In our blog on growing your author email list, we mentioned reader magnets as a way to build your list but we didn’t give you any reader magnet ideas to start you off. So, we’d like to correct that and cover some ways you can entice readers to sign up for your email list.
First, Why Bother with an Email List?
Did you know that email marketing is one of the most effective types of marketing out there? It’s true. Everyone has an email and most people check their email daily, and sometimes multiple times a day, just like they do social media. But unlike with social media, these emails land exactly where they’re meant to because they don’t rely on an algorithm to be seen. Of course, catchy subject lines help as far as open rates go, and the content of the newsletter or blog feed should appeal to your audience. There are some other benefits to email lists that may make you consider some of the reader magnet ideas below too.
Because many authors are shy about putting their face out there and having daily social media presence, author email lists are something they can build to keep in touch with their audience while remaining fairly behind the scenes. They’re also an easy integration of passive and active book marketing.
- Your click and conversion rates may vary but in general, email marketing has a very high ROI.
- Everyone has an email, even if they don’t have social media.
- The visibility of an email is not bound and limited by algorithms.
- They allow direct contact with your audience without a highly-visible online presence.
- Emails can be tailored and targeted to a specific audience segment.
- You have more control of clicks and conversions than on social media( no algorithms).
- They’re a way to speak directly to, and engage, your audience to build a loyal fan base. .
A Note on Reader Magnets and How They Work
Before we list some great reader magnet ideas, we should briefly explain how these reader magnets work. Our founder, Jeniffer, explains it well in her blog on using reader magnets to build your fan base and sell more books:
“A reader magnet is just a marketing strategy where an incentive is offered to engage with your content and build a loyal fan base. Something that draws in your audience, well, like a magnet.
Here’s an example: Say you want to encourage your audience to sign up for your newsletter, subscribe to your blog, or pay for access to your Patreon or Substack. Well, you should offer an incentive to do so! It’s very similar to product promotions. Like when you get a free sample by spending a certain amount on other products. And we’re all likely familiar with how well that works. How often have you bought the bigger size, or a set of something over a single item just to get some little gift for free!? Reader magnets follow this same concept.”
This is Important!
It should be noted that to work effectively, reader magnets need to appeal to your audience. This means offering something that is enticing specifically to them. So, knowing your audience and understanding what’s appropriate for your genre is necessary. For instance, there are different reader magnet ideas listed below for fiction and nonfiction. This is because different offers will appeal to different audiences, and there will be different expectations of what’s offered.
Some Reader Magnet Ideas Work Across Genres
- Exclusive content
- Free book downloads
- Writing prompts
- Quizzes and assessments
- Samples and previews
Reader Magnet Ideas Specifically for Fiction Authors
- Invite the Reader into the World of the Book
- Offer an exclusive link to a playlist of a character’s favorite songs or a soundtrack for the book. You can do this on Spotify or other streaming platforms.
- Share recipes, or city and neighborhood guides that immerse the reader in the space.
2. Supplemental Materials are a Popular Reader Magnet Idea
- Deleted scenes or extra subplots not included in the final version.
- More insight into side characters or an antagonist’s motivations or history.
- Personality quizzes like, “Which character are you?”.
3. Previews of Upcoming Work or Sharing Your Process
- Share your book cover before you share it with the public.
- Give access to the first chapter of your new book.
- Behind the scenes content on how it all came together.
Now, Here are Some Enticing Reader Magnets for Nonfiction Authors
1.Helpful and Valuable Assets
- Templates for journaling, planning, etc. AKA, action items.
- Free mini courses or webinars that introduce or supplement full courses.
- Tip sheets in the form of convenient bullet lists.
- Assesments that guide them to resources and actions that help meet their needs.
2. Money Saving Offers
- Free, limited time access to paid content.
- Discounts on your courses.
Promoting Your Giveaway to Boost Signups
As you may expect, these reader magnet ideas work best when they’re promoted. So, first you can add your sign up link basically everywhere.
- Your back cover or final page. You can use a QR code for this and on all of your merch or print marketing materials!
- On your website’s book page, blog page, or other landing pages.
- On your social platforms as pinned posts or in your bio.
- Share them on your socials.
- Mention them in interviews.
- Add them to your email signature or newsletter and blog signoffs.
Don’t Forget the CTA!
These reader magnet ideas need to be accompanied by a CTA. If you want to sell something, you have to entice the reader. Even if it’s for something you’re giving away for free.
Tell the reader what they’re getting: Make it clear with a bullet list. Share why you created this bonus material. Be sure to include a direct CTA, such as, “Sign up here!” “Download Now!” or “Click the Link!” or “Get it Now!”
And most importantly, remember that you’re offering an incentive to sign up for your email list, but you need to sell the newsletter or blog feed too. Tell them what they can expect from your emails! Are you offering juicy insights? Will they be getting weekly tips? Are they going to learn something new, exclusive to subscribers? Will they get notifications for early access to your next book or new course? Let them know!
Ultimately, any one of these reader magnet ideas could be used to grow your email list, but only if you know your audience and offer something they want or need. Then, make sure your newsletter or blog feed offers something valuable as well. Keep them engaged by staying consistent with your output. And don’t forget to check in and evaluate what is working and what isn’t. Analytics are your friend.
Soon, your email list will be growing and you’ll have a direct connection to your audience where you can seamlessly integrate passive and active book marketing as part of your winning author marketing strategy.
Have you read our blog on book marketing ideas for 2026 yet? You can find it here.
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