Timed challenges, in particular, have proven to be incredibly effective. These challenges not only engage your audience but also keep them coming back for more, creating multiple touchpoints over a set period—ranging from five to thirty days.
How to Create an Effective Timed Challenge
To get started, first identify a specific goal or result that your audience wants to achieve. This could be anything from improving their productivity to mastering a new skill.
Once you’ve nailed down the goal, work backward to outline the small, actionable steps that will guide them toward success. The duration of the challenge can vary, but common time frames include 5, 7, 10, or 14 days.
The shorter the challenge, the more likely participants will stay engaged and complete it.
Daily Engagement
Each day of the challenge, you’ll send an email outlining that day’s task or assignment. These daily emails keep participants engaged and provide them with a sense of accomplishment as they progress through the challenge.
To make the experience even more engaging, mix up the format of your content. Incorporate videos, worksheets, or even interactive quizzes into your emails. This variation not only makes the challenge more dynamic but also deepens the relationship you’re building with your audience.
Why It Works
The reason timed challenges work so well is that they create a sense of urgency and commitment. Participants are more likely to engage with your content regularly, which increases their likelihood of becoming long-term subscribers or customers.
Plus, the ongoing interaction helps build trust, making your audience more open to future offers and products.
Examples of Timed Interactive Challenges
All 5 of these challenges are used as lead magnets to build the content creators’ email lists.
1: Yoga With Adriene’s 30-Day Yoga Challenge
Adriene Mishler, a popular yoga instructor, offers a 30-day yoga challenge where participants receive daily emails with a new yoga video each day. Subscribers receive daily reminders and exclusive content to help them stay motivated throughout the challenge.
2: Whole30 Program
The Whole30 diet program runs a 30-day challenge where participants commit to cutting out certain food groups. Participants receive daily email tips, recipes, and motivational content, which also enrolls them into the Whole30 email list for future marketing and support.
3: Shopify’s 14-Day Free Trial Challenge
Shopify offers a 14-day challenge where entrepreneurs can build and launch an online store within two weeks. Participants receive daily emails with step-by-step instructions, tools, and encouragement to complete their store setup, converting trial users into paying customers.
4: Tone It Up’s 5-Day Fitness Challenge
Tone It Up, a fitness brand, runs a 5-day challenge to help people kickstart their fitness journey with daily workout videos and nutrition tips. Subscribers receive daily emails with workout videos, meal plans, and motivational content, which adds them to the brand’s mailing list.
5: HubSpot’s 7-Day Content Creation Challenge
HubSpot offers a 7-day challenge focused on helping marketers create a week’s worth of content in just seven days. Participants receive daily tasks, resources, and templates via email, guiding them through the content creation process and adding them to HubSpot’s email marketing list.
These challenges not only engage participants but also build a sense of community and accountability, making them effective lead magnets for growing an email list.
Final Thoughts
Interactive challenges offer a fresh, effective way to build your email list while providing real value to your audience. By guiding them through a timed series of steps, you create a powerful connection that can lead to long-term loyalty and increased conversions.
If you’re looking for a new strategy to supercharge your list building, consider adding a timed challenge to your lead magnet arsenal.