Stephen King’s new short story collection, You Like It Darker, has me hooked.
I’ve been listening to it while driving, and let’s just say I’m taking the scenic route more than usual. Each story pulls you in, gets to the point quickly, and leaves you thinking about it long after it ends.
That’s the beauty of short stories—they don’t waste time. No unnecessary fluff. No drawn-out setups. Just instant engagement and a punch that sticks with you.
Which is exactly why short video sales letters (VSLs) make incredible lead magnets.
Most professionals default to written lead magnets—reports, guides, and PDFs. And those work. But if you want to capture attention fast and connect on a deeper level, a short VSL (think 10-20 minutes) can be an absolute game-changer.
Here’s why:
- People consume video faster than text. They might save a report for later (which never comes), but they’ll watch a short video immediately.
- It builds instant rapport. People hear you and get a feel for your personality, making them more likely to trust you.
- It gets to the point. Like King’s short stories, you hook them fast, deliver something valuable, and lead them to action.
Most professionals ignore this because they assume video has to be long, scripted, and overproduced. Nope. A simple, to-the-point video recorded with your phone can outperform a long-winded lead magnet that no one reads.
Action step: If you don’t have a short VSL as a lead magnet, consider testing one. Turn your best-performing written lead magnet into a short video. You might be surprised at how well it works.
Tomorrow, we’ll discuss an over-arching principle that will make any lead magnet perform better.
Kick butt, make mucho DEEnero!
Dave “Shhh, I’m Listening” Dee