Friday, 3 May 2013

Calls to Action

By Walker L. Percy


On a website, the call to action (CTA) is a crucial conversion process aspect. This is an element that will communicate with your potential customer and try to lightly push them to purchase a product or service, while browsing your page. Conversion rates are higher when using a call to action that is well designed.

What is a description of a website call to action?

There is a lot of things that a call to action can do, including increasing site traffic and sales, finding new team members to join, click your ads, follow you on social networks, or to subscribe to your company newsletter.

A call to action is a banner, form or link that guides or requests website visitors towards the next step in the conversion process. So, for instance, if a searcher lands on your website for the first time, you might offer them something with a very low barrier to obtain, such as a downloadable ebook or whitepaper. You can create next level calls to action for those who have already received the "top of the funnel" offers, and receive some more detailed personal data from them, in order to get the invitation or specs you are offering, for example.

For anyone to take advantage of the offer, the "why" needs to be strong for them. Free trials are a good choice for this, discounts, items packaged in a bundle, success or guarantees on the product or service. Depending on your target demographic, the choice in call to action should be carefully designed, so you should know who your potential customers are. You may want to put the hint to the offer somewhere earlier in the page, to soften them up to the idea. The offer must be something that the visitor finds appealing and gives them some incentive.

Make sure your call to action is in sync with the content around it. Someone landing on your organization's homepage might be directed to sign up for your newsletter, while a prospect who reads an in-depth case study may be ready to schedule a demonstration. The area near the call to action should be in the background, and the CTA in the foreground. Creative fonts that resemble handwriting, or arrows and graphics can be of assistance here. This should still be in sync with the rest of your webpage, including color and brand design elements. The potential buyer should be lured toward the CTA, but not distracted or bothered by it. Your site has it's own style, be sure the navigation of the CTA matches this.

Since time is short, you must engage the audience, or they will not stay on the page long. Give the prospect the necessary information quickly and don't waste their time with unnecessary material. People are generally in a hurry and may ignore your offer if it will take them too long to read or act upon.

When a form needs to be completed, use this same thinking. If you are trying to get someone to opt-in to your e-mail list, for example, keep your form short. Only ask for the essential information. Complex forms that are lengthy are not filled out as often. Prospects don't want to have to work hard to purchase your product. You will be more successful when you keep the process of buying the service or product simple. Conversion rates rise significantly when calls to action are easy and forms are quick and simplified.



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