How to Get Your Call-to-Action to Actually Cause Action

The call-to-action (CTA) could quite possibly be one of the most overlooked components to any online marketing strategy. Whether you’re running retargeting banner ads, paying for a sponsored Facebook post, or just putting the right buttons on your site or your own blog, a CTA can make or break your marketing campaign.

What Exactly is a Call to Action? 

A call-to-action is a button or a link or a graphic that asks prospect customers (or any given audience) to take a specific action. The action could be to learn more, to read a case study, to complete a form, to download an eBook, to request a consultation, to subscribe to your newsletter, or an unlimited number of other possibilities that depend on your marketing objectives and the target’s needs. You include these opportunities to encourage the reader to take some step in the right direction.

A CTA used on your website or blog is an essential component of inbound marketing. It is used to produce leads and generate conversions. It does this by linking regular blog content to premium content—via a landing page that has more information about that premium content as well as a form the visitor must complete in order to access that content. When they complete the form, which includes at least their name and email address, they become a lead. 

Best Practices for Calls to Action

The more you use CTAs and track the results, the better you’ll get. But I suggest you begin with these best practices for every CTA you create from this day forward.

Make it Pretty

No, really. Try to choose colors that stand out yet also compliment your overall design. A handsomely designed CTA will go a long way in adding credibility to the offer as well.  

Keep it Brief

Less is usually more when it comes to CTAs. It’s a little ad, so a few words is best; save the heavy copy for the landing page. Remember, the goal of the CTA is just to get people to click. The landing page will serve the purpose of getting them to take that next action.

Use Action-Oriented Language

“Download now” or “Click here” or “Register” are all great ways to be action-oriented. Be very clear about what you want the visitor to do.

Make it Big Enough

Your CTA should pop, it should be easy to read, and should be big enough that it can’t be ignored. 

Match the Offer in the CTA with the Landing Page it is Linked to

Maybe this is obvious, but don’t send the visitor to your homepage or to any page other than a specific landing page that is about this specific offer and nothing else. Be totally focused on your CTA button and equally focused on the landing page. If you’re inviting someone to subscribe, make sure they are being sent to a subscription page. 

But Wait—There’s More!

These basics apply to that CTA that you will put at the bottom of a blog post, but there are other places you can insert CTAs. They’ll be welcomed by your visitors and will benefit you. For example, text CTAs within your blog post can direct the reader to that same landing page or, if appropriate, to a different landing page. And think about the rest of your website—where can you add CTAs to offer additional content to visitors and offer yourself more opportunities to convert visitors into leads?

Need help remembering each piece? Download our handy checklist, and refer back to it every time you create a new CTA.