Blog posts remain the most popular type of content produced on the internet, with 4.2 million posts written daily as of 2020. Internet users love blogs, with 80 percent of US internet users stating that they interact with this type of content.
But having a blog on your website doesn’t necessarily guarantee that your site will be a success. Roughly 91 percent of the content on the internet receives zero traffic from Google.
But even if you do get traffic to your blog site, it’s still of little use if you don’t know how to write a call to action (CTA). You want your readers to do more than just read your content. You want them to take specific action inspired by what they’ve just read.
That’s where a well-crafted call to action comes in.
But exactly what is a CTA? What types of CTAs are there? More importantly, how can you write a CTA that enhances your blog post conversion rates?
Read on to learn more.
What Is a Call to Action?
A call to action refers to a written directive that you use to encourage your website visitors to take the desired action. A well-written CTA can be a powerful tool in your content marketing campaign.
CTAs take up various forms, including:
- Text hyperlink
- Plain text without a link
- Button
A CTA can be as simple as “Buy Now.” You can also opt for a longer CTA, such as “Subscribe now to keep receiving great posts like this.” The possibilities are truly endless.
There are many types of call to action you can use, depending on the specific action you want your users to take. There are CTAs for:
- Lead generation
- Form submission
- Product or service discovery
- Social sharing
- Lead nurturing
- Event promotion
- Closing the sale
No matter the topic of your blog post, try to include a CTA of some type at the end of the post, especially if the blog post is meant to promote your brand in some way.
Here’s How to Write a Call to Action That Pops
For every blogger, getting more traffic is always a huge goal. But getting a ton of visitors who never convert is hardly any use, particularly if content marketing is a huge part of your digital marketing campaign.
Of course, not all CTAs are made equal. Some are significantly more effective than others. Here are some surefire tips on writing an exceptional blog post call to action.
Use Strong Command Verbs to Start Your CTAs
A good CTA is one that’s clear and concise. Note that you don’t have lots of space in the ad to get your point across. That’s why you need to get straight to your point.
What exactly do you want your audience to do? Say it at the start of your CTA. For instance, if you have an e-commerce store, you can start your call to action with such words as “buy,” “order,” or “shop.”
On the other hand, if you’re promoting your newsletter, begin your blog post CTA with such words as “subscribe.”
Vague CTAs don’t get a good click-through rate (CTR), as users may not be sure what exactly you want them to do. Conversely, being direct and informative leaves no room for guesswork and can improve CTR.
Ensure Your Words Provoke Enthusiasm
A CTA that elicits emotion such as enthusiasm is very effective. A good example is “order now and enjoy 60% off!” The CTA shows that customers are not only getting a beneficial product but also purchasing it at a massive discount.
Another example of an enthusiastic CTA is “plan the vacation of your dreams today!” The notion of a fantastic family dream can get readers excited and encourage them to click on the ad.
Note that both of these CTA examples end with an exclamation mark. It’s a small but very effective element that makes your CTAs pop. The exclamation point provokes enthusiasm in your readers, which you want when trying to promote your products or services.
Write Benefit-Oriented CTAs
Users want to know why they should take the action specified in your CTA. Unless your CTA offers some sort of benefit to the reader, your CTR will suffer.
Users want to be sure about the value clicking on your CTA button will deliver. For instance, you can promise that taking your course will double their website traffic in one month. On your CTA button, you can then ask the readers to click and watch your free course.
Simply put, your CTA should clearly show readers how clicking on the link will improve their lives. Will it help them save money, lose weight, or be more productive in their jobs?
Leverage Users’ Urge to Belong
No consumer wants to miss out on opportunities that could transform their lives or businesses. It’s called the fear of missing out (FOMO). You can leverage this urge to belong to great success in your CTAs.
One way to use FOMO in your CTA is to mention a promotion or sale that will only last a short period. For instance, your CTA can read, “Order now! Promotion ends on Sunday!”
Most customers won’t want to miss out on benefits others are already enjoying. The temptation to jump on the bandwagon is massive, and you stand to see a higher CTR.
Use Great CTAs for Better Conversion Rates
Whether or not you know how to write a call to action can make or break your content marketing campaign. That’s because your CTA directly impacts your conversion rates. With the tips we’ve shared here, you can begin to write CTAs that resonate with your readers.
Would you like to take your content marketing to the next level? Contact us today and learn how our content experts can help you.
