Woooo, someone just downloaded your lead magnet 🥳
Tiny dopamine hit. Screenshot for Stories. Maybe even a little dance around the kitchen.
But then what?
If you don't have these three things set up, then those subscribers weren’t actually worth getting in the first place.
Sorry if that's slightly controversial!
It's not because your freebie is bad. It's definitely not that you shouldn’t be growing an email list (you should), but if you're not doing it with intention, you're wasting your time.
Let’s fix that.
1. The “Don’t Waste This Click” Page
aka the page most people rush, half-arse, or completely ignore
This is what everyone calls a “success” or “thank you” page, which massively undersells what it should actually do.
It’s arguably the most valuable page on your entire website.
Why?
Because it’s the only page you know every single subscriber will see.
They've just said yes to you and trusted you with their email address, and they're still on your site, and curious about how else you can solve their problems.
If you ever wondered what a hot lead was… this is it!
This page should:
- confirm they have signed up.
- tell them exactly what to expect next (so they are eager to open the email)
- point them towards something else.
That something else could be:
- Another freebie
- A related blog
- A podcast episode
- A low-ticket product/service
- A high-ticket product/service
- Your application form
Basically, anything relevant that keeps the momentum going.
A success page that goes nowhere is a missed opportunity. Every time.
2. The “Nice to Meet You” Email
aka the email that decides whether they’ll ever open another one.
This is not the email that delivers the freebie.
That’s a separate thing entirely.
This is your actual hello.
Sometimes this is a short welcome sequence. Sometimes it’s just one solid email that does the job properly.
Either way, the purpose is the same.
The welcome email(s) should:
- Help them get to know you
- Make them look forward to receiving (and opening) your future emails
- Move them towards becoming a customer
You want them to think ‘I like how this person talks', ‘they get what I’m dealing with', ‘I can see myself working with this person'
This is where you set expectations.
You normalise replying, so your emails don’t feel like a broadcast.
And you start building a real relationship, not just a list.
Most freelancers either skip this completely or cram way too much into one email.
Pro tip: one email, one main point.
If you’ve got more to say, that’s another email.
3. The “So What Next?” Email(s)
aka the bit everyone avoids because they’re scared of selling
Quick reminder: people are not mind readers.
It’s rare that someone will email you asking what you sell and how they can buy it.
That part is on you.
If someone downloaded your freebie, they’re already problem-aware. They don’t need convincing that something isn’t working. They need direction and the best next steps.
The ‘what next' emails:
- bridge the gap between free value and paid support
- ensure they know how to take the next step when they’re ready
- stops your list from becoming a graveyard of “nice people who never buy”
And here’s the good news.
None of this needs to be complicated.
Your lead magnet has already done most of the heavy lifting.
You’re just filling in the gaps it naturally leaves behind.
If you need help with any of this, you'll love the membership. It’s where we help freelancers future-proof their business with better offers, smarter systems, and clear ways to sell them, without working 24/7. It's also the only membership for social media freelancers that includes support, training, and the software needed to run a freelance business (Hubsy)
Come join us 💕
