{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Written Word Podcast","title":"How to Turn Free Content Into New Readers: The Author's Guide to Lead Magnets","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2041,"description":"Your email list is your most valuable asset as an author, but how do you actually grow it beyond people who already know you? The answer is a lead magnet: free content you offer in exchange for an email address. In this episode, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon break down the full system: what to give away, where to host it, how to deliver it, and how to drive traffic.\nWhat you’ll learn:\nThe difference between a lead magnet and a reader magnet, and why you need both (one reaches strangers, one converts existing readers)\nWhat to give away: chapter, novella, or full book, and why novellas hit the sweet spot for most authors\nThe KDP Select caveat: why giving away a full book can violate exclusivity terms and what to do instead\nThe 4 components of a working lead magnet system: content, landing page, delivery, and traffic\nThe best tool for author-specific lead magnet delivery, and why BookFunnel handles customer service so you don't have to\nHow to use Meta ads (Facebook and Instagram) to drive lead magnet sign-ups starting at $5/day\nFree traffic options: newsletter swaps and group promos, plus their real limitations\nThe biggest mistake authors make after running a successful lead magnet campaign (and it's not the ad)\nWhat your landing page actually needs to say (spoiler: very little — keep it simple)\nA preview of WWM's new Reader Reach Lead Magnet product (coming soon!)\n\nAlso: the Pacific Northwest trip recap, three new national parks checked off, and Ricci's first marmot sighting.\n\nWant to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.\n\nThe Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.\n\n© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/qteoEbz83oXe-g3URU5W97cLyhvqgU8dkQQXrwrWyPs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kOTVk/NjM0YzJlYTIwZmMy/NjdhNDNiODdiYjJl/YzExNi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}