The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Design
Design Great CTAs
Calls to Action (CTAs) are important because they provide a clear action that you would like your customers to take. I personally think this is one of the most important things you can optimize for because you have to be clear of the result you want. Once you know the one action you want your visitors to take, you can then optimize your CTA to drive that action.
Imagine walking into a store and not knowing where to go. Frustrating, right? That's what visiting a website feels like without clear Calls to Action (CTAs). CTAs are your website's friendly guides. They direct visitors where to go and what to do. Sounds simple, but a great CTA can make all the difference for converting a visitor into a customer. Let's break it down to make it simple and fun!
1. Why You Should Care About CTAs
They grab attention, guide your visitors, and can help convert them into customers. What's the key? It’s knowing what action you want your visitors to take. Ask yourself what you’re primarily expecting. Whether you want visitors to sign up for a newsletter or buy a product, knowing your own expectations will make designing your CTA a whole lot easier.
Quick Win: Define the primary action you want your website visitors to take. Make this your CTA.
2. Designing Your CTA
Think of your CTA as a mini billboard. It should stand out from the crowd. Clear, bold text and a color that contrasts with the rest of your page can make your CTA pop. And don't hide it away – place it where your visitors naturally look while browsing.
Quick Win: Try making your CTA a color that contrasts with your website's main color scheme.
3. Power Up Your CTA Copy
The right words can turn a plain button into a CTA that's hard to resist. Here are some tips:
Be action-oriented: Use active verbs like "Get", "Join", or "Start".
Create urgency: Phrases like "Limited Time Offer" or "Sale Ends Soon" can compel visitors to act.
Show the benefits: Tell your visitors what's in it for them. Save time? Improve productivity?
Get personal: Tailor your CTA to your visitor's needs. Maybe they're looking for the "Perfect Plan" or "Dream Home".
Show off a little: Let them know they're joining a crowd of "Satisfied Customers" or getting access to "Exclusive Resources".
Quick Win: Review your current CTAs. Do they use active verbs and highlight benefits? Check out “Beyond 'Click Here': CTA Copy Ideas for Every Category” for more CTA inspiration.
4. Put Your CTAs to the Test
Remember, what works for one website might not work for yours. The only way to find out what does? Test, test, test! Try out different words, colors, sizes, and placements. Keep an eye on how each change affects your click-through rates.
Quick Win: Choose one element of your CTA (like color or wording), and create two versions. See which one performs better. This is called A/B testing.
CTAs are powerful tools to guide your visitors and help convert them into customers. The good news is that you don't need to be a design wizard to create great CTAs. With these quick wins, you can start making small changes today that could lead to big results tomorrow!
Design Resources For You
There are a lot of great resources out there to get you started. Many of them are free: here are some resources that can help you design great CTAs for your business.
The 7 Design Principles
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Design Great CTAs
Design CTAs that convert.
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Design Effective Typography
Get tangible tips for improving your product’s typography.
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Use Color with Intent
Color can help introduce your brand, show your personality, and help with conversions.
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Make Navigation Intuitive
Make it easy for your customers to find what they are looking for.
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Create Pixel-Perfect Layouts
Build layouts that not only look great but work better for your users.
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Make the Most of Social Proof
Word of mouth is everything: leverage it.
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Start with the customer experience first, and work backwards from there
Set your customer experience as your Northstar.