Three Simple Call To Action Templates For Your Content

Templates for every type of article

One of the biggest mistakes a writer can make is leaving out a call to action or CTA. You might have a great title. And your content is beautiful, easy to read, and super helpful.

But, if you don’t have a call to action, you are missing a huge opportunity for your writing. It is essential to have a call to action because it helps you know if your reader is moved to action.

If they are not, then your article may be forgotten five minutes after they read it. However, if they decided to take action, which you encouraged, then you know that your writing struck a chord with them.

The Call To Action

Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash

Before we get to the templates, let’s look at the call to action. What it is and why you need it. Then, we can jump into templates that will be super helpful for you no matter how long your article is or what your article covers.

What is a Call to Action?

A call to action (CTA) is a prompt on a website that tells the user to take some specified action. — Optimizely

Now, this action could be as simple as responding or commenting on your blog post or article. Or it could be a sales pitch (though I don’t always suggest this option).

Most often, a Call to Action is an invitation. It is something that invites your reader to take action, preferably toward doing something helpful for them and you (if we are all honest).

One of the most common call to action invitations is to join a newsletter or email list. Certain platforms are investing in this idea and encouraging their creators to get people signed up.

That’s because the call to action and email list are important.

Why a Call to Action is Important

The Call to Action is an opportunity. That is why it is so important. A call to action provides an opportunity for you as the creator and for the reader. This opportunity can lead to a long-standing relationship if done well, but we need to facilitate that relationship.

Opportunity for the Creator: Your call to action, specifically to an email list, will help you connect directly to your reader whenever you want. This will help you share more content and sell products in the future.
Opportunity for the Reader: If they accept the invitation, they will always have the first chance to read your content as soon as it comes out and get an inside look into your world.

These opportunities should both be invaluable. If you can create a solid call to action and your reader loves your content, they will click through without thinking too much.

Why You Need a Call to Action Yesterday

Here is the honest truth: without an email list or a place to call people, you will never have control of your audience. Not control like brainwashing, but control over your ability to communicate with your audience.

This is why a call to action to an email list is so important.

You can sign them up on your list. Communicate regularly with them. Over time, you will build trust. And that trust will lead to loyal fans who will devour your content and buy your products.

So, you need to start this right away. At the end of this article, I will share a few resources to help you get started.

3 Call to Action Templates

I like to think of a call to action like a candy bar.

When you create a call to action in order to get someone to sign up on your email list, you can have three different sizes. I think of these call-to-action sizes as candy bars: Snack Size, Regular Size, and King Size.

What does this actually mean? Well, let’s dive in and take a look at the three sizes of candy bars. I mean the three sizes of call to action that you can create today to help get people to do something after your article.

Snack Size

Think Halloween candy bars. The ones you get door to door that come in bulk. When I think of a snack-size call to action, I am thinking of a one-liner. Simple, easy, straight to the point.

When done well, this can be a quick quip that gets people in the door to your email list and ready for more. It isn’t lengthy. But it is powerful. This is the most efficient use of words to get click-throughs.

Lastly, I have found these to be useful on long posts, 1,000 words or more. If someone makes it to the end, they are not going to pay attention to a paragraph of bribery. But, if it is a one-liner, that will catch their eye.

Here is the template:

“Download (Offer) that will (Promise) today!

The key to this is starting with action on your offer. This offer should lead to a promise of some kind of change in their life. Then I add urgency to the end. This combination provides a quick reaction.

Here are three examples:

You can create these snack-sized CTAs with any niche or giveaway item. The key is to follow this simple formula and plug it into the end of your posts. Remember this is a great one to put into those bigger posts. Also, I always bold and italicize this line.

Regular Size

We all like a regular-sized Snickers bar. It’s just big enough that it's not too much, but not too small leaving us wanting more. This next template is similar. It is an expanded version of the snack-sized template.

With this Call to Action, we present the problem in one line. Give one or two lines on the solution. And give the reader a chance to respond with one line. It is super simple but expands it out a little more to draw the reader to your invitation.

This CTA works great for medium-sized posts or in situations where you want to focus more on the problem and promise. I have found this working well lately in capturing emails for a lot of content.

Here is the template:

Are you experiencing (problem)? You don’t have to struggle any longer. You can (experience change) with this (adjective) (solution). Download (offer) today!

The essential breakdown is asking a question regarding the problem. Then give the solution, and draw their eye to how to get that solution. While it isn’t much bigger than the snack size, it isn’t overwhelming to the reader.

Here are my three examples:

Are you tired of searching for productivity tips? If so, download your copy of Maximum Work! It is my complete guide to the most useful productivity tips, tricks, techniques, and hacks around. Download today!
Have you been feeling stuck with your headlines? The 100 Headline Treasure Trove is the swipe file you need to get the breakthrough you are looking for now! Download your 100 headline swipe file now!
Do you struggle with reading your bible daily? Try my prayer and mediation guides today! They will help you read the Bible, pray, and hear from God in as little as ten minutes every day! Download your copy now!

Now, a couple of things to note: First, you can play with your formatting a little bit here. For example, I tend to make the question a low-level headline. It bolds it and makes it a touch bigger to draw the eye. You can italicize the promise part or not. Lastly, I always bold and italicize the link.

King Size

Is it just me, or when it comes to getting a Reeses Peanut Butter cup, up always want more than just two? I have found that in case, much to my better judgment, I almost always pick up the king-sized candy.

This is the same for the King Sized Call to Action. It is created to indulge people into wanting more and going for it. It presents the problem, pushes on the pain point, and then gives the solution.

In the end, it points to the link, the action that is required to get the solution to their problem. I have found this working well on shorter articles. And that it does pick up scanning readers because they will scan through your CTA and click in the end.

Here is the template:

Are you struggling with (problem)? Elaborate on the problem in three sentences, no more, no less. I can help you. Elaborate on this solution in two to three sentences. Download your (offer) today!

The breakdown is all about drawing the eye down the Call to Action text. Each bolded area brings you to a new part of the CTA. The first one is the problem. The second one is the solution. The third one is the action.

Here are three examples:

Are you struggling with headlines in your articles? Writing good headlines can be hard sometimes. It happens to all of us. We create a great post and can’t wait to publish it, but it doesn’t feel right. I have been there and I can help you. It is a matter of practicing great headlines. I have created the Headline Treasure Trove which has 100 headline templates that can help you with your headlines. Download the 100 Headline Treasure Trove today!
Are you struggling with regular quiet time? Have you tried every Bible study method out there? Maybe you just don’t feel like you have the time? It’s a common problem to have whether you are a new Christian or have followed Jesus for years. I have created something that can help you. When it comes to quiet times with God, sometimes keeping it simple is best. I have created simple prayer and mediation guides that take no time at all and will help you connect with God. Download your copy of my prayer and meditation guides today!
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As you can see, there are sections to this call to action. It isn’t the best for longer posts, but it works well on those short posts. Especially ones that solve one problem in 2–3 minutes. Most of all, this provides a little more depth to how you can help the reader.

Final Thoughts on Call to Actions

Yes, Call to Action is primarily a marketing tool. However, I don’t see it as a way to trick people into giving me their email addresses or selling a product. I really do believe this is an invitation to serve the reader.

When placing a Call to Action at the end of our posts it is giving them a chance to take steps toward a new reality in their lives. It gives us the opportunity to partner with them in that life change.

If we can help, we should do it. And one of the best ways to do this is to create a call to action that will help connect with our readers. Yes, it helps us. But, I do believe our overall goal should be to help them too.

To encourage a community of writers who help each other, share how you create and place a call to action into your writing. What has worked well? Share in the responses below!

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J.R. Heimbigner is a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon who loves helping people grow in their faith, find productivity success, learn about investing, and help writers become authors. You can connect with him on Medium, his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Faithful.

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