Struggling to grow your newsletter?

One of the fastest ways to improve your opt-in rates

What if you could instantly increase your newsletter opt-in rates without...

• Writing more content

• Overhauling your landing page

• Or changing your entire strategy?

Well, you can.

All you have to do is offer a Welcome Gift in your sign-up flow.

Let me explain what that means (and how to actually execute it successfully).

But first, some quick context:

The Problem With Most Newsletters

If you think about a newsletter from an offer creation perspective, most “newsletter offers” work something like this:

“If you give me your email, I’ll send you weekly tips and updates about [insert your niche/topic]”

And while that can be valuable over time, that’s not necessarily the most compelling offer you can make to a reader right now.

• For starters, they have to wait at least a few days to start getting those newsletters you’re promising
  

• Plus, they don’t even know if there’s a specific problem or outcome they’re going to be able to solve/unlock as a result of getting those emails

This is why lead magnets tend to be more effective in getting people to join your email list:

Because they’re designed to help the reader solve a specific problem right away.

Now, while I usually recommend just using lead magnets as the “entry point” to your email list (instead of sending people to a newsletter opt-in page), you can also try a “hybrid” approach.

And that’s where the Welcome Gift tactic comes in.

The Welcome Gift Framework

Basically, if you want to continue to use your newsletter landing page as the entry point to your email list, you can tweak your sign-up flow so that people ALSO get a welcome gift (think: a lead magnet) when they join your email list.

That way, you get the best of both worlds:

• People know from the beginning what they’re really signing up for (your newsletter)

• But they also get immediately rewarded with a valuable free resource (your lead magnet)

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

Example #1: Matt McGarry’s Newsletter Operator

Matt runs a newsletter about building profitable newsletters, and when you sign up, you immediately get his free guide on “how to get your first 1000 subscribers in 30 days.”

Notice how he calls it out right there in the signup form? (See screenshot below.)

That’s the way to go!

Example #2: The LinkedIn Creator Newsletter

The LinkedIn Creator is a popular newsletter that shares advice to grow & monetize your LinkedIn account.

Now, their weekly email has a GREAT value prop:

• 5 post templates with real examples

• 3 profile examples designed to convert

• Weekly creator spotlights

But on top of that, they also give you 300+ LinkedIn templates as a free sign-up gift.

Pretty compelling if you ask me.

Notice the pattern?

Both of these (successful) newsletters understand that people want immediate gratification—not just a promise of future value.

So let me show you how to create your own:

4 Tips For Creating Your Own Welcome Gift

Here’re 4 tips to create high-converting Welcome Gifts:

• Tip #1: Let people know they’ll get this gift on your landing page. Don’t make it a surprise. Put it right there in your headline or sub-headline so people know they’re getting immediate value.
  

• Tip #2: Make sure the lead magnet is congruent with your newsletter value prop. If your newsletter is about productivity, don’t offer a recipe book. Keep it aligned with what subscribers expect from you.
  

• Tip #3: Ideally use a lead magnet that solves one of the biggest problems your target reader struggles with.The more urgent and specific the problem, the higher your conversion rate.
  

• Tip #4: If you already have created a lead magnet in the past, start with that No need to reinvent the wheel.Repurpose what’s already working.

But what if you’re starting from scratch?

That’s where this AI prompt comes in:

The Welcome Gift Brainstorming Prompt

Now, to help you create your own high-converting welcome gift, I’ve built a prompt that generates 10 tailored ideas based on your specific newsletter.

Here’s how to use it:

• Copy the prompt below

• Fill in the INPUT section with your newsletter details

• Run it through your favorite AI tool

• Pick the idea that resonates most with your audience

The prompt will give you welcome gift ideas in proven formats like checklists, templates, mini-courses, and more—all designed to provide immediate value and boost your opt-in rates.

So without any further ado, here you go: