CTA

Vladyslav Pobyva

September 3, 2024

One common way business owners can convince customers to buy or use their product is by outrightly telling them to do so. Although this may sound strange, this method has helped many brands drive sales and increase their reach.

What is a Call to Action (CTA)?

A CTA is a phrase or sentence that prompts website visitors and mobile app users to take a specific action. It usually has direct and catchy words that do not need further explanation, e.g., Buy Now', 'Sign Up,' etc.

Using the right call-to-action phrases in mobile marketing will drive sales and improve user engagement. Whether you use a soft CTA (encouraging users to take the next step) or a hard one (prompting users to take a final step like making a purchase), your choice of words will determine the results you get.

Why Is CTA Important for User Engagement?

The goal of every app developer is to have a group of faithful users for their product on a daily basis. Incorporating proven techniques like CTA in marketing will help you boost app conversions in no time. CTA buttons are important in-app marketing because they:

1. Enhance User Experience

A proper CTA button serves as a navigation guide that will help users know where to take a specific action. Using phrases like 'Download Now' or 'Sign Up for Free Trial' will help you grab customers' attention and keep them engaged with your application. 

2. Boost Conversions

You don't just want site or app visitors; you need them to buy your product, subscribe to a service, or join your newsletter. All these are conversions you can effectively achieve when there are clear-cut CTA actions that users can take. With the right CTA, storytelling, and other elements of marketing, you can effectively boost app conversions to record numbers. 

3. Provide Measurable Results

An easy way to improve your service as a business owner is by looking through your numbers and previous records. CTAs provide clear data that help you monitor their performance. With A/B tests, you can track the click-through rates of several CTAs and see which performs best.

4. Guide the User's Journey

After stumbling upon your app, first-time app users can easily get confused about what to do next. So, they often rely on CTAs to guide them through their buyer's journey. A buyer with a smooth transition will stay engaged and eventually become a satisfied customer.

Types of CTAs in Mobile Marketing

From the call-to-action definition above, it is clear that the effectiveness of a CTA is proven in the conversions you rake in. However, if you have not been getting the desired results, it's possible that you have not been doing it right. To improve engagement in mobile marketing, consider the following types of CTAs:

App Interaction CTAs

You can increase app user engagement by compelling users to take specific actions within your apps. By programming mobile push notifications and messages, you can always bring up new exciting offers for your users to try.

TripAdvisor In-App CTA Example

Lead Generation CTAs

Each marketing effort you employ aims to convert visitors to a lead. To make this possible, you should place your lead generation CTAs in conspicuous positions that your users cannot miss. You can add this CTA button at the end of a blog post after stating the benefits they will enjoy by signing up.

Hubspot Blog CTAs

Sales Conversion CTAs

These types of CTAs have one goal: customer retention. After a potential client has gone through your website and seen all your juicy offers, you should compel them to complete a purchase. A typical sales conversion CTA will have words like 'Add to Cart,' 'Shop Now,' or 'Buy Now'.

Notino Sales CTA Example

Social Sharing CTAs

A common way to increase your reach is by encouraging your users to share your content on other social media platforms. The users sharing your content may not have completed a purchase or even signed up on your site, but they have gotten value from your content. Phrases like 'Tweet this' or 'Share on Facebook' are simple social Sharing CTAs you can try.

Read More Button

This CTA is an effective way to pique your reader's interest and make them hungry for more information. You will usually find this CTA button on websites and company home pages. The goal is to encourage users to click on individual posts or blogs.

For this CTA to be effective, you have to share the first few paragraphs of your post and blur out the rest. The 'Read More Button' will either unveil the whole post or direct the reader to the site where the full post is.

Form Submission CTAs

At this stage, the user is on their way to becoming a lead. There most likely will not be any way for you to keep track of them and follow them up when they leave your site. To remedy this, you can set up a juicy offer like a guide, newsletter, or a free trial for which they would be willing to trade their information. At most, you should request their name and email address; asking for too many details can drive your potential clients away. When they finish, they should click the “Submit” CTA button and get an automated message confirming the submission.

Event Promotion CTAs

One easy way to encourage attendance for your online and physical events is through CTAs. You can advertise your events with pop-ups on your login page or as a sidebar on your blog section. The CTA should be simple and straight to the point, with a logo or event name. You can attach a link that will explain more about the event. 

How to Design a Catchy CTA Button?

Here's how you can design CTA buttons to grab attention and drive action on mobile devices:

Keep it Short and Sweet

Mobile phone screens have limited space, so you should aim for concise CTAs with about 1-3 words. At a glance, users should instantly understand what happens when they click, e.g., 'Download Now,' 'Get Started,' 'Shop Now,' and 'Add to Wishlist.'

Use Action Verbs

If you need action, you should use words that will compel action. Strong verbs like 'Get,' 'Start,' or 'Try' create a sense of urgency and motivate users to click. You can try CTAs like 'Upgrade Now,' 'Get Yours Now', 'Start Your Free Trial'

Google Play Store CTA Example

Highlight the Benefits

Your call-to-action words should not just tell users what to do; they should also highlight what they stand to gain. You can briefly mention the key benefits of clicking the button, e.g., Relax & Listen (Play Music), Be More Productive with Your Business Ideas (Get Started).

Another TripAdvisor CTA Example

Embrace Contrast

Make your CTA stand out! Use a color that pops against the background while ensuring that the text remains readable against the chosen color. Your visitors shouldn't have to scout the whole website before spotting a CTA; they should be in strategic positions that are visible at a glance.

Make it Easy to Tap

Since mobile screens are significantly smaller than PCs, there should be ample room for tapping. You should maintain a minimum button size of 48dp x 36dp (depending on your design framework). 

Test, Refine, Repeat

The perfect CTA might vary depending on your app and audience. Use A/B testing to compare different CTAs and see which ones convert better. You can also opt for gamification and more interactive CTAs to drive better results.

Creative CTA Examples from Mobile Brands

If you want to improve your marketing game and get more visibility, check out the following call-to-action examples. There's a great deal to unpack from them:

1. Headspace (Meditation App)

The attention span of the average human now is quite low. Headspace knows this too well and places the most important CTA buttons on their app. The color contrast also makes the CTA button hard to miss.

Headspace CTA Example

2. PicsArt (Photo Editing App)

PicsArt direct CTA Example

PicsArt uses a direct call to action, 'Start making awesome pictures,' with a sign-up button directly below it. They also use attractive colors that contrast beautifully and position the app as a tool for unleashing creativity. 

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Leveraging effective CTAs can significantly enhance user engagement, drive conversions, and provide valuable insights into user behavior. By strategically designing and placing CTAs, businesses can guide users smoothly through their journey, ultimately fostering customer satisfaction and loyalty.

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