3 Things to include in your digital download, your opt-in or your freebie
The one thing NOT to include in your digital download + 3 Must-Haves!
Here is the ONE thing I think you should leave out of your opt-in, your lead magnet, your worksheet, workbook, ebook, web design, PDF….etc:
MORE.
Yes, I just said you should leave out “more”.
What’s that you ask? What the heck does that mean you ask? What I mean is that if you’re struggling with DIY design and unsure if your end product is looking well designed or not you probably have too much going on. Too much design, too much text, or too much stuff on the page.
See the thing is that many people think that “designing” something means that you add a bunch of stuff to it or that you use a bunch of different fonts, and….well… that can’t be farther from the truth.
What is true is that design is communication. I totally read that somewhere and now I can’t remember to give proper credit. (pauses writing to do a quick search).Ahhh, here it is:
“Design is communication. Just like a writer or a speaker chooses their words to communicate a message, good designers choose the right visual elements to also communicate a message. The larger goal and message for the design and effectively communicating that message is what makes good design, “good”.” - Adam Toda
So you’re #1 goal when designing something for your audience is to ensure that it communicates your message first.
You can enhance the message and make it easier to read/comprehend with good design. The opposite is also true in that you can make it harder to understand with poor design. So in the famous words of someone else I can’t remember and don’t feel like googling, Less is More when it comes to creating a piece of content for your audience.
Okay, now you may be wondering if I’m telling you to cut out all the fluff, then what “must-haves” should I be sure to include? I’m so happy you asked.
Here are 3 things that I think you should include in any digital download, opt-in, and freebie:
Your website at the bottom of each page. Have you ever re-opened a digital download and then had no idea where it came from? Don’t let that happen to you! Make sure no matter when they open your file, they can see where it came from.
A contact page at the end - When I design for my clients I almost always include a page at the end with their photo as well as other ways the reader can work with or learn from them. I encourage you to ask your readers to get in touch with you and share how your content is helping them… I call this “keeping the conversation going”. They’ve downloaded your guide, worksheet, tips..etc and now they are continuing the conversation by letting you know how it is helping them.
Consistency - in your brand, your voice, and your visuals - Okay, I’m ending with the big one here. This is why I think having a brand identity in the first place is so important. When you’re consistent in this way you can actually make more money! Seriously. Check out this blog post where I explain how.
So, which of the three are you most excited about implementing? Comment below and let me know.
