3 Blog Post CTAs That Are MUCH More Effective Than “Buy Now”

\ So you want people to take action when they read a blog post.

\ But how do you get them to actually do that?

\ Over my 10+ years blogging, I’ve experimented with many different calls to action (CTAs) in my blog posts.

\ The one that’s least effective?

\ “Buy now.”

\ Nobody likes being overtly sold to, which makes it less effective as a CTA for a blog post.

\ Some of its drawbacks include:

- It can feel pushy and sales-driven.

- It often targets people who aren’t ready to purchase yet.

- It doesn’t always create long-term engagement.

- It misses the opportunity to build a deeper connection with the audience.

\ There are better ways to engage your readers and guide them down your marketing funnel.

\ Here are 3 other types of CTAs you can use to drive results from your blog posts.

1. Invite them to explore other content

Not every blog post is a sales post, but every blog post can lead to a sale if you structure the customer journey correctly.

\ You can start with an educational blog post, then lead them to other blog posts, videos, podcasts, or even a resource page.

\ By inviting them to delve deeper into your content, you’re keeping them engaged and building a stronger relationship with them.

\ This type of CTA is great for readers who aren’t ready to buy but are aware they have a problem and want to solve it.

\ It’s a subtle way to keep them on your site and increase their familiarity with your brand.

\ Inviting exploration also

• Deepens your reader’s understanding of your expertise
• Provides more opportunities to convert them into loyal fans and followers
• Enhances your content’s value by connecting other valuable content

\ It’s also easy to do this. You can:

• Link to related articles at the end of your posts
• Use a directive like “If you enjoyed this post, check out [post title] next”
• Create a content hub with links to other related content
• Ask for their opinion

2. Ask for their opinion

One of the best CTAs to build engagement is to ask readers for their opinion.

\ Instead of just asking them to buy from you, why not ask their opinion on what they’ve read?

\ This type of CTA encourages people to interact with your content in a way that makes them feel valued and heard.

\ Listening to your customers’ opinion not only helps them feel valued, it helps you by providing easily accessible market research.

\ How does this work in practice?

• Add a question at the end of your post like, “What do you think about [topic]?”
• Create a quick survey with Google Forms or Typeform to place at the end of the post
• Embed a poll into your blog post
• Encourage them to share your content

3. Encourage them to share your content

Content shares are amazing for SEO.

\ Content that’s shared not only gets more links, but more positive user signals that Google likes and will use to determine if your content is worth ranking higher.

\ But how do you actually get people to share your content?

\ Just ask.

\ Here are some examples of CTAs that’ll encourage readers to share content:

• Include social sharing buttons on the side or at the top or bottom of your blog post
• In your conclusion, say “if you found this helpful, share it with your network”
• Create tweetable snippets and quotes to make sharing frictionless

\ If your content is worth sharing, it’ll help build your brand’s credibility and reputation. You’ll also attract new readers, as well as keep your current ones engaged.

\ Encouraging readers to share your content is a powerful channel for both customer acquisition and retention.

\ CTAs don’t always have to be about making a purchase.

\ By asking for opinions, encouraging sharing, or inviting further exploration, you can build stronger, more meaningful connections with your audience.

\ These CTAs not only keep readers engaged but also set the stage for future interactions that can lead to sales when the time is right.

\