What is a Call To Action (CTA)?
The average visitor spends less than 15 seconds on your website. Shocking right !?! That’s not a lot of time to grab their attention and engage them before they are off to watch funny cat videos on YouTube or worse on to your competitor’s website. CTAs are the quickest and most effective way to engage your visitors and turn them into clients.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS A CTA (CALL TO ACTION)?
A Call to Action is a button or text link that shows your visitor what to do next. Your website might be visually pleasing and chock full of useful information, but your visitor doesn’t always know where to start. Your goal is to get them engaged as quickly as possible with what you are offering. Want them to sign up for your newsletter, book a session or download your ebook … CTAs are how to get it done.
WHY CTAs ARE ESSENTIAL
Visitors are looking to you to tell the what to do next and they are looking for a reason to engage with you. There is nothing more frustrating than ending up on a website and having to search around to find the information you are looking for.
CTAs can also help you grow your business by:
+ Building your email list
+ Growing your social media following
+ Booking Appointments or Calls
+ Selling your Services or Products
WHAT MAKES A GREAT CTA?
FIRST PERSON
A recent study by Unbounce showed “a 90% increase in click through rate when using the first person (my vs. your) in your CTAs. So let’s get personal!
+ Reserve My Seat
+ Sign Me Up
+ Get My Quote
ACTION WORDS
Most of us have ever-growing to-do lists. It feels like the minute I check something off my list, 5 more things get added! So, show me a magic button that gets something done and I’m all over it.
+ Explore the Collection
+ Buy Now
+ Try For Free
URGENCY
Let’s face it, we can all relate to FOMO. Without a little sense of urgency, your visitor is likely to procrastinate a bit and figure they can purchase that service another day or sign up for your newsletter when they get around to it.
+ Today Only
+ Closing Soon
+ While Supplies Last
EXCLUSIVITY
Ever since being a member of my friend’s Teddy Bear Sticker Club in middle school, I’ve understood the power of exclusivity. There were only three of us in the club which I thought was SO cool at the time. (Looking back, I’m pretty sure our membership suffered from the fact that sticker collecting probably wasn’t the coolest tween hobby. But, never-the-less … )
+ Exclusive Content
+ For Subscribers Only
+ Early Access
WHEN AND WHERE SHOULD WE USE THEM?
CTAs should be used strategically throughout your website. Most should be placed “above the fold” so that visitors don’t need to scroll before seeing one.
Best places for a CTA:
TOP OF THE HOME PAGE
Your home page should immediately tell your visitor what you do and what they should do next. My website reads “Branding + Squarespace Website Design for Creative Entrepreneurs - I create dynamic, mobile responsive, user-friendly websites that showcase your creativity. Let me take care of the technical stuff and allow you to focus on your passion.” Followed by a CTA: Book My Free Phone Consultation.
ANNOUNCEMENT BAR
Creating an announcement bar a the very top of your website (often in an attention-getting color) is a great and very noticeable place to put a CTA. Draw your visitors attention to a sale, a new product, your free ebook and more.
NAVIGATION HEADER
Most website navigation is text or buttons located in the header of your website. By differentiating with style or color, you can draw attention to one in particular. I have stylized my Contact Page link as a button to immediately grab the attention of any visitor looking to reach out.
MIDDLE OR BOTTOM OF A BLOG POST
If you have a blog, visitors often come straight to your post via a search engine or article link. Now that you have shared your expertise with them, use this opportunity to engage them further. Prompt them to ask you a question, sign up for a free newsletter or to purchase an item or service that you addressed in your post.
IMAGE ADS
Image ads for products or services on your website are a great place to put a CTA. Well designed ads draw your visitors attention and immediately engage them. Use this opportunity to let them know what to do next.
Just kidding, but you can click to reach out via my contact page. :)