Calls to action are one of those things you know you should include on your blog, but often get shoved to the end of the to-do list. They are important, but you’ll figure it out one day, right?
Well today is your day!
You would be surprised how many readers will do what you kindly ask of them, so if you’re looking for your audience to take a specific action, then be prepared to ask. Sign up to your email, share your post, write a comment – there are plenty of ways to gently guide your readers to take the next step, and this episode is the one that will show you how.
The goal here is to snap readers out of passivity. We’re all busy, we’re all time-poor, and sometimes we need a little reminding to not just click away to the next thing.
I discuss some of the calls to action you might want to consider – following you on your social accounts, voting in a poll, buying an affiliate product – the list is endless. You can only try, so today’s challenge is to write a post that contains a call to action. Gauge the reaction and take your blog forward with the knowledge you gain. What kinds of calls to action do your readers respond to? Do you see a higher rate of interaction when you ask directly? What other kinds of things can you ask them to do?
I know it can feel awkward to be so bold, but just try and see what happens.
Click here to listen to day 23 of the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog series on the ProBlogger Podcast.
Further Reading:
- 12 Tips to Snap Readers out of Passivity with Calls to Action
- Hook, Line and Sinker: 7 Tips For a Killer Call to Action: WordStream
- How to Create a Great Call to Action: Amy Lynn Andrews
- Call to Action: The One Thing Every Blog Post Needs (and How to Do it): Tweak Your Biz
- 8 Types of CTA You Should Absolutely Try on Your Blog: Hubspot
Call to action titles and content holds weight. It quietly commands the reader to perform an action; reader interaction through feedback, purchasing something from an advert next to the content, sharing the content with family and friends on social networks like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or LinkedIn, and so on.
Hi Darren, just came across your site and found this post – really informative. Being in the early stages of starting my own online business I am still climbing the huge learning curve but I am enjoying the journey and your post has given me some new things to think about. Thanks
I think the most powerful generic way to end a post, certainly when they are above 500 words is a short sum-up of the key points.
call to actions have their place but I think they are overused and sometimes just embarasing. some blogs always ask a question and prompt comments, and nothing happens, just like a dj say “put your hands up” and nothing happens, bad for him.
Again shot but very informative article. Thanks Darren for sharing.
Totally a unique idea and very informative.
Darren,
You hit the nail on the head when you said that we need to snap our readers out of passivity, and I completely agree. I took your advice and asked my friends to take the quiz on my last blog posts and the turnout was significantly higher than when I leave them in there with no call to action.
Thank you again.
Thaddeus
Great post, Darren. This is exactly right you have to have call to actions on all of your blog posts if you want the visitors to respond to your posts.