Let’s talk about those times you’ve clicked ‘Sign Up’ without even thinking. Remember the first time you found Canva, Slack or Xero? Maybe you’ve even dabbled in Dropbox.
What’s the driving force behind these clicks? It’s the snazzy call-to-actions (CTAs) the best brands use.
Picture this: without those catchy CTAs and their clever designs, you’d probably not be chilling to endless Spotify anthems each day.
So, let’s dive in. In this blog, we’re breaking down the magic of CTAs and how they practically hold your hand through the whole buying process. Oh, and we’re throwing in some of our fav examples, just for fun.
Okay, first things first: CTA stands for call-to-action. It’s that part of a webpage, ad, or content that practically screams, “Do this, dude!” In marketing lingo, CTAs help businesses turn random visitors into potential customers. Depending on what a piece of content wants to achieve, CTAs can push folks to do all sorts of stuff.
Hold up, what’s a Marketing CTA Anyway?
Imagine you’re the marketer behind the curtain. Your mission? To get people to do something—like actually ‘click the button’ OR ‘buy’ that gym membership you’re selling. That’s where CTAs come in. They’re the invisible hand that guides people down the yellow brick road (or sales funnel, if you want to be all technical).
Loads of CTA Flavors
But hey, not all marketing campaigns play by the same CTA rules. Nope, there’s a whole menu of strategies to lead your audience to victory. Say you’re gunning for more newsletter subscribers. Well, that’s where form submissions step up. Or you might want folks to “learn more,” which is where buttons do their thing.
Ready for a little CTA variety? Here goes:
1. Buttons
These are the big kahunas. Buttons rock catchy phrases that beg to be clicked. And the look? Well, that’s up to the brand, but one rule: go bold or go home.
2. Forms
Think of forms as the backstage passes to your exclusive club. People share their details; you send them cool stuff. Win-win.
3. Banners
These little dudes hang at the top, bottom, or side of a webpage, waving you over with snazzy copy and graphics. Just try to resist clicking.
4. Contextual Links
These sneaky links chill within blog posts, leading you to even more goodness. It’s like finding bonus content in a video game.
5. Pop-Ups
Ever seen a tiny window pop out of nowhere? That’s a pop-up. They’re like surprise parties—hard to ignore.
6. Slide-Ins
Picture this: you’re scrolling, and bam! A CTA slides in from the sidelines. Less jarring than a pop-up but just as effective.
Crafting CTAs That Rock
1. Keep It Simple
Sometimes less is more. A CTA like “download now” gets straight to the point. Avoid jargon or fancy sentences that leave folks scratching their heads.
2. Get Action-Packed
Start with a punchy action verb. It’s like giving your CTA a shot of espresso. “Buy now” or “Get started” beats “Continue” or “Next” any day.
3. Add Some Urgency
Wanna light a fire? Add a dash of urgency. It’s like a digital ticking clock that makes folks act NOW. Throw in “limited time offer” or “today only” and watch them move.
4. Get Creative, Seriously
CTAs don’t have to be dull. Let your brand’s personality shine through. Instead of “Sign up,” how about “Take the plunge”? Make it fun and on-brand.
So, there you have it. CTAs? Yeah, they’re like those secret ingredients that turn a regular dish into a masterpiece. Peek at our examples, give them a whirl and see if they spark some magic on your site.
Just a heads up: we don’t have a crystal ball to confirm if these CTAs are scientifically legit. But hey, they follow our best practices. If you give it a go on your site, do a little testing to see if they’re a hit with your crowd.