A PDF lead magnet that earns signups honestly

A six-page PDF that solves one narrow problem, with a clear next step and a delivery plan.

Best for: Small businesses, coaches and creators who want a useful free download in return for an email address.

• A clear picture of who the PDF is for and one problem they have right now.
• A text assistant and a layout tool (Canva, Figma or similar) that exports PDF.
• An email tool or form that can send a file after signup, with a way for people to unsubscribe.

1. 1

   Pick a problem small enough for six pages

   The best lead magnets solve one thing quickly: a checklist, a template, a cheat sheet. “Marketing for beginners” is too broad; “A 10-point check before you publish a product page” fits on six pages.

2. 2

   Write the promise

   One sentence: who it is for and what they can do after reading. If the promise includes a result you cannot guarantee (money, followers, weight, health), rewrite it to describe what the reader will have or do, not what they will earn.

3. 3

   Outline, then draft with a text model

   Ask for an outline first, edit it yourself, then draft one page at a time using your own examples and facts. Keep every claim you cannot support marked until you check it.

   ✦Tip. Add one real example from your own work on every page. It is the part a model cannot invent.

4. 4

   Edit for a busy reader

   Cut filler, shorten sentences, replace vague words with numbers or names. Read it aloud once. Keep the document honest about limits and about who it will not suit.

5. 5

   Lay it out for the screen and the printer

   Use one typeface family, a clear heading scale and generous margins. Check contrast, keep body text at 11 points or larger, add alternative text to meaningful images, and export a PDF with real selectable text.

6. 6

   Deliver it properly

   Send the file by email after signup and say what the person will receive and how often you will write. Include an unsubscribe link, and check the email and privacy rules that apply where you and your subscribers live. The delivery workflow in this library shows the steps.

Replace anything in [square brackets]. Prompts are starting points: results vary between tools and versions, so review every output.

Prompts are written in English because image, video and most text models follow English instructions best. To get answers in your language, add “Reply in English.” to a prompt for a text assistant.

My audience is [who] and their biggest small problem right now is [problem]. List 10 narrow problems I could solve in a 6-page PDF. For each, say what the reader will be able to do after reading it and what they would need to already have. Prefer problems that a checklist or template can solve.

Write a 6-page outline for the PDF "[working title]". Page 1: the promise in one sentence and who it is for. Pages 2 to 5: one usable step or section each, with a concrete example. Page 6: what to do next. Use plain words, short sentences and no hype. Mark any claim that needs a source with [CHECK].

Edit the draft below for a busy reader. Cut filler, keep every concrete step, replace vague words with specifics, and flag any sentence that makes a promise I cannot prove. Return the edited text and a list of what you removed and why.

[paste draft]

• ✕Making the PDF a vague overview instead of one useful tool.
• ✕Padding to reach a page count the reader never asked for.
• ✕Exporting pages as flat images so text cannot be selected or read aloud.
• ✕Adding people to a newsletter without telling them they have joined one.