Don’t end your blog post, content article, video, social media post, or any other marketing message, without leaving your audience with something to do. This is your call to action (CTA). A failed communication is when your audience doesn’t react or make a move after. You need to engage and inspire them to take action in order to benefit your business. Without proper customer engagement, you can’t build a sustainable business.
Call to actions (CTAs) give your brand:
- Authority and control
- A clear target audience
- The ability to be innovative and creative
The following are 4 common types and examples of call to action in business to inspire engagement within your audience.
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4 Ways To Create A Call To Action In Business
1. Direct VS Indirect Call To Action
There are two main types of CTAs: direct and indirect.
- Direct CTAs make the call to action obvious and ask them to do it.
- Indirect CTAs involve enticing or implying they need to do something without realizing you’re asking them.
With your content, you can easily use both of these CTAs. Your indirect CTA should be throughout the body of the content, and the direct CTA will be at the end. For example, in your content focus on a problem and how it can be solved. Then, at the end of the content, directly ask your audience what you want them or need them to do.
2. Inspirational Call To Action
This type of CTA should be included in your content and other presentations. You want your audience to take what they learned from your content and then apply it to their life so that they can solve the problem they have.
This can easily be done by taking your audience on a journey you took to start the business. Find fun and creative ways to show the audience what you did differently or new to get there. Add characters that mimic your audience that they can relate to and want to emulate.
3. Non-sales Call To Action
This includes inviting them to join your social media pages, grabbing their email in exchange for a free opt-in, or their phone number for a free and short consolation. You can even hand out your business cards or invite them to a free local event or live Facebook event hosted by your business.
4. Sale Call To Action
Premium trials, no-obligation trials, time-sensitive invites, or one-time discounts to your products are a few examples. Sale type call to actions are likely the most common type of CTA you find.
There are more subtle ways to conclude your content that don’t leave your audience feeling confused at the end. If you tell an emotional story that your audience feels attached to, don’t end it with a 20% off offer. Instead, use the other examples provided above and continue that emotion to drive them to become loyal customers.
Free Checklist: How To Create A Sales Funnel
If you have the right products and goals in mind for your customers, you have more power and control over them than you think. People want to support a trustworthy and honest business that actually solves their problems. Remember, if you want to get your audience to do something, ask them and never forget the call to action.
A marketing funnel gives you a path to follow. It helps you to ensure that you provide the right information at the right time and place to your ideal customers. An effective funnel strategy puts your business on autopilot and consistently turns prospects into paying customers if you structure it the right way. To learn more, download my free Marketing & Sales Funnel Checklist which outlines the best practices for making your marketing funnel produce the intended call to action.