{"id":27428,"date":"2021-02-22T11:22:41","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T15:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=27428"},"modified":"2021-03-05T18:10:40","modified_gmt":"2021-03-05T22:10:40","slug":"calls-to-action-marketing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/calls-to-action-marketing\/","title":{"rendered":"Calls to Action: Marketing Next Steps for Customers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are calls to action in marketing? How can you incorporate them into your ads? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calls to action in marketing are an important part of ads. This is the part of the marketing process that requires you to take the next step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about calls to action in marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Calls to Action<\/strong>: Marketing Musts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The fifth of the seven story elements<\/a> is to act. In a narrative, the guide pushes the hero to act. <\/strong>(Shortform example: In Lord of the Rings<\/em>, Gandalf tells Frodo to take the ring to Mordor to destroy it.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In branding, the brand calls the customer to action<\/strong> by providing a button on their website that allows the customer to buy or get more information about the brand\u2019s products or services. (Shortform example: if you sell hand soap, you might create a button linking to a document called \u201cHow to Wash Your Hands Properly\u201d that customers can download from your website for free.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, we’ll discuss the importance of using calls to action in marketing and learn about the two different types. Then, we’ll discuss how to employ them, and how to add them to your brandscript<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Importance of Calls to Action<\/strong> in Marketing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Calls to action in marketing are critical because people don\u2019t act unless something forces them to. <\/strong>For example, in Legally Blonde<\/em>, Elle Woods decides to follow her boyfriend to law school only after he dumps her because he thinks she\u2019s not \u201cserious\u201d enough to be his partner. If you want a customer to buy something, you <\/em>need to take the initiative and push them to do so.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, what might seem obvious to a business owner isn\u2019t necessarily clear to a customer. If we don\u2019t clearly tell customers we want them to buy a product so it can solve their problem, they may not realize that\u2019s what they\u2019re supposed to do.<\/strong> It\u2019s like asking a woman out by saying like \u201cDo you like tea?\u201d instead of \u201cWill you go on a date with me to a teashop?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two Types of Calls<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of calls to action: direct and transitional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Direct<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Direct calls to action in marketing prompt a customer to take the first step towards buying a product. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n