Content Upgrades?
You have a thriving blog or website and produce valuable content.
Your readers love your content, but your email list is stalling…
I have been there! Trust me on this. That is why I searched for ideas on how to give more value to my reader and grow my email list at the same time!
What I discovered…. Content Upgrades!
Content upgrades are becoming a very popular means to provide your audience with value while building your Email List at the same time.
Content upgrades are bonus content that you offer to your readers in exchange for their email addresses. #contentmarketing Click To Tweet
These content upgrades must be unique to the specific content that your audience are already reading on your site.
It may sound easy but sometimes coming up with valuable content upgrades that your reader will want can be a daunting process.
That is the reason why I have this list if 25 content upgrades ideas. Do a research and find out the pages where you receive the most traffic, and insert one of these there to explode your email list.
21 Valuable Content Upgrades To Explode Your Email List
1. Ebook
Creating a short ebook to give more explanations on the topic in question is an excellent way to provide more value to your readers.
2. Expert Interview or Report
This could be an interview with someone who is a specialist in the field. It helps to amplify and make your content sink in the minds of your readers.
3. Free Trial
I see this very often with the social media and SEO tools I use. It is a good strategy as it encourages their readers to not only subscribe to their email list but also to try out their products for free (limited time)
4. PDF Version
This is a snackable way to offer your current blog post or an extra information to your readers. For example, if you cannot read this post till the end, I have a PDF version of it for you to download. You can read when you have time, and it will always be handy to you.
5. Free Images & Photos
Many website designers and photographers use this as a means to lure their readers into their email list. It is an excellent content upgrade because most people are in need of copyright-free images for their business.
6. Infographics
Infographics are one of the best content upgrades you can have for your readers. They are easily digested and get the most shares on social media. You will not only provide value to your readers, grow your email list but also get more exposure from the shares.
7. Video Tutorials
Sometimes you may have a topic that may not be digestible to all your readers. As a content upgrade, you can make a short video with step by step illustrations on how to go about it (like installing or using a plugin). Your readers will thank you for this and readily give you their email addresses to watch it.
8. An Excerpt Of Your Product
I see this very often on Amazon. Since I read a lot, I sometimes get authors who want me to try their books. They will readily send you an excerpt of it as a means to tease you to buy. Of course, I need to give my email address to get access to it.
9. Check List
We cannot talk of content upgrades without mentioning checklist. If you have a blog post that is long about how to prepare a particular meal, you can make a list of the most important points. This can be downloaded by your audience and will ease the process of preparing this meal.
10. Resources List
I recently wrote an article about 40 websites where you can get free high resolution images. It is an immensely long list, and I created a resources list for that. This will make it easier for anyone to store and check whenever the need be.
11. Free Course
Anything free is always appreciated! People want to get information or how to resources, but most are not ready to pay for it. Content upgrades like a free course will explode your email list. You can also intergrade this as a sequel to a much bigger course. If they find value in the free version, the chances are high that the will vouch for it.
12. Power Point & Slideshare
Content upgrades in the form of SlideShares and Powerpoint are becoming more popular. With the increase of visual content, many marketers have turned to this type of content upgrades to give their readers a more visual and easier version of their blog post or resources.
13. Swipe Files
These are a collection of you best tools or resources that you can recommend. For me, It will be a list of my best social media and project management tools with the reason why I love them. You can offer this as a package to your readers in exchange for their email address.
14. Mp3 Audio Download
I recently watched a presentation but could not till the end due to time constraint. I was happy when the author offered a mp3 download of it that I could listen on the go. I did not hesitate to give my email address in exchange for it.
15. Podcast Notes
Content upgrades like this are standard with most podcast hosts. After each podcast, they recycle the content and create a blog post that requires your email address to access it. This is good for those who love reading and do not have the time to listen to the podcast till the end.
16. Templates
Templates are also another excellent way to offer content upgrades to grow and explode your email list. It is advisable that you design them well so that they are easy to use. For example, as a social media manager, I could create a template of how to organize and set up your social media profiles.
17. Webinars
Do you have past webinars? We cannot talk about content upgrades without mentioning this one. You can use all of your webinars as free content upgrades to your audience. Of course, they will need to submit their email addresses to get access to it.
18. Email Series
After a blog post or a course, you can offer an opt-in to your readers. It will be in exchange for daily or weekly notes that you will send to them to amplify the blog post or course.
19. Printable
This could be step by step explanations on a particular topic that they have to print out and stick on the wall for a constant reminder.
20. ToolKits
Toolkits are very popular, and most people will readily give you their email addresses in exchange for a toolbox for free. It could be a combination of resources, templates, printables, free stock photos, and many other valuables that your target market needs. Bundle them into one kit and offer as a content upgrade.
21. Report
It refers to those who have carried out extensive research on a particular topic. You can provide this in the form of Whitepaper or a Report to your readers. It also helps to establish you as a leader or top-notch in a field.
Bonus Tool To Scale Your Content Upgrades Process
Milanote is a tool for organizing your creative projects and content upgrades into beautiful visual boards.
Think about creating a replicate of how you feel on a wall.
A visual mood board.
Plus, a visual direction for your project or to write the perfect creative brief.
Its sharing feature makes ait a bliss for those who provide work to clients and wait for feedback.
It is indeed a great fit for freelancers in both the marketing and design industry.
The good thing is that Milanotes’s free plan is available with no time limit. Why not try it?
Did I forget any valuable content upgrades? I am always happy to get your suggestions and opinions about what I share here. Let me know in the comments.
All super tips and just thought.. the email list series might be something cool to do.. however.. I think it would be like my video series that folks still don’t make the time for. Anyways.. it was a great idea… along with the rest of them. Thanks A!
I am sure that your video series is packed with value but sadly, most people are too busy. Have you tried checklist instead?
I am saving this for further review. I want to try some of these. Thank you.
Let me know how it goes.
This is litterally great! Thank you for sharing it!
These are awesome ideas! I personally don’t do an email list. I don’t join other lists either, it’s just not my thing. But I like a lot of these ideas!
Thanks Amber!
Thank you for sharing those great tips! very useful
Thank you Anne!
I can never think of what freebies to give away in exchange for a reader’s email address. This list is AMAZING. I’ll def have to steal a few ideas from here!
Hahahahaha you should! I am sure it will help you grow your list!
These are all great ideas! We do some of them, and I can vouch that free stuff always works. Then my problem is, I don’t send out the newsletters to my email lists. I know, I know. I will!
I am sometimes weak at that too, but freebies work like magic. People love free stuff and are always drawn to it.
These are great ideas for content upgrades. I’m brainstorming other ways to bring value to my readers as well. This was a great list to get the creative juices flowing. Thanks for sharing!
maria [www.noonetocompare.com]
I am glad you like them, thanks.
Great post Definitely saving it! I have been trying to up my subscription list 🙂
I hope that these tips will help you increase your subscribers.
Fantastic ways of some really great content upgrades Apolline!! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you too Joan.
Omg this came right in time. GREAT IDEAS like really good, definitely going to use a couple for my list .
I hope it helps!
These are great tips I want to try some of these ideas . Thank you for this helpful post !
There are several that I am sure you won’t mind trying. Thanks for stopping by.
This post was really informative, I really enjoy putting together freebies for my VIP list.
Me too Tasheena. It helps me grow my email list.
This post is very informative. I am saving this. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Anna.
I like reports and additional resources. Just yesterday I swapped my email address for more information like that.
I also do that very often too especially from authority sites. It helps me get a better view of my industry.
Great tips you offered here! I would love to give a free photography course, so that would be an awesome idea for me!
http://www.imagineyourart.org
Wow! That will be a good freebie because many bloggers want to make their own photos.
COMMENTAmazing to see how many options there are….and how many I have used! Looks like a couple more to try. Thanks for sharing this!
There is always more, and it amazes me how they all work and help to grow our email list.
Great tips as always Apolline!
Thanks April.
Fabulous list of ideas to offer readers in exchange for their email. I really need to work on this so am very grateful for the information. Thank you.
I am happy to help.
I’ve been doing an email series and call it a “challenge”. It’s been converting like gangbusters! Great list, I will book mark for ideas as I write my blog posts.
I am excited to know more about your “gangbuster” challenge!
Yes, I am in love with content upgrades. I love your use of the opt-in in this post and how you offer the tips as an upgrade. Good stuff.
Hhahaha thanks, Renee! I had to show an example of how easy you can grow your email list with these tips.
this list is amazing. I am most interested in trying the Infographic (never created one before) and Interviewing an expert. Thanks so much for the suggestions
I have created some infographics before but never interviewed an expert. I guess it is time I start looking for one to pitch and invite for an interview or send them a survey.
I really appreciate that you took the time to put this together, Apolline. We work hard to put our content together and then limit ourselves in how we put it out there. You’ve given us lots of different options to explore. Will be working through these one-by-one.
There are lots of option especially for old and evergreen content that drives traffic to our website.
Lots of great ideas here. I think I will consider a free trial of something. Just continue to test and switch it up occasionally.
A free is always a good option and converts very much too. AB test and see which one works best for you and your business.
Awesome post, Apolline. I appreciate all the great idea – now to start implementing! Big gratitude!
Thank you Reba! Now to action!
This is a great list! i have not had much luck with my content upgrades, but will not give up. I will keep this list and see what I will try next. Much appreciated!
Thank you, Mindy. We are all AB testing and optimizing every day to see which works best.