6 Tips for Creating a Good Call To Action

What is a call to action? Simply put, a call to action is telling a reader, visitor, or potential customer exactly what you want them to do.

For example, "Buy my ebook!" is a good call to action on your ebook sales page.

An unclear call to action ("Here's my ebook…") or a non-call to action like ("Thanks for visiting my page about my ebook.") are ineffective.

Here are some tips for creating good calls to action:

1. Determine what you want your reader/visitor/potential customer to do ahead of time.

Put some thought into this. Figure it out beforehand so you know what you're aiming at and you know how best to craft the call to action on your post, page, button, etc.

Do you want them to sign up for your newsletter? Then say, "Sign up for my newsletter!"

Do you want them to buy your ebook? Then say, "Buy my ebook!"

Do you want them to visit your blog? Then say, "Visit my blog!"

2. Be clear and concise.

Ask your visitor very succinctly to do that very thing ("Click here," "Buy now," "Enter your address," "Leave a comment," etc.). Don't beat around the bush. Don't couch it in flowery or wordy language so they get derailed. Be straightforward.

3. Be repetitive if necessary.

Ask several times so the call to action doesn't get lost. If you have a long ebook sales page for example, insert a call to action at various points in the page (like I've done). You'll have to be careful not to cross the "spammy" line here but don't let your call to action get lost in the verbiage either.

4. Tell them how.

Don't just tell them that they should do something, tell them how to do it (if it's not immediately apparent). The link you want them to click, the form you want them to fill out or the button you want them to follow should be very clear. (See my blog button tips as an example.)

5. Eliminate competing calls to action.

Don't let your main call to action get lost among 10, 15 or 25 others.

For example, if you're selling an ebook, make your ebook sales page a single column page. Don't have a sidebar on that page which full of things that can distract your reader from the main thing you want them to do.

You want them to follow the link to buy your ebook. You don't want their eyes to wander to the sidebar and follow the ad to someone else's site…and never buy your book!

6. Remember that you will have numerous calls to action so think about each one individually.

You might have a call to action on your blog, one on your ebook sales page, one on your blog button. They are likely to be all different.

If someone lands on a blog post, maybe you want them to comment so you'll say "Leave a comment" at the end of your post. And then on your ebook sales page your call to action is most likely "Buy the book." And on your blog button you might want someone to "Click here" to visit your blog.

Think about each of your main objectives and create a call to action which is appropriate and powerful for each.

FURTHER READING:

• My 2 Best Blog Button Tips
• My Most Successful Facebook Page Tweak to Date
• Are You Overlooking this Easy Way to Increase Your Site's Stickiness?
• How to Write an Ebook series

Photo by marriedwithluggage.

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