15 offers that get an audience to sign up at a live event

An event lead magnet is the thing people get for signing up while they're at your event. The best ones have three things in common. The audience wants them right now. They arrive the moment someone signs up. And they're tied to what just happened in the room.

"Join my newsletter" fails all three. The 15 ideas below pass them, grouped by where you're standing. Each one can be sent by text or email the moment someone gives you their address.

For speakers

1. Your slides. The most reliable offer there is, because people already want them. They photograph your slides during the talk anyway. "Text DEMO to 33777 and I'll send you the deck" turns that habit into a contact, and tells people at the start that they can stop taking photos and listen.

2. A resource list. Every book, tool, and link you mentioned, on one page. It's easy to make after you've given the talk once, and it's useful long after the event.

3. The recording. If the session was filmed, or you recorded the audio, offer it to people who want to share it with their team. If it won't be ready for a few days, say so: "Text REPLAY and you'll get it as soon as it's up." Then send it from your email tool.

For workshops and trainings

4. The worksheet or exercise file. Hand it out by text at the start of the session. People sign up because they need it in the next five minutes, and you get every attendee's email before the first break.

5. A one-page checklist of the framework. The thing they'd copy off the whiteboard, cleaned up.

6. A follow-up session. "Text OFFICEHOURS to book 15 minutes with me next week." This one works best in smaller rooms where people have a specific question.

For trade show booths

7. The product sheet or price list. The thing people would otherwise grab off the table and leave in their hotel room. By text, it's in their pocket and you have their email.

8. A giveaway entry. One entry per phone number, drawn at a set time at the booth. It brings people back, and it gives your team a reason to start a conversation. How to run an event giveaway that grows your email list covers the setup.

9. A demo or meeting booking. For the visitors who are already interested: "Text DEMO and we'll send you a link to book a time." Ask what they're hoping to solve, so the rep can prepare.

For churches

10. A welcome note and next steps for first-time guests. What's on this week, how to join a group, who to talk to. It's the digital version of the connection card, and it reaches guests who'd never fill one in.

11. The sermon notes. For people who want to go back over the message during the week. It works for regular attenders too, not only visitors.

For bands and musicians

12. An unreleased track or a live recording. Something they can only get by being at the show. Mention it between songs, not at the end, when everyone's heading for the door.

13. A discount at the merch table. "Text MERCH to 33777 for 10% off tonight." It gets fans to the table and onto your mailing list in the same moment.

For conferences and multi-session events

14. A vote in a live poll. A poll is its own reward: people text in because they want to see where the room landed. Once someone has voted, you can ask for their email in the next text, and offer the results or the slides. See live polls.

15. A say in the session. Session feedback that goes to the speaker, or a word cloud that shapes the next topic. "Text RATE to 33777 and tell us how this one went." See How to collect session feedback at a conference.

How to word the offer

Put the offer first, then the instruction, in one line:

Get today's slides. Text DEMO to 33777, or scan the code.

Pick a keyword that names the offer: SLIDES, GUIDE, MERCH, WELCOME. The word itself reminds people what they're getting, and short plain words get typed correctly more often.

If they're also joining your email list, say so in the same line: "Get today's slides and my monthly email." That's what makes the sign-up a clear yes, and it keeps people from being surprised by your next email. Is text-to-join legal? explains why this matters.

Deliver it before they leave

If the offer arrives tomorrow, the moment has passed. Send it the moment they finish: a download link by text, or an email with the file. People who get what they asked for right away trust the next email you send.

For the full sequence (picking the offer, making the ask, delivering it, and following up), see the event lead capture playbook.

How Textiful helps

With Textiful handouts, you upload the file once (slides, a PDF, a recording, an image) and any flow sends it by text or email the moment someone finishes. Templates like "Send my slide deck," "Give away a download," "Run a giveaway," and "Send an offer or info" set up the capture flow for you.

Try it at your next event → Start a free trial