A compelling video can capture attention, tell a story, and evoke emotions. But to get your viewers to actually do something—sign up for a newsletter, visit a website, or make a purchase—you’ll need a strong call to action (CTA).
What makes an effective video CTA?
- Clarity: Your CTA should be crystal clear and tell viewers exactly what you want them to do. Use simple, direct language like “Visit our website,” “Sign up now,” or “Shop the collection.”
- Urgency: Create a sense of urgency by using time-sensitive language such as “Limited time offer,” “Act now,” or “While supplies last.”
- Relevance: Ensure the CTA directly ties into the content of your video. Don’t just tack on a generic “Buy now” at the end if it doesn’t feel relevant to what you just presented.
- Prominent Placement: The CTA should be prominent both visually and verbally. Place it strategically within the video (more on timing below), and ensure it stands out with contrasting colors or a clickable button.
When to Include Your CTA
- Mid-roll: If your video is on the longer side, consider a mid-roll CTA for those already engrossed in the content. Make it relevant to what the audience has just learned.
- End screen: This classic placement is a must. End screens with strong CTAs offer a place for engaged viewers to immediately take the next step.
- Throughout: For live videos or longer presentations, remind viewers of the CTA periodically to catch those joining at different times.
Types of Video CTAs
- Lead generation: “Subscribe to our newsletter,” “Get a free ebook,” “Schedule a consultation.”
- Direct sales: “Buy now,” “Shop the sale,” “Use code [discount code].”
- Engagement: “Like and share,” “Leave a comment,” “Follow us for more.”
- Further Exploration: “Read the full blog post,” “Watch the next video,” “Visit our website.”
Additional Tips:
- Match your target audience: What language will resonate with them?
- Track your results: Experiment with different CTAs to see what performs best and optimize accordingly.
- Make it easy to act: Provide a clear link or button that takes viewers directly to where you want them to go.
A compelling call to action can be the difference between a video that’s just watched and a video that drives results. Implement these tips to turn your videos into conversion machines!
Let me know if you would like examples of real-life video CTAs put into action.
