Arguably, the call-to-action is the catalyst for moving users through the funnel with your online content.
If you’ve read anything online, you’ve likely encountered a basic call-to-action encouraging you to take the next step and “Download now,” “Gain Access,” or “Contact Us.”
You want more conversions (leads, subscribers, downloads, etc.), right?
A good call-to-action — also known in marketing circles as the “CTA” — isn’t the only variable you need for better conversions, but it will certainly make your efforts a lot more effective.
Here’s how to write a CTA with power, poise, and polish.
Call-To-Action Power
The most important thing to remember with your call-to-action is this: the reader is already on your site, they’re already engaging with your content, right now, you have all of the power.
But you can easily lose power if you don’t entice your reader to take the next step. Answering “what’s in it for me” — also known as the hook — is the best way to do that.
We also call this the Give to Get. This is where you’re offering something in exchange for a users email address (because “Hey buddy! Give your email address so I can email you every 5 minutes!” just doesn’t work).
You can offer:
- A free consultation (here’s what ours looks like)
- A free trial of your product
- Discounts
- E-books, email courses, or white papers
The key is to start building trust by giving exceptional value.
A powerful call-to-action will hit three points:
- It will provide clarity on your content
- Powerful CTAs give your reader direction on what to do next
- Your click-throughs on your CTAs will help you measure success of your site/content/offers
Adding Poise & Polish To Your CTA
There are three places to perfect adding poise and polish to your call-to-action:
- Your copy
- The design of your call-to-action
- CTA position (or placement)
Copy
For a subscriber or buyer to convert or click through on your call-to-action, they need to recognize that what you’re offering fills a need.
Don’t forget to communicate that by answering the all important question …
“What’s in it for me?”
Michael Aagaard, Unbounce’s Senior Conversion Optimizer, used this helpful image to move past boring CTA content and be more direct.
Unbounce is a tool you can use to create custom landing pages and test your CTAs, by the way!
Design
A design is often in the eye of the beholder, but when it comes to your CTA you’ll want to ensure your design stands out.
A few simple tips for good design:
- Match your current branding and style
- Use plenty of whitespace
- Consider color — especially with your CTA button
- Don’t ask for too much information (shorter forms do better)
[Source]
Look at BidSketch’s call-to-action. It’s got plenty of whitespace, uses the color red to highlight the finer points, is extremely clear and concise, and only asks for your email.
And the client testimonial? The cherry on top!
Positioning
Positioning or placement is considering where your CTA will show up on your website.
There are lots of places:
- On your homepage
- At the bottom of every blog post
- As a pop-up
The #1 piece of advice I have regarding your CTA is to ensure it’s placed above the fold (a Google study clarified that by saying your CTA should be right above the fold).
Add poise and polish to your call-to-action in these three places.Click To TweetOther CTA Resources
Besides the external links listed above, we have a few of our own call-to-action resources you may like:
What’s some of the best advice you have for writing the perfect call-to-action? Let us know in the comments section below!
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Brooke B. Sellas is the in-the-trenches Founder & CEO of @HelloBSquared. In 2017, B Squared Media was named Sprout Social's 'Partner of the Year' and in 2018, Brooke was named a 'Top 25 Brand Builder in New Jersey.' Brooke's marketing mantra is “Think Conversation, Not Campaign” so be sure to give her a shout!
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