Why You Should Always Use Calls-to-Action in Your Writing

Calls-to-action (CTAs) are actions you want your audience to take after engaging with your content. Do you want them to click on a link to your services, visit your Instagram account, or book a discovery call? You can dictate the next steps of someone looking at your content.

Let’s say you post a blog that relates to your services. At the end of your post, you will want to include a link to learn more about your services or contact you. This is the CTA. You are asking readers to perform an action (clicking on a link) after engaging with free, valuable content.

Why are Calls-to-Action Important?

Calls-to-action are crucial to your overall digital marketing strategy. You want to provide value to your audience, but you also want to give them the option to continue engaging with you. Keep them hooked. If you don’t provide a CTA, they will consume the content, then leave. They got what they needed, but you didn’t get anything in return.

Or maybe they DIDN’T get what they needed and went to look somewhere else, but you had it somewhere else on your page. They aren’t going to take the time to search, so make other resources easy to find.

Have a Clear Strategy

Think of CTAs as the next steps. What is the next step you want someone to take after reading a social media post, blog, or email? This circles back to your strategy. What is the purpose of the content you’re putting out into the world? What do you want the result to be? Know your strategy before creating content. That way, you know the actions you want someone to take after consuming your content.

Blogs are excellent ways to provide valuable content that relates to what you offer. I write blogs that relate to my services, or an adjacent industry, hoping the result will be that small business owners reach out to me about my services. Since my goal is to book more clients, I provide links to learn more about what I offer. It allows me to say, “If this topic interests you, learn more or reach out to me to chat.”

I’m doing a few things with this strategy.

1. I’m establishing myself as an expert in blog writing and SEO. I want my audience to know that I’m capable of providing these services, and I know what I’m talking about.
2. I’m allowing people to learn more about what I can do for them.
3. I’m providing value. Who doesn’t like free content? I want to be a resource that people rely on for valuable content.
4. I’m showing my skills and what you can expect from working with me. My blog page is a portfolio!

The Power of Websites

One of the main purposes of calls-to-action is to keep people on your website for as long as possible. Continue to give them reasons to explore what else you have to offer. You can also use them as a reason to go to your website. Here are two examples for you.

Blogs – Keep People On Your Website

Readers are already on your website, but you want them to stay and continue learning more about your business. By providing the next steps at the end of blogs, you are guiding them through the resources on your website. You’re showing them exactly what they need and how to find it. This is especially important if you have a jumbo website. If people can’t easily find what they are looking for, they leave to find somewhere else where they can.

Social Media – Go to Your Website

CTAs are important on social media, too! The goal should be for people to end up on your website. For example, let’s say you post on social media about how you helped a client increase their engagement on Instagram. You should direct people to your website to learn how you can help them do the same thing. You can also tease a blog or new product with the purpose of having people learn more on your website.

Social media is tricky when it comes to CTAs. Yes, you want people to go to your website, but you also want engagement on your posts. I suggest mixing up calls-to-action on social media posts. Here are some options:

• Direct people to your website
• DM you
• Comment on your post

Plus, you can’t include direct links on Instagram, so you have to be specific about actions you want them to take. Most people have their homepage as the link in their bio. I’ve also seen posts directing people to DM them so they can send them the direct link. You can also instruct users on how to find a specific page. Use verbiage like “link in bio > resources > blog.”

Another way around this is to create a hidden page on your website. You can post several different links on one landing page so when you tell people to click on the link in your bio to learn more, they can click on what they interests them. Then you can use the term “link in bio” for many purposes such as:

• Blog Posts
• YouTube Channel
• Other Social Channels
• Products or Services
• Promotions
• Book a Call
• Freebies

Calls-to-action can be used in a variety of ways. It all depends on your strategy and business. Think about the purpose of what you’re posting and the action you want someone to take from it. How will this content benefit consumers and your business? Think about how you would answer these questions, and you’re bound to see results.

You didn’t think I’d forget a CTA, did you? Take a look at my blog writing services. In my full service package, I completely take over your blog and part of that is making sure your calls-to-action make sense. Connect with me today to get started!