CTA (Call to Action)
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Quick definition
A call to action (CTA) is a word or short sentence that directs an audience to take a desired, specific next step. CTAs are often seen in social media, websites, ecommerce stores, and app buttons, such as “Follow” and “Download now,” pamphlets, and TV.
What Is a Call to Action?
CTA is the common abbreviation for “call to action.” A call to action is a prompt that tells an audience what to do next. It gives people a clear next step after they see, read, or interact with content. For example, a CTA can encourage someone to click a link, make a purchase, sign up, share content, or another desired action. CTAs can be written as short phrases, sentences, buttons, or links, depending on the platform and context. The goal is to make the next action obvious and easy to take.
Types of CTAs
CTAs can serve different purposes depending on the goal of the content. Common CTA types include:
- Purchase CTAs: encourage an audience to buy, such as “Shop now”
- Engagement CTAs: invite likes, comments, shares, or other interactions
- Traffic CTAs: direct people to a website, landing page, or product page
- Lead-generation CTAs: encourage sign-ups, registrations, or downloads
- Content CTAs: prompt people to watch, read, follow, or explore more content
CTA Examples
Here are 25 call to action examples:
- “Shop now”
- “Learn more”
- “Sign up today”
- “Get started”
- “Download the guide”
- “Watch now”
- “Try it for free”
- “Follow for more”
- “Comment below”
- “Click the link to learn more”
- “Book a free demo”
- “View details”
- “Claim your discount”
- “Subscribe”
- “Join us”
- “Become a member”
- “Click the link in bio”
- “Get lifetime access”
- “Save your free spot”
- “Share”
- “Rate your experience”
- “Make a donation”
- “Contact us”
- “Refer a friend and earn”
- “Take the free test”
These examples serve different purposes, for different mediums and audiences, and none is inherently better than the others.
What Makes a Good CTA
A good CTA is clear, specific, and easy to act on. It should tell the audience exactly what to do, with action-oriented language, without unnecessary wording. It doesn't need to be a single word, but shorter is usually better.
The CTA should also match the content and audience, creating a natural next step rather than feeling disconnected or overly promotional. In influencer marketing, this is important because it can directly impact key metrics like engagement rate and conversion rate.
CTAs in Creator and UGC Content
In user-generated content (UGC), CTAs help turn attention into action while keeping the content natural, as if it’s a friend making a recommendation. Rather than sounding like a traditional ad, a CTA in UGC should fit into the creator’s usual voice and presentation.
For example, a creator might encourage viewers to “check out the product,” “try it yourself,” or “find out more through the link.” The CTA should feel relevant to the content and give viewers a clear reason to take the next step.
Bring Your Campaign to Life with SideShift
In SideShift campaigns, you decide what viewers do next, whether that is visiting your website, trying a product, or making a purchase. Add your CTA to the brief and creators will work it into their own voice.
A clear CTA in your brief keeps the message on track while the content still feels native. Post a brief on SideShift and see how creators bring it to life.
Frequently asked questions
What is an example of a call to action?
“Shop now” is a simple example of a call to action. Other examples include “Learn more,” “Sign up today,” “Follow for more,” “Get started,” and “Watch now.” The right CTA depends on the action you want your audience to take.
What makes a good call to action?
A good call to action is clear, specific, and action-oriented. It tells the audience exactly what to do next and makes the action easy to understand. Strong CTAs also match the content, audience, and campaign goal.
What is the difference between a CTA and a CTR?
CTA and CTR have two completely different meanings. CTA (call to action) is the prompt that encourages someone to take an action, such as clicking a link or making a purchase. CTR (click-through rate) is a metric that measures the percentage of people who click a link or CTA after seeing it. In simple terms, the CTA is the instruction and the CTR measures how often people respond to it.