What is a call to action?

When a user finds and consumes your content, you'll likely want them to take action afterward, like reading another blog post, making a purchase, or downloading something.

There are many things your users can do. To persuade them, you'll need to include a call to action (CTA)

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Why CTA marketing is important

Some of your marketing goals may include generating?revenue for your brand or company, raising the profile of your brand, and getting your brand message out there. When you run a marketing campaign, your definition of success can be an increase in profits,?subscriptions, social reach; or in sales leads.

CTAs encourage your audience to take deliberate action. You can get someone?s contact information instantly with a good CTA, and add them to your marketing funnel right away.

Types of CTAs

Pay Per Click

A pay-per-click call to action appears labeled on a SERP, In the example above you can see the word ?Ad? in bold. This indicates,?that this is a paid search result. If you click on the links in this ad, Semrush would pay a fee to Google.

The CTA here looks similar to a regular result returned by a search inquiry. However, you have more room for metadata and for more HTML links that?answer search intent. There is more content to persuade your users to take action and click your link, rather than browse through the organic search results.

Website Landing Pages

Landing pages are designed to prompt one action from a user. That action could be anything from entering?in?a name and email address?to sign up for a newsletter?or registering for an event.

Often landing pages will offer something free in exchange for your information,?so a CTA on a page like this might read something like ?download for free.?

A good example of a landing page can be seen here. There is a brief amount of text and?the CTA prompts?you to ?try For Free,??all above the fold. It is important to have a CTA above the fold so users don?t have to scroll to find it.

On this page, there are 3 prompts?to ?try for free??as you scroll down; the option to try for free is never hidden from the user.

Other CTAs?that you can find on landing pages can include ?Subscribe?, ?Sign up?, ?Get Started?, ?Learn more?, and so on. Notice how none of these CTA is asking you to part with your money. They are enticing you to make a commitment without having to spend.

On this page, there are 3 prompts?to ?try for free??as you scroll down; the option to try for free is never hidden from the user.

Other CTAs?that you can find on landing pages can include ?Subscribe?, ?Sign up?, ?Get Started?, ?Learn more?, and so on. Notice how none of these CTA is asking you to part with your money. They are enticing you to make a commitment without having to spend.

SEO Meta Description

It may seem odd, but the meta description you use with your search result can also be a call to action. If a user can?t determine if your page is useful, they will read the meta description.

Call to Action Strategy

As mentioned above, you want your users to take action once they have read your blog, landed on your page, or viewed your video. However, that action needs to make sense contextually and within your marketing strategy.

If you want people to subscribe to your YouTube channel,?ask for that. Don?t ask for money or?redirect them to another page. Be?clear with what you want them to do.

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What Is a Call-to-Action? CTA Meaning & Their Importance

Erika Varagouli

Jul 15, 20217 min read

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is a call to action?

When a user finds and consumes your content, you'll likely want them to take action afterward, like reading another blog post, making a purchase, or downloading something.

There are many things your users can do. To persuade them, you'll need to include a call to action (CTA).

Why CTA marketing is important

Some of your marketing goals may include generating?revenue for your brand or company, raising the profile of your brand, and getting your brand message out there. When you run a marketing campaign, your definition of success can be an increase in profits,?subscriptions, social reach; or in sales leads.

CTAs encourage your audience to take deliberate action. You can get someone?s contact information instantly with a good CTA, and add them to your marketing funnel right away.

Types of CTAs

Pay Per Click (PPC)

A pay-per-click call to action appears labeled on a SERP, In the example above you can see the word ?Ad? in bold. This indicates,?that this is a paid search result. If you click on the links in this ad, Semrush would pay a fee to Google.

The CTA here looks similar to a regular result returned by a search inquiry. However, you have more room for metadata and for more HTML links that?answer search intent. There is more content to persuade your users to take action and click your link, rather than browse through the organic search results.

Website Landing Pages

Landing pages are designed to prompt one action from a user. That action could be anything from entering?in?a name and email address?to sign up for a newsletter?or registering for an event.

Often landing pages will offer something free in exchange for your information,?so a CTA on a page like this might read something like ?download for free.?

A good example of a landing page can be seen here. There is a brief amount of text and?the CTA prompts?you to ?try For Free,??all above the fold. It is important to have a CTA above the fold so users don?t have to scroll to find it.

On this page, there are 3 prompts?to ?try for free??as you scroll down; the option to try for free is never hidden from the user.

Other CTAs?that you can find on landing pages can include ?Subscribe?, ?Sign up?, ?Get Started?, ?Learn more?, and so on. Notice how none of these CTA is asking you to part with your money. They are enticing you to make a commitment without having to spend.

SEO Meta Description

It may seem odd, but the meta description you use with your search result can also be a call to action. If a user can?t determine if your page is useful, they will read the meta description.

You have 160 characters to entice people to click through the link to consume your content.

Call to Action Strategy

As mentioned above, you want your users to take action once they have read your blog, landed on your page, or viewed your video. However, that action needs to make sense contextually and within your marketing strategy.

If you want people to subscribe to your YouTube channel,?ask for that. Don?t ask for money or?redirect them to another page. Be?clear with what you want them to do.?

Boosting lead inquiries

If you're focused on making sales and generating revenue, you want leads. When people sign up or subscribe, they'll be added to your customer database so you?can?build a relationship with them over time.?

Newsletter subscriptions are a good way to build your database. Newsletters themselves are a perfect way to connect with your audience;?you can give them helpful information and special offers.

Lead Magnets: This CTA appears when?you offer something of value for free in exchange for someone?s details, like?an email address. E-books, helpful guides, and similar resources can help?add to your database.

Free Trial:?A ?try before you buy??approach means your audience can determine if your service or offer meets their?needs. You can prompt for credit card details before or at the end of the trial.?

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