Skip to content

What is a CTA?

A CTA, or call to action, is a prompt that tells your audience what to do next, such as a button reading Get a quote or Start free trial. It points visitors toward the action you want and is usually a button or link.

Last reviewed .

What makes a strong CTA

A good CTA is specific, starts with a verb, and tells people what they'll get. Get my free estimate says more than Submit.

It should also be easy to see. Contrast, size, and white space help it stand out without overpowering the page.

Where to place a CTA

Put one in the first screen so visitors know the next step right away, and repeat it where the page makes the case for acting. Long pages often need more than one.

Keep a page focused on one main action. Competing CTAs split attention and can lower the number of people who act.

How to test CTAs

Wording, color, size, and placement are all worth testing. Run one change at a time so you know what caused any difference.

Common questions

What does CTA stand for?

CTA stands for call to action. It's the instruction that moves someone from reading or watching to doing something.

What are examples of CTAs?

Common examples are Buy now, Book a demo, Download the guide, Sign up, and Call us. The best wording matches what the visitor expects to happen next.

Does button color affect conversions?

Color matters mainly through contrast with the rest of the page. No single color works best everywhere, so test on your own design.

How many CTAs should a page have?

One main action, which may appear several times on a long page. Secondary actions are fine if they are clearly less prominent.

Want help putting this to work?

Tell us where your marketing stands today, and we'll show you what to do first.