Gated Content Examples

Get inspired by these real-world examples of effective gated content from various industries.

Browse Examples by Category

Click on a category to find examples most relevant to your needs.

SaaS Gated Content Examples

How software companies use gated content to generate leads and demonstrate expertise.

HubSpot Marketing Statistics Report

HubSpot's Marketing Statistics Report

Type: Research Report

HubSpot gates their comprehensive marketing statistics report, collecting email addresses while positioning themselves as industry leaders.

Why it works:

  • Offers unique, valuable data unavailable elsewhere
  • Updated annually, creating recurring interest
  • Aligns perfectly with their target audience's interests
Ahrefs SEO Templates

Ahrefs' SEO Templates Bundle

Type: Templates & Tools

Ahrefs offers a collection of ready-to-use SEO templates in exchange for contact information, showcasing their expertise while providing practical value.

Why it works:

  • Provides immediate, actionable value
  • Demonstrates how their tools can be used
  • Low creation cost with high perceived value
Slack Product Tour

Slack's Interactive Product Tour

Type: Demo Access

Slack offers an interactive product tour that requires registration, allowing interested users to experience the product while capturing lead information.

Why it works:

  • Offers hands-on experience with the product
  • Qualifies leads based on genuine interest
  • Creates a natural progression to product adoption

Course & Education Gated Content Examples

How educational platforms and course creators use gated content to attract students.

Coursera Free Course Module

Coursera's Free Module Preview

Type: Course Preview

Coursera offers the first module of many courses for free, but requires registration to continue, creating a taste of the learning experience.

Why it works:

  • Provides real value up front
  • Creates investment through partial completion
  • Demonstrates teaching quality and course structure
LinkedIn Learning Free Trial

LinkedIn Learning Free Trial

Type: Time-Limited Access

LinkedIn offers a free trial to their entire learning library in exchange for account creation and credit card information.

Why it works:

  • Provides full access to demonstrate complete value
  • Creates urgency with time-limited trial
  • Seamless integration with existing LinkedIn profiles
Masterclass Lesson PDF

Masterclass Companion Workbooks

Type: Supplementary Materials

Masterclass offers free downloadable workbooks related to their courses, requiring email registration to access these supplementary materials.

Why it works:

  • Complements their video-based course offerings
  • Provides practical application of knowledge
  • Targets people already interested in the subject

Ecommerce Gated Content Examples

How online retailers use gated content to build email lists and showcase products.

Sephora Beauty Quiz

Sephora's Personalized Beauty Quiz

Type: Interactive Tool

Sephora's quiz collects preferences and beauty concerns, requiring email registration to receive personalized product recommendations.

Why it works:

  • Creates a fun, engaging experience
  • Provides genuinely personalized value
  • Collects valuable customer preference data
Wayfair Room Design Guide

Wayfair's Room Design Guides

Type: Downloadable Guide

Wayfair offers interior design guides for different room types, requiring email sign-up to access these curated resources.

Why it works:

  • Addresses a common customer pain point
  • Naturally showcases their products in context
  • Positions them as design authorities
REI Outdoor Skills Library

REI's Expert Advice Center

Type: Premium Content Library

REI offers access to advanced outdoor guides and videos, requiring membership (free) to access the full content library.

Why it works:

  • Builds community around shared interests
  • Establishes authority in outdoor activities
  • Creates natural product recommendations

B2B Gated Content Examples

How business-to-business companies use gated content to generate qualified leads.

Salesforce ROI Calculator

Salesforce's ROI Calculator

Type: Interactive Tool

Salesforce offers a custom ROI calculator that requires business information to generate a personalized report on potential returns from using their CRM.

Why it works:

  • Addresses the critical business concern of ROI
  • Creates personalized, high-value output
  • Captures high-intent, qualified leads
McKinsey Industry Report

McKinsey's Industry Reports

Type: Research Report

McKinsey publishes in-depth industry analysis and trends reports, requiring professional information to access the full documents.

Why it works:

  • Offers exclusive, high-quality business intelligence
  • Reinforces their position as industry leaders
  • Naturally attracts decision-makers
Adobe Webinar Series

Adobe's Expert Webinar Series

Type: Webinar

Adobe offers regular expert webinars on creative and marketing topics, requiring registration to attend live or access recordings.

Why it works:

  • Features industry experts and thought leaders
  • Provides both live and on-demand value
  • Creates recurring engagement opportunities

Research & Data Gated Content Examples

How companies use original research and data as valuable gated content.

Forrester Research Report

Forrester's Research Reports

Type: Industry Research

Forrester offers executive summaries of their research publicly, but requires contact information to access complete research findings and analysis.

Why it works:

  • Provides a taste of valuable insights
  • Leverages their reputation for quality research
  • Naturally appeals to enterprise decision-makers
Content Marketing Institute Benchmarks

Content Marketing Institute's Benchmark Reports

Type: Industry Benchmarks

CMI publishes annual benchmark reports on content marketing trends, requiring registration to download the full data and analysis.

Why it works:

  • Provides comparison data marketers need
  • Updated annually, creating recurring value
  • Contains exclusive survey data unavailable elsewhere
Gartner Magic Quadrant

Gartner's Magic Quadrant Reports

Type: Analysis Report

Gartner's influential Magic Quadrant reports require business information to access, serving as authoritative guides to technology vendors.

Why it works:

  • Industry-standard reports with high credibility
  • Essential for many technology purchase decisions
  • Attracts highly qualified enterprise leads

Key Takeaways from Successful Examples

Common patterns and strategies found in effective gated content across industries.

Precise Audience Targeting

Successful gated content addresses specific pain points relevant to a clearly defined audience. The more targeted, the higher the conversion rate.

Clear Value Proposition

The best examples clearly communicate what value the user will receive in exchange for their information, often with samples or previews.

Professional Presentation

High-converting gated content features polished design, clear organization, and a professional appearance that builds trust.

Genuine Usefulness

Content that solves real problems or provides actionable insights performs better than promotional materials disguised as valuable content.

Appropriate Data Collection

The most effective examples only ask for information proportional to the value provided, with higher-value content justifying more fields.

Clear Next Steps

Successful gated content includes a thoughtful follow-up strategy that nurtures the relationship after the initial exchange.

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