Effective Call-to-action Guideline to Convert Visitors into Customers

If you own an online business, you must be well aware of the importance of CTA (Call to Action). Your call-to-action may make or break your business's success, either assisting you in achieving your objectives or placing you behind the competition.

A CTA is a button, link, or an interactive element on a website that encourages visitors to take a specific action. These actions can be as simple as signing up for a newsletter, downloading a white paper, or donating. The goal of a CTA is to convert visitors into customers or donors. "Buy now!" is the most basic example of a call to action. However, this looks more like an advertisement.

It is critical to make your CTA get as many conversions as possible from your website. Let's learn how to use CTAs effectively without annoying the audience.

1. Use First-Person Pronouns

Personalizing the CTA gives the customer ownership and increases their investment. Words like "I" and "my" give better authority over the offering. They are more effective than "you" and "yours". It is an indirect reminder that the offering will benefit "me."

2. Deliver Powerful Messages

The more readily visitors can navigate your content and see the value in providing you with their information, the more likely they are to convert.

For example, "Get ready to make a difference." The more information you can source with your CTA for your potential customers, the better it will be for you.

3. Use Numerals

CTAs become more effective with the use of numbers. They add validity to your CTA. For instance:

• Respond in two days
• Join today
• Get one day of free-shipping

4. Write a Compelling CTA with Good Visibility

No matter how good your CTA is, if it doesn't look distinct, it won't grab the visitors' attention if it doesn't look distinct. Make sure to make your CTA catchy. Avoid text and use buttons for CTAs on websites. Use fonts like bold, size, and underline for the textual format to make your CTA stand apart.

5. Place CTA Where Required

Proper placement of the CTA is as important as writing a good CTA. Place it where you feel you've motivated your visitors enough to take action. It will generally be after a brief description. Putting too much time and too late into a text can ruin your CTA.

If you use Shopify, Shoplazza, Wix, or any other drag-and-drop e-commerce platform for your online store, make sure you put the most important CTA on the homepage. “Free shipping”, and “buy one and get one for free” can always get visitors interested.

6. Use CTA Urgency

An essential marketing technique is using CTA urgency. You can create a fear of missing out on your audience and motivate them to take action. For instance, "don't regret later," "don't think until it's too late," and "donate today." You can also use a red-colored button with the same text to emphasize the urgency.

7. Incorporated Power Words

Power words induce emotion in a CTA. Emotion connects better to the audience than logic. They connect very well with the readers and allow them to take action. Words like "claim" and "seize" make your CTA more powerful.

Don't hesitate to use negative words. Use them wisely to build a good CTA. For instance, "Say no to bad hair days" and "stop thinking".

Conclusion

CTAs are one of the most important tools in any online marketing strategy, and they're essential for converting leads into customers. The best call to action is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Ensure that your CTA is placed where it will be the most effective, and experiment with different variations to see which ones work best for your audience.

(Contributed by Sunita Negi & Hermes Fang)