5 Tips to Create a High Power Joomla Call to Action

The Inbound Marketing methodology delivers incredible return on relatively simple tactics. At it's core, Inbound gets it's greatest power from just 7 basic functions: social media, SEO, content, calls to action, landing pages, forms, and automation.

One of the least glamourized and most important of these tactics is the call to action, which is the essential step in converting a site visitor to a lead and customer.

On Joomla sites, Calls to Action are often a custom HTML module that prompts a user to click through to a landing page. Once on that landing page, the user can learn more about an offer, fill out a form, and become a valuable lead for your business.

If you're not quite a CTA pro, these tips will help you create Joomla Calls to Action that get the job done:

1. Focus on the End Benefit

The first thing to consider when crafting a CTA is why you want a reader to click. Sure, you want to direct them to your landing page - but what's the end goal? What will they get for converting?

Think beyond "free eBook" or "complimentary consultation" and focus on the true end benefit. What knowledge will they get from your conent? How will that consultation help them solve a problem? Begin telling that narrative in your CTA, then really illustrate it on your landing page.

Social Media Examiner's CTA below for a new eBook is pretty lengthy, but it does a great job detailing the benefits of downloading their content:

smexaminer


2. Keep It Simple

It can be tempting to insert wit and fancy wording in your calls-to-action. I've struggled with this time and again, and the outcome remains the same every time: clarity trumps wit.

Focus on that end benefit, and speak clearly and simply about it. With calls-to-action, you only get one shot to grab the reader's attention and convince them to convert. Don't waste that tiny window of opportunity getting too fancy with your words; tell them what you'd like them to do, and show them why they should do it.

HootSuite has a few CTA buttons on their homepage, but they're all qualified by the bullet points explaining the many benefits of their product:

hootsuite

3. Use Numbers

Words are great for making a point - numbers are better. Consider which of the following is more persuasive:

  • "Increase your leads", or 
  • "Boost your monthly leads by 300%"

Using numerical figures keeps your statements to the point, and they quantify your claim. Just be sure to keep them accurate!

Amazon's inclusion of the number 40,000 makes it hard to ignore their Kindle Fire CTA below:

Amazon


4. Include Social Proof

Numbers are a great means of persuasion, but social proof can be even stronger.

We see social proof all around us every day: it's why eCommerce sites feature reviews on their products, it's why online publishers show Facebook "Likes" on their articles, it's why big brands like Google feature testimonials from their customers.

Because social proof is such a vast space, there are tons of potential ways to incorporate it into your calls-to-action. Think testimonials, numbers of people who have redeemed your offer, or names of companies that have utilized your service.

ga

5. Play With Color

The colors you choose for your call-to-action can play a big role in whether or not it gets noticed and clicked.

If you delve into the science of colors, you'll learn that different hues actually evoke different emotional reactions in the human brain.

If you're not looking to get quite that psychological, just play around with the different colors that compliment your site. Check out the two CTAs below from Babies R Us: they both match the site, but the orange really pops more than the purple:

babies1

babies2

So where will you start?

calls-to-action can be used to direct a multitude of actions, and they perform best when they effectively preview what the reader can expect on the subsequent landing page.

If you notice a high bounce rate on a landing page, it can usually be attributed to a misleading call-to-action. I look forward to seeing you use these tips to create calls-to-action that lead contribute to high conversions!