Conventional wisdom about calls-to-action (CTAs) state that you have it at the end of your content. Write up a post and include your CTA at the end. Have a video and include the CTA at the end. However, readers have caught on. Today's audience has become somewhat blind to this well-established practice. Something else is needed. Here are 5 call to action strategies to help get leads online.
1. Slide-In CTAs
This is not a stationary CTA at the bottom of a given landing page. Again, users have started to tune those out. Slide-in CTAs come onto the screen once the user has consumed a certain amount of content. It can emerge from the sidebar or come in over the top or bottom of a given page. It's a great way to engage your audience and generate leads online. It's not too intrusive and is only triggered once the reader passes a certain portion of the page.
2. Easy Sell and No Hassles
Don't inundate your readers with too many data points. Don't overwhelm them with promises. Make your CTA an easy sell with no hassles. Customers don't want to be made to feel that clicking on your CTA will lead to an endless supply of additional questions. Focus on your landing page, its offer and then tie in your CTA with a welcoming message.
3. Natural Content Flow
People are wired for reward. When your landing page is well-written, structured, and has a clear purpose, then your CTA will be an expected outcome for any user. Focus on a seamless integration of your CTA within your content. You can set it up to appear after a video has been viewed, after a certain amount of time was spent on the page, or if they click on an embedded link on your content or within your sidebar. Your website analytics will show you the amount of time spent on a page prior to conversion which will help you position your CTA accordingly.
4. Make Your CTA Obvious
Draw your users' attention to your CTA by making your CTA button obvious. Experiment with contrasting colors but keep the background of your sign-up forms simple and straightforward. A white background with black font and a CTA button that incorporates the color of your website is a great way to draw the reader's attention. Focus on bullet points that quickly define the benefits and immediate payback of clicking. Put yourself in your customer's shoes and consider whether you would click on the CTA. If you're not convinced, then refocus your efforts.
5. Take Advantage of the Free Economy
There's nothing stopping you from using a different variation of your CTA on the same page. One can be an obvious link while the other can be a slide-in CTA. Either way, make it easy for your readers to get converted. Offer a free trial or a free month's subscription. The focus is to incentivize potential prospects to click by giving them an instant reward and there's no better way to generate leads online than by offering something for free.
Take your CTA to the next level. Put yourself in your prospect's shoes. When do you expect to see your CTA? What portion of the page needs to be consumed before that CTA comes in? Have you positioned your CTA to flow along with your content? Answer these questions and you'll generate more leads online and increase your conversion rates.
Your CTAs will only work if your overall approach to market is sound. If you need help piecing your strategies together, then request an assessment.