The psychology behind CTAs that convert: (5 lessons from billions of emails sent) Your CTA (Call-to-Action) isn’t just a button or a link. It’s the moment where all your effort pays off. But here’s the truth: Most CTAs fail because they don’t consider the psychology behind what drives someone to click. Here are 5 CTA strategies I’ve tested that consistently drive higher conversions (and why they work): 1. Make the action feel easy: Instead of: “Complete Your Registration” I tested: “Get Started in 60 Seconds” Why this works: People avoid tasks that feel time-consuming or overwhelming. A CTA that emphasizes speed and simplicity lowers resistance. 2. Use urgency to create momentum: Instead of: “Sign Up for the Sale” I tested: “Ends Tonight: Claim Your 50% Off” Why this works: A deadline taps into FOMO (fear of missing out), pushing people to act now instead of “later.” 3. Highlight a benefit, not a feature: Instead of: “Learn More” I tested: “See How We Boosted Revenue by 27%” Why this works: People don’t want to “learn”. They want outcomes. A benefit-focused CTA paints a clear picture of the value they’ll receive. 4. Be specific, not generic: Instead of: “Click Here” I tested: “Download Your Free Email Template” Why this works: Clarity builds trust. When someone knows exactly what they’ll get, they’re far more likely to click. 5. Match your CTA to their stage in the journey: Instead of: “Buy Now” on a first touchpoint I tested: “Get a Free Demo” Why this works: Asking for too much, too soon, feels pushy. Tailoring your CTA to where the customer is in their decision-making process creates a smoother path to conversion. --- The Big Lesson: Your CTA shouldn’t be an afterthought. It’s the bridge between interest and action. Small tweaks like emphasizing speed, clarity, or outcomes can make a massive difference. What’s the best-performing CTA you’ve tested? Drop it in the comments.
Effective Call-To-Action Strategies For Leads
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Summary
Crafting compelling calls to action (CTAs) is key to converting potential leads into customers. By addressing psychological triggers and aligning with a prospect's journey, a well-designed CTA bridges the gap between interest and action.
- Prioritize clarity and simplicity: Use specific, easy-to-understand language to communicate exactly what the user will gain or do when they click your CTA.
- Create urgency to spark action: Incorporate time-sensitive phrases like "limited time" or "offer ends soon" to encourage immediate decisions.
- Tailor CTAs to the audience: Match the action you’re prompting to where your audience is in their decision-making process, such as starting with an inquiry instead of a purchase.
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I spent 10+ hours learning to write stronger calls to action this week. 14 concepts I plan to use: 👉 1. Call to Action vs. Call to Value A call to action is for people ready to buy - keep it as simple as possible. A call to value reminds the prospect of the great outcome they're going to get. 👉 2. Use the phrase "I want to ____" in your button or link copy. Fill in the blank with a desired outcome. THIS: "I want to grow my business" NOT: "Download it now" 👉 3. Use the word "show" THIS: "Show me outfits I'll love" NOT: "Sign up now" That's a real example where the change resulted in 123% more clicks. 👉 4. Use first person language on buttons. THIS: "I want to double my revenue" NOT: "Double your revenue" 👉 5. Think of links as a door. People don't know what's on the other side so it's scary to click. Make it less scary for them. 👉 6. Focus on ONE action. Don't compete with your own CTA by making multiple asks. 👉 7. Lead with action verbs. THIS: "Unlock your marketing potential and download our free strategy guide" NOT: "Download our guide" 👉 8. Use an "If" statement. Weave a specific problem and solution into your CTA. Example: "If you're ready to maximize your profit and grow to 50k months working part-time hours, book a call with me to discuss what next steps would look like for you." 👉 9. Avoid generic phrases. Your CTA should work even if there was no other copy around it. Don't settle for "Click here," "Download now," "Submit," etc. 👉 10. Avoid hesitant language. Be more confident than "Let me know if you want it" or "If you need me..." 👉 11. No jargon or vague language. Address a specific problem using language your target audience uses. Don't say stuff like: "If you want to live your best life and step into your full potential..." 👉 12. No negative language. THIS: "Are you ready to lose 10-25 pounds of that menopause weight?" NOT: "Are you struggling to lose weight with menopause?" 👉 13. Write your CTA before you write anything else. It gives you a north star to guide the rest of your writing. 👉 14. Make sure your CTA includes two things: ✅ Why they should act ✅ Why they should do it NOW Want more useful tips like these? This week on LinkedIn I'll share: • How I turn newsletter subscribers into buyers • A formula you can use to strengthen your niche • How I'm growing my LinkedIn following 👉 Follow me and hit the 🔔 at the top right of my profile to turn on notifications so you don't miss those posts. Thanks for your interest!
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Most LinkedIn outreach dies at the Call to Action (CTA). Not because people aren't interested. But because you asked the wrong way. Here are 10 high-converting CTA styles I’ve tested across 10,000s of cold outreach messages: (1) Direct CTA “Do you have 15-20 mins this week to see how we could turn LinkedIn into a top revenue channel?” → Works best when the value is clear and the timing feels right. (2) Soft CTA “Would it be alright if I shared a few ideas for how you can [solve X problem]?” → Low friction. Great for cold prospects. (2) Interest-Based CTA: “Want to see how [X competitor] boosted close rates by 28%?” → Curiosity > pressure. (3) Content CTA “Would it be alright if I sent over a Loom showing how this would work for [Company Name]?” → Offer value before asking for time. (4) Strategic Question CTA “How are you currently using LinkedIn to bring in new revenue?” → Turns your CTA into a conversation starter. (5) Calendar Link CTA “Feel free to find a time that works best for you here: [link]” → Easy, but only use when they’ve shown interest. (6) Exit CTA “If not relevant, no worries at all.” → Decreases pressure. Increases replies. (7) Referral CTA “Is there someone else on your team I should speak with?” → Great when messaging larger orgs. (8) Hypothetical CTA “If I could show you how to use LinkedIn to bring in new revenue, would that be worth a convo?” → Pattern interrupt magic. (9) Micro-Yes CTA “Okay if I send a few bullet points on how we could help?” → Small yes = Big opening. Your CTA is arguably one of the most important things to turn a positive reply into actual revenue. 👉 If you’re not testing 3–5 CTA styles, you’re probably leaving money on the table. Shoot me a DM if you want help turning LinkedIn into a top revenue channel for your company this year.