Call to Action Examples and Best Practices

What is a call to action?

As the name suggests, a call to action is a way to signal to a user to take some sort of action on a page, such as:

• Sign up for a newsletter

• Buy a product

• Read a blog post

• Get a quote

• Start a free trial

• Book a session

• Take a survey

• Sign up for something

• Book a consultation

• Get in touch

• Start using a product

In other words, what do you hope they'll do next from that page, email, or post?

A call to action actively encourages users to engage with your brand or content. It guides them to take the next step, whether that's learning more about you or becoming a customer.

Without a clear call to action, users might feel confused or unsure how to proceed. That causes people to navigate away, and can be a missed opportunity for building a connection or converting a potential supporter.

How to write a call to action

These simple steps will help you write a great call to action, every time.

1. Define your goal. For example, "I want to sell more planners."

2. Write down what you want your users to do when they land on your page. "I want users to buy the planners we sell."

3. Create a simple statement telling your user what to do. "Explore our planners and pick the one you think might work for you. Shop Now."

4. Check that this statement aligns with your goal in Step 1 and the desired action in Step 2.

5. Revise your statementto make it short, clear, direct, and appealing. "Explore our planners. Shop Now."

A powerful CTA can transform your website into a tool for achieving your business or audience-building goals. With a little practice, you can master the art of writing CTAs that get results.

Here are a few examples of how this applies to different website goals.

• Online store: If they're exploring your products, nudge them to purchase.

• Portfolio: If they're impressed with your portfolio, invite them to fill out an interest form.

• Restaurant: If they're exploring your menu, entice them to make a reservation.

• Therapist/Coach: If they're considering your online session, invite them to book now.

• Nonprofit: If they're moved by your mission, invite them to donate or volunteer.

• Local business: If they're browsing your services, suggest scheduling a consultation.

No matter your business, a strong call to action benefits both you and your customer. The CTA solves their problem, and you gain their business.

Need help writing your calls to action? Try using Squarespace AI to draft a few ideas.

Understand primary and secondary calls to action

Your website should have a clear primary goal. But what if a visitor isn't ready to commit yet? That's where secondary calls to action come in. These are smaller steps that lead toward your primary goal.

For instance, if your primary call to action is "Book a Consultation," secondary CTAs could be:

• Watch Video (leads to overview or demo video)

• Learn More (leads to description of services)

• Contact Us (leads to contact form)

37 call to action examples

Writing an effective call to action isn't complicated, but it does take some thought. The best approach is to be direct, clear, and concise about what you want users to do.

And yes, a well-structured call to action can go beyond just a button. You can combine a headline, body text, and a button as your call to action. A strong headline grabs the attention of the user, while the description emphasizes the benefits they'll gain by taking action. Finally, the button is a clear, immediate action to proceed, guiding them toward their desired goal.

37 CTA ideas

1. Book your free consultation

2. Contact us

3. Get instant access

4. Shop now

5. Buy now

6. Book online

7. Let's get to work

8. Work with me

9. Learn more

10. Vote now

11. Chat with us

12. View our gallery

13. Book reservation

14. Watch video

15. Reserve your spot

16. Browse listings

17. Join waitlist

18. Share your story

19. Watch demo

20. Install app

21. Get a quote

22. See if you qualify

23. Start today

24. Download now

25. Schedule an appointment

26. Get weekly inspiration

27. Join our newsletter

28. Order today

29. Sign up & save

30. Donate today

31. Register now

32. Find us

33. Sign up

34. Take quiz

35. Discover more

36. Become a member

37. Enroll now

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