The hidden cost of free leads


When I first started building my audience, I thought the goal was simple:

“Get as many leads as possible.”

More leads = more sales… right?

Wrong.

I followed all the "expert" advice:

  • Gave away free guides.
  • Posted daily on social.
  • Made "viral content" to get more opt-ins.

And it worked. I got tons of leads.

But here’s what they don’t tell you:

Most of those leads were completely worthless.

These were people who only wanted free stuff.

They weren’t looking to invest in themselves or solve real problems.

They were just there for the free ride.

I call them "takers."

Takers don't buy.
They take your time.
They take your energy.
They take your focus from revenue-driving actions.

Takers fill your list with noise and make it 10x harder to see the actual buyers in the crowd.

But here’s the thing: Most people have a list full of takers cause they’re following crappy advice.

For years, "experts" have been telling people to "build a list" at all costs.

But nobody talks about the hidden cost of free leads.

It’s simple:

If you attract people with free stuff, they’ll expect more free stuff.

On the flip side, there’s a better group of people you can attract.

I call them "givers."

Givers are buyers.
They invest in solutions.
They give great feedback.
They give you energy and motivation.

They value their time and are serious about results.

Here’s the key difference:

If you attract one buyer, they’ll buy again and again.

If you attract 100 freebie seekers, you’ll waste your time chasing ghosts.

So instead of trying to "get as many leads as possible," the goal is this:

Build a list of buyers, not leads.

Once I made this shift, everything changed.

I stopped chasing takers.
I built a system to attract buyers.
And for every $1 I spent on ads, I got $2 back.

That’s the power of finding the right people.

If you want to know how to do this, I put together a short video that shows you step-by-step.

In it, you’ll learn:

  • Why most lead gen strategies fail (and what to do instead)
  • How to stop chasing "freebie seekers" and start attracting buyers
  • How to set up a simple system that attracts high-quality leads — and pays you back while you sleep

👉 Watch the video here

If you’ve ever felt like you’re chasing leads but not getting sales, this will change everything.

Speak soon,

Pete "no more takers" Boyle

P.S.

Want a little more direct help from me? Here's a few ways I could help out.

Vagrants, Vagabonds, and Villains Ltd, Unit 16535, 13 Freeland Park, Wareham Road, Poole, Dorset BH16 6FA
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Growth Models

I've spent ~10 years helping digital brands grow. I share what I know and what I'm experimenting with in this newsletter.

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