Call-to-action Tips

Every time you’ve signed up for something online.

It was most likely because of an effective call-to-action (CTA).

The copy or design of the CTA caught your attention or you were guided through the sign-up process.

So when it comes to your own website visitors.

Also guide them through the buyer’s journey using CTAs.

What’s a Call-to-action?

CTA stands for call-to-action.

It’s an element of a webpage, advertisement or content that tells visitors to take action.

CTAs are used in marketing to help businesses convert visitors into leads. 

The actions CTAs tell visitors to take all depend on the goals of your content.

CTA in Marketing

In marketing, CTAs are used to tell your visitors to take certain actions on marketing campaigns.

The purpose of a marketing campaign to help audiences along the buyer’s journey to make a purchase.

Each marketing campaign is different, based on the action you want audiences to take.

Meaning there are different ways to take audiences along their journey so the language varies.

And in marketing you have to be creative with calls to actions to generate leads.

Call-to-actions usually fit into three categories:

• Simple and effective CTAs
• CTAs with great terms
• CTAs with multiple buttons on one page

Quick Call-to-action Tips

• Use bright contrasting colours on your web pages to make CTAs stand out
• Use negative space to help your CTAs stand out with bold brand colours
• CTA language can makes visitors click like “Try for Free” to remove the risk for potential customers
• Colours can help visitors like coordinating similar tones or using brand colours
• Two same coloured CTAs should take visitors to the same landing page
• Use two CTAs with different text to get visitors attention
• Use negative space by having different shades to make white CTAs stand out
• Use language that helps audiences relate to your brand in your CTAs
• Use inviting language like “let’s work together” or something specific
• Add a sense of urgency for visitors by using scarcity in your CTA like “limited time offer” or “get today’s deals” so visitors take action
• Use language in CTAs to get attention or target pain points like “Having trouble converting leads?” then offer your service as the solution
• Connect with visitors using personalisation in your CTAs like “Explore plans that fit your budget” or “choose a design tailored to your brand”
• For free trials, don’t use buttons saying “free trial”  but say “start your free trial”
• People like games so gamify your CTAs to spark interest
• Use language in CTAs to show visitors what you do like “see our past projects,” “what we do” or “view our work”
• Use reverse psychology in your CTAs
• For ecommerce keep visitors engaged and get their emails  when out of stock with CTAs saying “notify me when restocked” or “find out when we have more”
• Travel companies should use CTAs that attract readers like “find your next adventure” or “plan your trip”
• Target two types of customers with CTAs for each of their personas
• For paid and free version of your service, use separate CTAs with colours that stands out for paid options and something that doesn’t for free versions
• Exit CTAs for ecommerce should offer discounts to encourage visitors to convert
• Let users sign up with Facebook or Google in CTAs to save time and get more information
• Gamify CTA to persuade visitors to explore your website with prompts that help visitors find what they want
• For apps, add a CTA on each platform to make it easy for visitors to download without searching
• Use multiple CTAs for different audiences
• Use language and phrases that work with your brand voice
• Use colour so visitors take action and make buttons more prominent and clickable
• When creating CTAs use bolder colours, even if they clash with your style to test if it gets people’s attention
• For payment CTAs give visitors different payment options
• Use icons to explain CTAs to users
• Use friendly language in CTAs for those opting out like “no thanks” or similar if customers don’t buy
• Let audiences test your service and know their needs and interests and include them in CTAs like “get started for free,” “download templates for free” or “try for free”
• Visitor participate more with voting or survey CTAs which helps your brand build relationships with customers
• Combine CTAs like scarcity with time limits to promote grand openings, holidays or product launches
• Use short and sweet CTAs to get to the point and get visitors what they want like “shop this look” or “download the guide now”
• Offer free trials using CTAs that stands out without pointless features cluttering the landing page
• Create a look for your audience which aligns with your brand voice like complimentary fonts and colours pleasing to the eye
• Keep CTAs simple with “shop now” or “download now” buttons
• Use separate CTAs on the same landing page for different audiences using contrasting colours or bring attention to the main choice
• For multiple pricing or feature options use CTAs that helps users compare choices to make informed decisions

Conclusion

Now you know the small differences to CTA can get the desired action.

The tips mentioned above will help you create CTAs that convert.

Remember audiences from industry to industry wont all respond the same.

So make sure to follow these best practices and figure out what works for you.

Don’t forget to tell me which ones worked for you.

Let me know in the comment section below.