methodology / Email & Communications / #86
Lead magnet / signup incentive detected (free download, ebook, etc.)
#86 · Variable · Web Quality · weighted · Email & Communications · weight 0.3% · impl implemented · method v1.2.0
Web Quality factor
This factor is part of Web Quality — the weighted 0..100 score that sits above Web Standards. Its weight depends on what kind of site is being measured. Web Standards items take priority; this factor only enters the score once Web Standards passes.
- Base weight
- 0.0 applied to every site type unless overridden below
- Why this weight
- Lead magnet / signup incentive — pure conversion-funnel marketing tactic. Penalizing nytimes, anthropic, stripe, etc. for not running a 'free guide' funnel grades marketing strategy, not web quality. Not weighted; informational only if surfaced.
What this means for your business
A free guide, checklist, discount, or sample turns a stranger browsing your site into a contact you can follow up with later. Without one, most visitors leave without a trace and you have no way to win them back.
Plain title: A reason for visitors to give you their email
What we measure
A free download, guide, or ebook in exchange for an email signup converts 10x better than a generic 'subscribe to our newsletter' form. We detect whether you're offering something.
How to improve your score
Create a single high-value resource (ebook, checklist, video course, free tool) that solves a problem your audience has. Gate it behind an email opt-in.
Facts
Implementation notes
Look for keywords like "free guide", "download now", "ebook", "checklist", "free tool" near signup forms.
When this applies
Lead-magnet detection is scored on commercial / B2B sites.
- Marked n/a for site types: Personal site, Blog, Government, Education, Media / Streaming.
Scoring
Scoring formulas are versioned with the methodology. The current method (v1.2.0) maps raw measurements to pass, warn, fail. Factor weights determine how much each contributes to the composite — see the methodology index for the full table.
Version history
| Version | Change | Date |
|---|---|---|
| v1.2.0 | Factor introduced. Status: live. Scoring impl: implemented. | 2026-04-25 |