How to Promote Your Small Business Locally Ecwid E-commerce blog

CTA Marketing Basics: 50 Great Examples of Calling to Action

12 min read

With the right call to action, brands can see sales skyrocket and brand awareness increase exponentially as they continue to pump out their content. Given the importance of a call to action, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to provide brands with some insight regarding this topic.

Here, we will discuss what a call to action is, provide some CTA examples, and explain why calls to action work. Let’s get started.

What Is a Call to Action?

A call to action (CTA) is a marketing term that refers to the next step a marketer wants their audience to take. For example, in articles or blogs, the CTA can be found usually at the end prior to a compelling description of a company’s services. A call to action typically precedes a link to a company’s site, web page, or a specific product page.

The CTA of certain content is known to have a direct link to sales. Another example is that a CTA can instruct a reader to click the buy button to complete a sale, or it can simply move the reader further along the marketing funnel toward becoming a converted lead/customer.

In essence, a CTA makes a compelling statement that leads to the content creator/marketer suggesting that they do something. Consider where you will direct a CTA, meaning that one should visit a site, view a product, subscribe, buy, etc.

An example of a CTA

A call to action is pretty much the closing argument as to why a company/brand’s product or service is necessary.

Why Use a CTA

The purposes of CTAs is:

Drive conversions: CTAs prompt users to take specific actions, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or requesting more information, ultimately leading to conversions.
Increase engagement: Well-crafted CTAs can significantly boost user engagement with content, products, or services by encouraging interaction.
Guide user behavior: CTAs act as navigational signposts, guiding users on what steps to take next in their customer journey.
Measure success: By tracking the responses to different CTAs, businesses can gauge the effectiveness of their campaigns and optimize strategies based on performance data.
Create a sense of urgency: CTAs that convey a sense of urgency or exclusivity can motivate immediate action from users, increasing the likelihood of conversion.
Enhance user experience: Thoughtfully placed CTAs can streamline the user experience by providing clear pathways to desired actions or information.
Build brand loyalty: Engaging CTAs can leave a lasting impression on users, fostering brand loyalty through positive interactions.

Most Frequently Used CTA Types in Ecommerce

Subscription — used to persuade visitors to subscribe to newsletters and share their emails.
Share — motivates to distribute information across social media platforms.
Read/learn more — offers to open a required page or go down the page to discover more details on the topic this CTA is connected with.
Try — usually, it’s an invitation to taste a free version of a product or service.
Buy — the most straightforward CTA pushing potential customers to close the deal.
Emotional connection — this type can be rather called a slogan, as it’s used on banners and images that represent something metaphoric, like an idea or vision. It aims to create an emotional connection with the audience and build loyalty through common values. Widely used offline advertisement, political activities, and main banners in online stores.

The Rules of a Good CTA

Start with an action word: call, buy, read, push, click.
Specify a timeframe: today, now, immediately.
Give people a hit what they can miss if they don’t take action: 50% off, $100 coupon, free month.
Use blue, green, or red color for CTA buttons if it doesn’t conflict with the color scheme of your store.
Make it visible not only with color, but with layout. The CTA should lay separately from the main content and be easily distinguishable.
Fight the fears. Add short small-print text that neutralizes the strongest fears of the audience: no credit card required, 30-day money back guarantee, takes 3 minutes to complete.

How to Use Them CTAs

There are many examples of promising calls to action. Essentially, a call to action should follow the formula of providing compelling information, stating how a product/service can help, and where the reader goes to get the help. There are four ways to use a call to action, which are listed below.

Attracting customers to websites

Businesses and brands can attract customers to their websites by encouraging them to go there. This is accomplished by providing a link that directs the customer to the website to encourage a sale. There, a customer can learn more about the products and the company that was promoted in the content.

Making a sale

A CTA is a way for businesses and brands to turn awareness and interest into a sale. When it comes to this way of using a call to action, consider the marketing sales funnel blueprint. It is a way to connect brand awareness and conversions. The conversion rate of a call to action is extremely high with effective calls to action.

Generating leads

Businesses and brands can also use a CTA to generate leads, and then further nurture them along through the marketing sales funnel through their own practices. The CTA feature is used by brands and businesses in order to identify their target audience and generate and convert new leads.

Then, to market directly to these new leads, businesses and brands often rely on personalized email marketing.

Directing people to websites

A call to action makes it simple for brands and businesses to provide the information that a reader needs. Ultimately, the reader should discover that they have a need for a businesses’ product or service through the content, and then be encouraged to view the product via a direct link. This allows customers to view products, and buy, with ease.

Call to Action Examples

So, now that we’ve covered what a call to action is and its uses, let’s take a look at what makes a call to action effective. Here, we will take a look at some awesome call to action examples that are sure to create an influx in leads and boost your business’ sales.

“Shop Now” — Encourage immediate online purchases.
“Subscribe for Updates” — Stay informed with the latest news and offers.
“Get Started Today” — Prompt users to begin using a service or product.
“Learn More” — Invite users to explore further information.
“Join Our Community” — Become part of an engaged group of like-minded individuals.
“Download Your Free Guide” — Offer valuable content for download.
“Book Your Appointment” — Schedule a consultation or meeting.
“Limited Time Offer” — Create urgency for a special deal.
“Try it for Free” — Encourage users to test a product or service.
“Request a Demo” — Explore a hands-on demonstration of the product.
“Find Out How” — Prompt users to discover more details.
“Claim Your Discount” — Offer a price reduction incentive.
“Sign Up Now” — Register for exclusive access or benefits.
“Start Your Trial” — Begin a trial period for a service.
“Unlock Exclusive Content” — Access restricted premium material.
“Register Today” — Enroll in a program or event.
“Get Your Money Back” — Ensure a satisfaction guarantee.
“Upgrade Your Account” — Move to a premium service level.
“Book Your Spot” — Reserve a place in an event or program.
“Follow Us on Social Media” — Connect on various social platforms.
“Shop the Sale” — Direct users to discounted items.
“Refer a Friend” — Encourage referrals with rewards.
“Take the Quiz” — Engage users with interactive content.
“Hurry, Limited Stock” — Create scarcity for a popular item.
“Watch the Video” — Engage users with multimedia content.
“Donate Now” — Encourage charitable contributions.
“Become a Member” — Join an exclusive membership program.
“Apply Now” — Start an application process.
“Stay Connected” — Maintain communication with the brand.
“Get Early Access” — Access products or features before others.
“Discover More Deals” — Find additional discounts and promotions.
“Share Your Opinion” — Encourage feedback and reviews.
“Get Your Gift” — Receive a complimentary item with purchase.
“Attend the Event” — RSVP for upcoming activities.
“Join the Waitlist” — Show interest in back-ordered items.
“Save Your Seat” — Reserve a space for an upcoming event.
“Find Your Match” — Personalize recommendations based on preferences.
“Redeem Your Offer” — Claim a specific promotion or deal.
“Get Inspired” — Spark creativity or motivation.
“Book Your Stay” — Secure accommodation for a trip.
“Take the Challenge” — Participate in a competitive or learning challenge.
“Explore Our Collections” — View curated product selections.
“Customize Your Order” — Personalize products to your liking.
“Discover New Arrivals” — See the latest additions to the inventory.
“Share Your Story” — Encourage user-generated content.
“Reserve Your Copy” — Pre-order a highly anticipated release.
“Join the Webinar” — Participate in an online seminar or workshop.
“Upgrade Your Style” — Elevate your fashion or design choices.
“Enjoy Instant Access” — Gain immediate entry to exclusive content.
“Contact Us Today” — Reach out for inquiries or assistance.

Why Does a Call to Action Work?

A call to action (CTA) serves as a crucial component of marketing strategies for various reasons:

Direct and clear guidance: CTAs provide specific instructions to the audience, guiding them on the next steps to take.
Creates urgency: By instilling a sense of urgency or scarcity, CTAs prompt immediate action from potential customers.
Encourages engagement: CTAs invite users to interact with the brand, leading to increased engagement and conversion rates.
Focuses attention: A well-crafted CTA captures attention and directs it towards a particular goal or desired outcome.
Measurable results: CTAs enable marketers to track the effectiveness of campaigns by monitoring click-through rates and conversions.

Overall, the strategic placement and wording of CTAs play a vital role in driving user behavior and influencing decision-making processes.

Sell online

With Ecwid Ecommerce, you can easily sell anywhere, to anyone — across the internet and around the world.

Get started

Mar 14, 2024

About the author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.