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Here’s a roundup of examples of call to action buttons. Does size matter? Or color? Check out the links and find out.
25 convincing call to action buttons
Call to action buttons and examples
Are your readers looking at your site but not clicking or buying? If not, you may need a “call to action.” What’s a call to action? Read on to find out, get some call to action examples, and learn how they work.
It may sound silly, or obvious, but if you really want people to do something you need to ask them first. It’s what copywriters call a “call to action.”
It’s simply a request to do something. It could be trying to get a reader to download a pdf, buy a product, or subscribe to your newsletter.
You can spend a lot of time and effort tweaking your calls to action to see which works best. The first rule, however, is simply to have one.
Because they ask someone do do something. And, oddly, if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
It’s not necessary to be pushy, just clear and obvious. The goal is to encourage people to click (or call, or mail back a response).
You’ve gone through a lot of trouble to write an irresistible headline, outline the benefits of your service, and make an offer they can’t refuse. But, it will all be wasted without a call to action.
“Ask for a free quote today”
“Join Now”
“Start My Free Trial”
“Start Now”
“Download Demo”
“Sign Up Here”
or even the much maligned “Click here” (which, incidentally, works really well for people, even if search spiders don’t like it).
For example, tell them exactly what to do (click here), explain what will happen next (your download will start), and stress the importance of doing it right now (not two days from now).
Your readers are busy, possibly a little nervous (will this work? will downloading hurt my computer?), and easily distracted. Get them to act quickly – before Joe from accounting comes over with a question about last month’s timesheets.
Don’t just stick with one. Try different variations and test them against each other to see which works best. You can use Google’s Website Optimizer (free) to do this.
Test the colors, size, position on the page, or wording. See which gets more clicks.
Using more than one button? For example, you might have a subscribe button as well as a read more button. Make the subscribe button bigger or a different color than the other buttons on your site. It’s the most important action to take and you want to make sure it stands out.
Have you got calls to action on your site? What is a call to action anyway?
Not quite sure what a call to action is? It’s the button, the sentence or the line in a script that tells your readers to do something. It might say, “buy now” or “instant access” or “get your free ebook.”
There are lots of ways to word it, but the key is to make it as appealing as possible. The more urgent and attractive the offer seems to your readers, the more clicks you’ll get. More clicks means more downloads, more subscribers, and more orders. Here are some examples of how to improve your call to action.
I know, it seems obvious, but sometimes it gets left out. If there’s no way to order, ask for the free information guide, or sign up for your newsletter, you won’t get orders or get inquiries. It sounds odd, but there are plenty of Web sites with hidden contact information and no button or phone number.
Sometimes web designers get caught up in making something beautiful, rather than functional. I’m not advocating yellow highlighter and red type, just buttons that are big, that stand out from the background, and are clearly marked.
For example, if the other buttons on the site (contact us, support, etc) are white, make the call to action blue.
If the button is by itself, contrast it with the rest of the page (so, if the background is white, make the button red).
If they can’t find it, they won’t click on it.
Layer it over other page elements. Or, make it larger than other buttons on the page (such as related posts or continue reading). Put it in a prominent place, such as the top right hand corner of the page, or in the center.
Set off the call to action button from other text or design elements on the page. If there are other button options, such as a “learn more” vs. a “buy now,” put lots of space between the call to action button and the other buttons on your page.
Try out different wording, such as “subscribe now” vs. “get your copy”) or “try it now” vs. “free demo.” More examples of calls to action.
If there’s a download, or a newsletter, or a free e-book, make it clear exactly what will happen, and whether there’s a fee (either in actual money or an email address). If it’s confusing, people won’t click.\
Button image from stylewebdesignusa.com