​[Read the browser version right here]​

Hey Reader!

First off -- wow thanks to all who reached out from my last edition with words of support for my SLP (Shitty Landing Page).

My SLP needed some TLC. So I took some of y'alls advice and made some changes.

​I think it's better.​

Perfect? No.
No such thing as a perfect landing page.

But a *good* landing page should be the three C's:

→ Clear 💯
→ Credible 🤩
→ Compelling 💨

So here's what I changed:

1. Split the page into two columns: ​
   left side = signup, right side = phone mockup image 💨
2. Changed the headline (still a work in progess) 💯
3. Changed the subheadline (also a W.I.P.) 💯🤩💨
4. Changed the button ("Get more subscribers >>") 💨
5. Added a "wall of love" (via Senja) 🤩

So it now has elements of all three. Again, not perfect. But we're making progress.

Thanks again to you kind souls who offered some advice. Looking at you, Teresa, Juliet, Josh, and others!

Now to tackle my Thank-You page 🙃

Here's what's percolating in today's edition:

→ How To Grow With Lead Magnets in 2026
→ Five SaaS retention strategies your newsletter should copy
→ How to create your DREAM work
→ 7 Subscription mistakes that cost a newsletter $millions
→ Ranking the Best-To-Worst Newsletter Growth Strategies

Go get it...

How To Grow With
​Lead Magnets in 2026

Lead magnets & newsletters...

More on-again-off-again than J-Lo and Ben. The mid 20-teens was lead magnet mania.

Every blog article in 2014 was throwing pop-ups in your face, pitching their lead magnets. It was a hot, steamy affair. Peak lead magnet.

But somewhere along the way, newsletter folks claimed lead magnets stopped working.

"they don't work, nobody sticks around, bad leads" wah wah wah.

Readers were burned by crappy lead magnets with sky-high promises. The relationship fizzled out because they lost trust in digital marketers (*gasp* shocking, I know) and figured out those "5 Simple Steps to $1M in Passive Income" PDFs were not so simple... or legit.

2023-26: The Lead Magnet Turning Point?

If you've been runnin' in the newsletter streets lately, you'll know that lead magnets & newsletters are SO back together.

(and also like J-Lo & Ben, it probably won't last)

But why? What's changed?

We did some digging and tried to figure out what lead magnets are actually working in 2026.

And we found some great examples that are driving thousands of quality subscribers.

But first...

What actually makes a "good" lead magnet?
And how can you promote it and use it to grow?

Read on...

The Simple Lead Magnet Test: First Ask This

"Would someone pay for this?"

Your lead magnet should be so valuable that readers would fork over real money—not just an email address.

It's just another extension of Insanely Valuable Content™️.

Good lead magnets solve painful problems (problems people would be willing to pay for).

These free resources:

• solve a specific problem
• deliver a quick win
• and feel immediately useful

That's worth paying for when done right.

A Quick Warning: The Mistake That Quietly Kills Trust

An email address is not currency. But when one is exchanged for a "free guide", the guide better deliver.

Because a bad lead magnet can damage your reputation, trust, and more.

A reader won't ask for a refund. But they'll unsubscribe and never trust you again. They might even tell their friends... Careful.

The 3 Types of Lead Magnets That Are Working Right Now

Don't have a lead magnet idea, or time to build something "high value"?

Good news.

Most of us already have lead magnets at our disposal—we just haven't uncovered them.

Chenell and I discovered the best lead magnets tend to fall into one of three buckets. And each one can be built from content you've already created 👇

The whole article wouldn't fit in an email, so...

​Read The Full Article Here >>​

The article also covers...

→ The 3 Buckets of Repurposed Content into Lead Magnets
→ How To Create Lead Magnets That Convert 5x Better (to the same audience)
→ The Easiest Lead Magnet Win Everyone Forgets About
→ The Lead Magnet Formats We See Winning Right Now

​Read The Full Article Here (what're you waiting for c'mon seriously) >>​

Newsletter Hits Of The Week ⚡

Curated links from others I think you'll enjoy.

⚡ There are no rules. You can create your dream work. Here's how →​

⚡ Ranking the Best-To-Worst Newsletter Growth Strategies →​

⚡ Five retention strategies you probably aren't trying →​
​(Yep, these are SaaS retention strats—but newsletters can use these all the same.)

⚡7 Subscription Mistakes That Cost This Newsletter Millions →​

The most-clicked link from last week 👇

⚡ 8 ways I'm using AI with my newsletter (not what you think) →

Growing a newsletter
​can be slow & lonely.

So build your newsletter faster.
With our help.

Come hang out with me & Chenell.

Join us Newsletter Nerds in the Growth In Reverse PRO Community →​

GIR Pro is a private online community for newsletter creators and operators like you and me.

A few reasons why GIR Pro kicks ass:

→ Learn from experts with our live Creator Sessions.
→ Hop on a Hot Seat with Chenell to solve newsletter & business challenges.
→ Get instant, free access to all of Chenell's products and courses—including The Growth Vault.
→ Get quick feedback on landing pages, posts, newsletter issues, from me, Chenell, and our members.
→ Hang out with us IRL at exclusive Pro meetups (like we're doing in Austin at the New Media Summit)

​Join GIR Pro →​

(if you join and it's not for you, just let us know and get a 100% refund)

Need more newsletter support?

Here are a few ways I can help:

1. Get clear on your newsletter strategy. Book a 1:1 Strategy Call With Me (30 mins || 1 Hour)
   ​
2. Improve your newsletter engagement & reducing unsubscribes starts with how you onboard your new subscribers.
   Book a Newsletter Onboarding Audit >>​
   ​
3. Get daily newsletter support in a private setting from myself, Chenell Basilio, and dozens of other newsletter creators. Join the Growth In Reverse Pro Community today >>​

See you in the inbox,

Dylan

​LinkedIn | Twitter | Substack | IG

PS - We're doing a Substack 30-day posting challenge in the Growth In Reverse Pro community. It's pretty simple: post on Substack Notes every day and see what happens. Catch me over on Notes here ��

* indicates affiliate links. I get paid a small commission if you use these links to purchase a product or service.

​.​