How to Use Clickfunnels to Create a Simple Opt-In with a Downloadable Lead Magnet

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Creating a lead magnet is absolutely critical to building a quality email list. Gone are the days where we can expect people to "join our newsletter," just for the hell of it. We need to give them something.

This is our chance to start our relationship with them on the right foot. This ultimately means we will get a higher life time value of each subscriber. The principle of reciprocity makes this a near certainty. 

While there is a lot that goes into making a quality lead magnet, the purpose of this article is to show you how to make a quality 2 step opt-in form with Clickfunnels to deliver your lead magnet and collect more subscribers. 

If you aren't familiar with Clickfunnels, read my article "What Is Clickfunnes and Why You I Want It"...

What Is Clickfunnels?

The 9 Steps of Creating an Opt-In with Clickfunnels

I have broken this process down into it's most basic components. There is much more that can be done with these funnels than I am showing here but this tutorial will let you get a simple opt-in up and gathering emails. The design and sales copy of your page isn't covered here. 

I am assuming a few things for the sake of this tutorial.

  1. You have a lead magnet.
  2. You have an email marketing software like Mailchimp, Clickfunnels, etc. You need this in order to actually use the email addresses you capture. I use a combination of Actionetics (Clickfunnel's native service) and Convertkit. 

Ok, let's get into it!

Step #1 Upload Your Lead Magnet File into Click Funnels "Digital Assets"

Before we can worry about our landing page, we need to get our digital asset prepared in Clickfunnels. 

After you log in to your Clickfunnels account, navigate to the "Account" tab at the top of the page. 

Clickfunnels lead magnet

Next, select "Digital Assets" from the drop down. 

Clickfunnels Digital Assets

On the Manage Digital Assets page, select "Add New Asset."

Clickfunnels Create Asset

Drag and drop your file on top of the "Choose File" button or click the button to locate it on your computer and upload it.

Clickfunnels supports the following file types:

  • jpg Basic image type.
  • jpeg - Basic image type.
  • gif - Short animated clips.
  • png - Higher resolution images.
  • pdf - Most common file for digital assets. Easy to read documents across most devices.
  • zip - A compressed folder that can have multiple files.
  • txt - Very basic text based document.
  • csv - Very basic spreadsheet.
  • xls - More complex spreadsheets.

The files must be below 3 MB. This is a little smaller than I'd prefer but it is enough for basic lead magnets. 

If you need to share larger files you can do so with Amazon AWS (you will not use the steps above at all if you choose to use your own file host like AWS). Click here to learn more about Amazon AWS.

Fill in your information into the "Name", "From Name", "Your email", and "Message" fields. These are not "requirements" but they should be. 

Once completed, press "Create Digital Asset."

Step #2 Right Click on the Asset, Copy the URL and Test the Link to Make Sure it Triggers a Download

Now we will want to grab your digital asset's URL. This URL will take the user to the file where they can download it to their device or view it online (with the exception of .zip files which cannot be previewed). 

We will use this link later so you can save it and have it handy or navigate back to this page when you get to Step #7 of this process. 

There are two ways to get your product URL. 

The first way (how I do it) is to right click on the file download button and copy the link... 

Clickfunnels Asset Link

...OR you can go to "EDIT" and find the link there.

Edit Digital Assets

Clickfunnels URL


Step #3 Create a New Funnel

You will now navigate back to the main page and create a new funnel by selecting "Add New" near the top of the page. 

Clickfunnels Lead Magnet Funnel

One of the beauties of Clickfunnels is their collection of pre-made pages and funnels. We will start now by choosing the "Collect Emails" funnel type.

Clickfunnels collect emails

Next we need to give the funnel a name. This part is for your use and isn't seen by your visitors. 

Clickfunnels 2 Step Opt-In

Step #4 Choose Your Template

Now we are going to choose from the many available options of pre-built templates. 

Each of these is still customizable but many users simply replace the existing information with the details of their own product. 

Clickfunnels email opt-in

For this example I'm going to use an extremely simple page template. It consists of a headline, sub headline and a space for the visitor to submit their email address. 


Step #5 Editing the Opt-In Page and Settings

Now we will make the necessary adjustments to the page itself. 

Clickfunnels Editor

For this tutorial, we are not going to be concerned with design elements like font, size, background color etc. I encourage you to play with these options and get a feel for them on your own. When in doubt, don't deviate far from the template designs and typography. 

There are just 3 settings that I want to review that are not design related. 

Important Settings in Clickfunnels

1. Integrations

This is where we will sync the page with our email provider. If you haven't added an integration yet, you should do that first.

If you don't have an email marketing software, I highly recommend you check out Convertkit. It is what I use EVEN THOUGH I pay for Actionetics (which is Clickfunnel's native email service). I have tried many other softwares and have never found one that I liked as much as Convertkit. 

Each email provider is different. I use Convertkit and have a form set up that will deliver my lead magnet to my subscribers. To get this part right, you may need to communicate with your email provider AND Clickfunnels.

It isn't terribly difficult but due to the large amount of possible integrations and the fact that I only currently use Convertkit, I can't do a tutorial for them all.

If you are unsure how to create an automation within your email provider itself, it is ok (for now). You will definitely want to do it later since sending an email immediately and getting users to open your emails and click your links while your "top of mind" is a great way to get your email address whitelisted (which means better open rates in the future), but in the following steps I will show you how we will give the subscriber immediate access to their download without emailing it to them. 

Again, this is not the recommended final solution but it is a good way to start collecting email addresses fast if you are yet to integrate an email service. 

Clickfunnels email integration

2. SEO Meta Data.

This is what will show up in search engines and in the website tab above the browser bar. By default this says, "My awesome landing page." It is critical that we remember to change this and give our page a quality, professional description. 

Updating the social image is important here as well. This is going to be what people see on platforms like Facebook if you paste the link.

Clickfunnels SEO Meta

3. Tracking Code

This is an advanced step but it can make all the difference in the world. 

Here you can paste pixels and tracking codes that will allow you to retarget users on Facebook, Google or other platforms

Clickfunnels Pixel and Tracking Code

Keep in mind, although you can gather first names, phone numbers, etc. in forms, keeping it simple increases the chances of your traffic converting. 

To change text, simply click on the text you want to change. For this example, we will not get anymore technical than that.

Again, there is a great deal we can do with a funnel but for now, I want to share with you the basic steps. Be sure to play around with all the other available features as you work towards mastering Clickfunnels. 

By default, these templates have the correct actions set. Don't remove the buttons. If you want to change them in any way (you will), just edit what is already there. 

Once you are finished making changes, be sure to SAVE the page. Clickfunnels now reminds you before you leave the page that you should save but that doesn't mean I am not guilty of accidentally rushing this part and losing my work.

Whenever doing any work in Clickfunnels, I highly recommend that you save after each big change is made. 

Once you have saved everything, click the leftward pointing arrow that is at the top left hand of the page. This will take us back to the main page for our funnel. 

Step #6 Choose Your Thank You Page 

Now that the opt-in page is complete, we need to set up our thank you page. 

Click on the second step of the funnel "Thank You" and select one of the pre-built templates.

https://docs.clickfunnels.com/email-integrations-3rd-party-autoresponders/other/adding-an-email-integration-on-a-thank-you-page

Step #7 Edit Your Thank You Page

The editing on the thank you page is the same as editing the opt-in page (or any Clickfunnels page). 

Edit anything you want (color, font, size etc.)

Finally, we need to link the download button to our digital asset. This is where the URL we created earlier comes in.

  1. Click on the download button found on your thank you page and the editor will give you options on the right hand side of the page.
  2. Select "Set Action" and choose the "Go to Website URL" option.
  3. Remove the "#"
  4. Paste your digital asset's url into the field. 
  5. Save!

Refer back to step #2 to find your digital asset's URL if you don't have it handy. 

Clickfunnels thank you download

Clickfunnels thank you download

You can choose to open the link in the same page or in a new tab. I prefer to send them to a new tab since I include some instructions on the thank you page that I want them to actually read. 

I recommend that you include detail instructions on your thank you page that will lead the new subscriber to actually use your lead magnet. That is part of the goal. We want our magnet to build our brand and keep us "top of mind" with our new followers.

Step #8 Test Functionality

You are almost there!

Now, you need to test your funnel. 

Navigate to the first step of your funnel and click the open in new tab button to the right of the funnel URL. 

Test Clickfunnels

I also recommend that you try entering the funnel manually by typing in your desired URL if you have created a custom domain integration or linked to a WordPress site with the Clickfunnels plugin (more in step #9 if you haven't done this). 

You should test the funnel on both your desktop AND mobile devices.

For bonus support, try and get a friend or coworker to review it for you and give you feedback. 

Be sure that there are no typos, that your buttons work properly and that your integrations are set up (this means checking your email provider to verify that new users are actually getting added to the list you want them to be on).

Overtime, you can use Clickfunnels to split test elements of your pages to see what is converting the best but for now, just make sure the basics are working properly. 

Step #9 Edit Your Domain Name

There are multiple ways to do this. I like using the WordPress Plugin whenever I can. 

To ensure that you have the best, most up to date information on editing your domains and integrating them into clickfunnels, click here. I will not be going into further detail on domain editing in this article as the process changes frequently and I am a bit of an outlier since I predominately use the WordPress plug-in

Alright, that is it! Congratulations, you now have an opt-in page that is going to help you collect email addresses and build your internet business empire. 

Want to Learn More on Creating Clickfunnels Pages That Convert?

I highly recommend you download a FREE copy of the 108 proven split test winners by Russell Brunson.

It is full of INSANELY insightful information that will take your sales pages from duds to studs. 

Disclaimer: I am an independent ClickFunnels Affiliate, not an employee. I receive referral payments from ClickFunnels. The opinions expressed here are my own and are not official statements of ClickFunnels or its parent company, Etison LLC.”*

  1. Nate, thanks for this. I am somewhat hoping to avoid Clickfunnels (and have Thrive which can make funnels), but so many of the leaders use it for share templates, it is hard to avoid! I’m downloading your free 108 test book. My question is: can you have 2 ESPs trigger on a lead magnet page? The product I am an affiliate for has a good free lead magnet and simple page, but I want to capture the leads too, as I’ll be paying for cold traffic, if I can recreate their lead page and send the leads to both the vendor any my list, that’d be great. Thanks!

  2. I am not sure why would anyone pay for ClickFunnels, when you can get everything it does free of charge from Bitrix24 or its clones. Actually more, because Bitrix24 has live chat widget, too.

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