How To Write a Call to Action That Works: Our Favourite Tips + Examples

Picture it: Your ideal client has found your socials. They’re scrolling, and they like what they see. But they aren’t quite ready to take the next step until… they see your awesome call to action (CTA). 

CTAs are designed to make your potential client take action. In other words, it’s lighting a fire under them to get them to the next stage of your sales funnel. So if you want them to check out your bio, sign up for your freebie, or add-to-cart, you need a strong CTA that they can’t ignore. 

Before you write your next round of captions, plan out the kind of CTAs you need, and how you’re going to get your followers to convert. 

Use Action-Oriented Language

Start strong and your CTA will end strong. Get out the dictionary, because you’re going to be looking for a lot of different strong verbs. Choose words like “Buy,” “Shop Now,” or “Add to Cart” to promote sales. Get followers to join your community with verbs like “Subscribe,” “Join,” or “Register.”

Create Urgency

No one likes FOMO. Get your followers to act quickly by creating a sense of urgency with your CTA. Phrases like “Limited Time Offer” and “2-Days Only” let clients know that if they don’t act now, they’re out of luck. 

Be Specific

Do the heavy lifting for your followers. Make it crystal clear what they’re expected to do next. Don’t leave it open to interpretation, and don’t make them have to figure it out for themselves. If they perform action A, they will get result B.

Keep It Short 

We know it can be tempting to be clever or quirky with your CTA, but it’s not the time or place. You want to make it as easy as possible for your followers to convert, and if they’re trying to decipher your play on words, they’re focusing on the wrong thing. Think one or two lines, max, and if you’re ever putting a CTA on a button, knock it down to a few words. 

Use Social Proof 

We all love a good real-life example. Social proof makes your followers think, “Oooh, I want that result/product/feeling!” Think about it when you’re shopping for yourself. What’s going to make you click that link: “Try our free trial” or “Try our free trial and discover the shampoo that has helped over 10K women take their hair from blah to bouncy.” 

Adding a call to action isn’t desperate or too sales-y. It’s actually the opposite.

It’s recognizing that your potential client is interested in your product or service, and making it easy for them to take the next step in their customer journey. Spend a little extra time on your CTAs, and watch your bounce rate dip, and your conversions increase.