇

Staying true to a brand identity while creating stunning visuals to attract dream clients and customers is how I create MAGIC for your business 🧙

This is exactly why I felt so drawn to the email I received with the subject line “Can you help my business?”

Avery Smith is a Licensed Realtor who extends her services to corporate estate agencies looking to provide their clients with a premium level of client care. 

After going through my Dreamy Biz Brand Quiz, Avery realized she needed to uplevel the look and feel of her business to match the high level of service she provides. And, since her work tends to be more serious, she wanted to add a fun, personal touch to her visuals to intrigue her clients. Her overall aim was for her new brand and visuals to hold the attention of her clients with beautiful designs while maintaining the professionalism her field requires.

Communicating with Avery, I immediately related to her dedication to providing her clients with excellent results. Yet, through our email exchanges I got the sense that she’d lost a bit of the excitement she once had for her business while she was growing her client’s reputations. 

Understanding Avery’s desire to continue wowing her clients with outstanding service while simultaneously nurturing her own business, we created something that reignited her spark… I’m thrilled to share this stunning brand design project with you today!

Can you relate to Avery? Getting lost in growing your own business even as you’re doing the work you know in your heart you’re meant to be doing? 

I want to help you find your spark again.

Because even though design doesn’t fall into your zone of genius, it doesn't mean you can’t reap the amazing benefits of a beautiful business brand.

Let’s chat to find out exactly what you need to put your business back on the map - hit the link in my bio for the details

**Names and info of project changed per client’s request**
I know this will be a tough one to hear but there I know this will be a tough one to hear but there are areas in your business that you’re just not good at 😯

It’s ok though!

Honouring your life’s calling by doing the work that actually helps the people you want to serve with your offers? THAT should be your primary focus! Because THAT’S what will ensure that you grow your business while making an impact out there.

However, neglecting the areas of your business that you’re not the best at can be the reason you're stagnant.

Isn’t that ironic? Focusing your energy on your brilliance, the area that will actually allow your biz to thrive, could very well be the cause of your business not growing at all?

Does this sound like it might be happening to you: 

Getting lost in growing your own business even as you’re doing the work you know in your heart you’re meant to be doing? 

🔥I want to help you find your fire again.

Because even though design doesn’t fall into your zone of genius, it doesn't mean you can’t reap the amazing benefits of a beautiful business brand.

Let’s chat to find out exactly how we can make this happen for you!

Hit the link in my bio to tell me all about your biz baby ❤️

Bookings now open for 2023 🎉

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