How to Create Call to Actions That Convert (Including Real Life Examples)
A call to action (CTA) is a vital element of your content that directs visitors towards taking a specific action, such as signing up for a newsletter or purchasing a product. A unique CTA can differentiate a website from its competitors, increase engagement, and drive more sales. Here are some tips on how to create unique CTAs and why they are important to sales funnels, along with three examples.
Know Your Audience
A unique CTA should appeal to your target audience’s wants and needs. Consider what problem your product or service solves and how it can benefit your customers. Use language and design that resonates with them. For example, a skincare brand could use a CTA like “Get glowing skin today” to appeal to those looking to improve their skin’s appearance.
Make Your Call to Action Visually Appealing
The design of your CTA can make a significant impact on its effectiveness. Use colours and typography that stand out and grab attention. Consider using buttons instead of hyperlinks to make it more obvious that the visitor should click. For example, a travel website could use a CTA with a bright yellow button that says “Book your dream vacation now.”
Use Action-oriented Language
The language you use in your CTA should be action-oriented and specific. Use verbs that clearly communicate what action the visitor should take, such as “Buy now” or “Sign up for free.” For example, a fitness app could use a CTA like “Start your free trial today” to encourage visitors to sign up and try the app.
Why a Unique Call to Action Are Important to Sales Funnels
Unique CTAs are essential to guiding visitors through the sales funnel. They help visitors move from one stage to the next and ultimately convert them into customers. A well-designed and compelling CTA can increase engagement and encourage visitors to take action. When a visitor takes action, they become more invested in the brand and more likely to make a purchase. Here are five examples of unique CTAS:
Examples of Call to Actions
Slack: “Get Started for Free” – This CTA is simple, action-oriented, and visually appealing. The bright green button stands out on the white background, and the language is clear and specific. It appeals to those who want to try the product without committing to a paid plan.
Dropbox: “Sign up for free” – This CTA uses action-oriented language and a bright blue button that stands out on the page. The language is straightforward, and the use of the word “free” encourages visitors to sign up and try the product.
Update: Dropbox currently has a huge offer on their website which means they have updated their call to action to “Get 50% off” to focus their marketing efforts on their premium features.
HelloFresh: “Get started” – This CTA uses a unique design that stands out from traditional button shapes. The language is action-oriented, and the use of the word “started” implies that there is a process to follow, making the visitor feel more invested in the brand. It also appeals to those who want to try the product without committing to a subscription.
Update: HelloFresh has optimised their call to action to “View our boxes” which emphasises the variety and selections customers have – it’s very likely they changed this due to results were higher for this call to action on their homepage. Pretty cool, right?
Skype: “Go Premium” – This CTA is a straightforward, clear design that aims to focus on just the call to action. With their minimalist branding, the use of the word “paid” encourages visitors to explore what premium is all about and try the premium version of a free product they are familiar with.
Update: Skype’s homepage now features the “Download Skype” call to action. It could be that Microsoft feedback from customers that the main pain point was locating the link to download Skype, therefore the best course of action is to improve the customer experience and one element of that is reworking their call to actions on the homepage!
Sony: “Step Closer to Reality” – This CTA is powerful and paired with visual imagery that gives this call to action language more meaning. The placement of the CTA is placed above the folder, which means it’s highly visible and attracts visitors more than any other placement. More importantly, it redirects the visitor to a purchase page with a brighter, more targeted CTA that says “Buy”.
Update: Sony have stripped it down to the basics to a “Learn More” CTA featuring a new vlog camera. Just like the previous call to action, it’s all about the visual content for Sony. The standard CTA can work very well if the other elements are high quality, relevant, and tell a story without the need for too many words.
Call to Actions Are Always Changing, for the Better
Remember, businesses change their call-to-actions (CTAs) on their websites for several reasons. Firstly, they may want to optimise their CTAs to improve conversion rates and drive specific actions from their website visitors. By testing different CTAs and analysing the data, businesses can refine their messaging and design to better align with their audience’s preferences and motivations. In fact, by the time I finished writing this article, most of their CTAs had changed!
Secondly, businesses often adapt their CTAs to match their evolving marketing objectives and campaigns. As their business goals change, they may need to shift the focus of their CTAs to promote new products or services, highlight limited-time offers, or drive engagement with specific content or promotions. By adjusting their CTAs accordingly, businesses can better align their website messaging with their current marketing strategies, increasing the effectiveness of their calls to action and maximising their desired outcomes.
In a nutshell…
Creating unique CTAs can differentiate a website, increase engagement, and drive more sales. By knowing your audience, making it visually appealing, and using action-oriented language, you can create CTAs that guide visitors through the sales funnel and convert them into customers.
As always, if you have any questions, or if I can be of help in any way, drop me an email on eve@fantheflames.co.uk or if you’d like to talk more about how I can help your business grow, feel free to book in a quick virtual coffee with me HERE.