If you either don’t know what a content marketing call-to-action (CTA) is or consider it a last thought when writing any marketing material–then you are not just missing the boat, you are missing the ocean. The point is that there has to be a point to why you are writing the content in the first place. A well-done CTA ignites your audience to engage further; how and to what extent all depends on your skill set.
Answer these simple, but powerful CTA questions:
Why are you writing this? TOOL: Simon Sinek’s Start with WHY
What is this particular content’s goal? TOOL: achiVi’s Why are you blogging?
Who is your audience? TOOL: How to Identify and Speak to Your Target Audience
What do you want them to gain? TOOL: 50 Shades of Your Blog Gone Narcissistic
What do you want them to do?????????? ie your CTA
This is where your CTA TOOL BOX comes into play.
Possible desired actions will most likely fall into one of these areas. Use this list to drill down into your next smoking hot blog CTA.
EDUCATE
- Content
- Time on Page
- Relevant articles, blogs or news on site
- Link click throughs
- Comments
- Downloads
- White papers
- eBooks
- Webcasts
- Podcasts
- Studies
- Free Trial
AWARENESS
- Sales Funnel Opt-ins
- Downloads
- Demo/Tour
- Literature
- Webinar event
- Presentations
- Info Request/Contact Us
- Social Sharing
- Comments
- Follows/Subscriptions
- Likes/Tweets
- Backlinks
INSIGHTS
- Affirm Interest/Qualified Lead
- Survey/Poll
- Audience Info Gathering
- Test Messaging
- Conversion Rates
- Click Throughs
- Sales Funnel Flow
- Social Sharing List
MOTIVATION
- Purchase
- Purchase
- Estimate
- Trial
- Promo offer/Coupon Use
- Request Consultation
- Education List
- Awareness List
- Insights List
This isn’t brain science, just a simple case of education, awareness, insights and motivation you can plugin to any of your content marketing frameworks to raise the level of your writing prowess.
